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Big Spring, Texas, USA
Big Spring's Municipal Auditorium and Statue of Liberty, with the old Settles Hotel in the background.
Big Spring's Municipal Auditorium and Statue of Liberty, with the old Settles Hotel in the background.
Nickname: The Spring City
Location within the state of Texas
Location within the state of Texas
Coordinates: 32°14′36″N 101°28′31″W / 32.24333, -101.47528
Country United States
State Texas
County Howard
Government
 - Mayor Russ McEwen
Area
 - Total 19. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. List of Texas county name etymologies|List of Texas county seat name etymologies The state of Texas is divided into 254 counties, more than any other U Howard County is a County located in the US state of Texas. In 2000 its population was 33627 A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 2 sq mi (49. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 7 km²)
 - Land 19. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 1 sq mi (49. 5 km²)
 - Water 0. 1 sq mi (0. 2 km²)
Elevation 2,441 ft (744 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 25,233
 - Density 1,320. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 4/sq mi (509. 8/km²)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-6)
ZIP codes 79720-79721
Area code(s) 432
FIPS code 48-08236[1]
GNIS feature ID 1330654[2]
Website: http://www.ci.big-spring.tx.us/

Big Spring is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate 20; its population of 25,233 (2000 census) makes it the largest city between Midland to the west, Abilene to the east, Lubbock to the north, and San Angelo to the south. The Central Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time ( UTC−6) and five hours during Daylight saving Areas using UTC−6 Single zone countries Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Daylight saving time ( DST The Central Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time ( UTC−6) and five hours during Daylight saving Areas using UTC−6 Single zone countries Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala The ZIP code is the system of Postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks The map to the right is now clickable click on an area code to go to the page for that code Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. US Highway 87 is a north-south United States highway (though it is signed east-west in New Mexico) that runs for 1998 miles (3215 km from northern Montana Midland is a city in and the County seat of Midland County located on the Southern Plains of the western area of the U Abilene ( "ABBA-leen") is a city in Jones and Taylor Counties in the central part of the U San Angelo is a city in and the County seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States. Big Spring was established as the county seat of Howard County in 1882 and is also the largest city in that county. A county seat is a term for an Administrative center for a County, primarily used in the United States. Howard County is a County located in the US state of Texas. In 2000 its population was 33627

The city got its name from the single, large spring that issued into a small gorge between the base of Scenic Mountain and a neighboring hill in the southwestern part of the city limits.

Contents

Geography

Big Spring is located at 32°14′36″N, 101°28′31″W (32. 243198, -101. 475231)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 2 square miles (49. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 7 km²). Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 19. 1 square miles (49. 5 km²) of it is land, and 0. 1 square miles (0. 2 km²) of it (0. 42%) is water.

Origin of the name "Big Spring"

The area's "big spring", long dry but recently modified to draw water from Comanche Trail Lake, was of major importance to all life in the surrounding area. In the early 1840s, it was the center of a territorial dispute between Comanche and Pawnee tribes, and has been a major watering hole for wildlife and prehistoric man in this semi-arid area (G. The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado The Pawnee (also Paneassa, Pari, Pariki) are a Native American tribe that historically lived along the Platte, Loup and Brune, 'Springs of Texas', 1981). Early military scouting reports and pioneer accounts describe the water as cold, clear, and dependable; the spring pool was approximately 15' deep, with the overflow going only a short distance down the draw before it sank beneath the surface. The spring has mistakenly been described in other writings as being located in Sulphur Draw. It is actually located to the south, near the top of a small, rugged, unnamed draw running eastward from the spring, and is itself a tributary to Beal's Creek, the name given to Sulphur Draw as it flows into, through, and past the city of Big Spring.

