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Dallam County is located near the northwestern corner of Texas and was established on August 21, 1876. It's named after James W. Dallam, who was a lawyer and journalist from Galveston. Here are 7 interesting facts about the county's history:
1. The first European to explore this area was probably Francisco Coronado in 1541. He and his army camped at Palo Duro Canyon, which is located in the southeastern part of Dallam County.
2. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the county had a booming ranching industry. Cowboys would drive cattle from as far as Montana to the railheads in Texline and Dalhart, which brought wealth and prosperity to the area.
3. In 1901, the discovery of oil in nearby Ardmore, Oklahoma led to the opening of the first oil well in Dallam County. Today, the county has many active oil fields and is one of the leading producers of oil in Texas.
4. The county was hit hard by the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Many farmers and ranchers lost their land and had to move elsewhere. The soil in the area is sandy and prone to erosion, which made it difficult to grow crops.
5. During World War II, the US government built a prisoner of war camp in Dalhart. It was used to house German prisoners who were captured during the war. After the war, the camp was decommissioned and dismantled.
6. In 1968, the area became the site of the first commercial wind farm in the United States. The 20-turbine project was built near Vega and had a capacity of 1.25 megawatts.
7. Dallam County is also home to the XIT Museum in Dalhart. The museum showcases the history of the XIT Ranch, which was one of the largest ranches in Texas during its heyday. The ranch covered over 3 million acres and spanned ten counties in Texas.
Overall, Dallam County has a rich and diverse history that reflects the struggles and triumphs of the people who have lived there. From cowboys and ranchers to oil drillers and wind farmers, the county has played a significant role in the development of Texas and the United States.
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