Long used by regional inhabitants, both permanent and nomadic, with a large number of locally-collected artifacts testifying to its heavy occupation, the spring sat astride the several branches of the later-developed Comanche War Trail as they converged on this important water hole from beyond Texas, coming south across the Northern Plains and the Llano Estacado. Llano Estacado ( Sp /ˈʎano ˌestəˈkado/ " Palisaded Plains" is a region in the southwestern United States that encompasses parts of Eastern New From the Big Spring, the war trail continued south via three branches, one to the southeast through the western part of the Concho country; one going almost due south, heading for Castle Gap and Horsehead Crossing on the Pecos River; and one heading west to Willow Springs in the sand country southwest of present Midland, before turning south down the Pecos, all headed ultimately for Mexico. The Pecos River or Rio Pecos as it is sometimes known in New Mexico, arises near Pecos New Mexico, United States, and flows for through the eastern As whites began to settle the western territories, the spring continued to serve as a major watering place on the southern route of the Gold Rush Trail of the early 1850s and continued in use well beyond that time, as the cross-continental trail turned into a major road for later pioneers coming into the area.

Brune also reports that the spring was sourced from a relatively small aquifer situated on the northern end of the Edwards Plateau and the southern end of the High Plains, being, structurally, a collecting sink of lower Cretaceous (Fredericksburg) limestones and sands. The Edwards Plateau is a region of west-central Texas which is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east the Llano Uplift and the plains region The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of The spring aquifer held a large quantity of water due to the great number of fractures, solution channels, and interstices in the rocks and underlying sands, although the aeral extent of the Big Spring sink is estimated to be only 1 mile in diameter, with the main area only 3000' in width and almost circular, with some ellipticity trending towards the west. The Cretaceous beds subsided about 280' below their normal position, centered around the SE quarter of Section 12, Block 33 T1S; T&P RR Co survey, and the entire strata appears to be preserved within the sink, the surface topography roughly following the subsurface subsidence. (US Department of the Interior publication, 'Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 913', 1944). This writing identifies the sink as one of a number of similar subsurface geologic features in the surrounding area, differing from the Big Spring sink only in the fact that the surface topography above the others, while showing some decline, does not dip low enough to intersect the top of the water tables; hence, no springs could form from the other aquifers. In a passing comment, enigmatic in its content and disappointing in its brevity, the report states that no other comparable deep sinks formed elsewhere on the Edwards Plateau.

The same publication suggests that the spring's discharge volume was in excess of 100,000 gallons/day at the time of the railroad's arrival in the area in the late 1880s. The water was heavily mined by wells built by both the railroad and the early city of Big Spring greatly in excess of its modest recharge rate, until the water table first dropped below the level of the spring outlet, and, finally, was completely depleted by the mid-1920s. The city now artificially fills the spring from its current source of water as a means of allowing residents and visitors to maintain some idea of how it appeared in times past.

History

Although the area had long been a popular watering hole for Native Americans and other prehistoric residents and nomads, including members of the more recently established Jumano, Apache, and Comanche tribes, the first European to view the site now known as Big Spring was probably a member of a Spanish expedition, possibly that of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, although the record of his travels cannot confirm his visit. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca ( Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, ca

United States Army Captain Randolph B. Marcy's expedition was the first United States expedition to explore and map the area in 1849. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. See " Captain " for other versions of this rank In the uniformed services of the United States, captain is a federal Randolph Barnes Marcy ( April 9, 1812 – November 22, 1887) was a career officer in the United States Army, achieving the rank of The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, Regions, and Themes Marcy marked the spring as a campsite on the Overland Trail to California. Randolph Barnes Marcy ( April 9, 1812 – November 22, 1887) was a career officer in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Description The term "camp" comes from the Latin word campus, meaning field The Overland Trail was a pioneer trail beginning at several different points California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The site began to collect inhabitants and by the late 1870s, a settlement had sprung up to support buffalo hunters that frequented the area. The American bison ( Bison bison) is a Bovine Mammal, also commonly known as the American buffalo. The original settlement consisted largely of hide huts and saloons. A bar (also called a Pub or Tavern) is a business that serves drinks especially Alcoholic beverages such as beer liquor and mixed drinks for consumption Ranching quickly became a major industry in the area; early ranchers included F. A ranch is an area of landscape including various structures given primarily to the practice of ranching the practice of raising grazing livestock such as Cattle For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" A ranch is an area of landscape including various structures given primarily to the practice of ranching the practice of raising grazing livestock such as Cattle G. Oxsheer, C. C. Slaughter, and B. F. Wolcott. . [4]

One notable early rancher was Briton Joseph Heneage Finch, the Seventh Earl of Aylesford. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Finch purchased 37,000 acres (150 km²) of ranch land in the area in 1883 and is credited with building Big Spring's first permanent structure, a butcher shop. The acre is a unit of Area in a number of different systems including the imperial and U A ranch is an area of landscape including various structures given primarily to the practice of ranching the practice of raising grazing livestock such as Cattle A LAND attack is a DoS (Denial of Service attack that consists of sending a special poison spoofed packet to a computer causing it to lock up A butcher is someone who prepares various Meats and other related goods for sale [5]

The completion of the Texas and Pacific Railroad led to the founding in the early 1880s of Abilene, Colorado City, and Big Spring, three railroading and ranching towns where saloons and gambling dens. Abilene ( "ABBA-leen") is a city in Jones and Taylor Counties in the central part of the U Colorado City is a city in Mitchell County, Texas, United States.

More important in the town's history was the discovery of oil in the region during the 1920s. The early discoveries in the area marked the beginning of the oil industry in the Permian Basin area of West Texas, and the oil industry has continued to be a dominant part of the area's economy. The oil industry in Big Spring reached its peak during the oil boom of the 1950s.

Another major part of Big Spring's economy and life during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s was Webb Air Force Base. It initially opened during World War II as the Big Spring Bombardier School, a training base for bombardier pilots. Following the war, it was converted to a U. S. Air Force Training Base and was named for James Webb, a Big Spring native who died in action during World War II. Webb Air Force Base was active until its closing in 1977, when the base facilities were deeded to the city.

Big Spring was also featured in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, which starred Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight and received the Academy Award for Best Picture of 1969. Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 Drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. The opening scenes featuring Voight, then a relatively unknown actor, playing the character Joe Buck were filmed in Big Spring and the neighboring town of Stanton. Stanton is a city in Martin County, Texas, United States. The population was 2556 at the 2000 census

Big Spring is the location at which the opening scene of the Quentin Tarantino film, From Dusk Till Dawn, takes place. Quentin Jerome Tarantino (born March 27, 1963) is an Academy Award - BAFTA Award - and Palme d'Or -winning Emmy - and From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action / Horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino.

The FAI World Hang Gliding Championship was hosted by Big Spring in August 2007.

Recent news

On February 18, 2008, an oil refinery owned by Alon USA had an explosion. Alon USA Energy Inc or Alon USA ( Alon USA Energy Inc is headquartered in Dallas Texas and engages in refining and marketing petroleum products primarily in the The plant employs about 170 employees and produces 70,000 barrels of oil a day. At least four workers were injured. This event has caused portions of Interstate 20 to be shut down, and forced the cancellation of local schools.

One hour after the explosion all workers were accounted for, one company worker suffered burns and was transported to a hospital in Lubbock ; three injured contractors were treated at the scene, one for a concussion and two for possible hearing problems. [6] Residents within a mile of the refinery have been asked to evacuate. Emergency evacuation is the movement of people from a dangerous place due to the threat or occurrence of a disastrous event [7]

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 25,233 people, 8,155 households, and 5,463 families residing in the city. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The population density was 1,320. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 4 people per square mile (509. 8/km²). There were 9,865 housing units, at an average density of 199. 3/km² (516. 2/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 76. 69% White, 5. 31% African American, 0. 59% Native American, 0. 63% Asian, 0. 02% Pacific Islander, 14. 41% from other races, and 2. 35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44. 64% of the population.

There were 8,155 households, out of which 32. 8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48. 3% were married couples living together, 14. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33. 0% were non-families. 29. 2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14. 6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 51, and the average family size was 3. 10.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23. 6% under the age of 18, 9. 9% from 18 to 24, 32. 7% from 25 to 44, 19. 7% from 45 to 64, and 14. 1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 125. 2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132. 3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,257, and the median income for a family was $35,448. Males had a median income of $27,636 versus $21,863 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,119. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 17. 1% of families and 22. 2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 0% of those under age 18 and 18. 3% of those age 65 or over.

Culture and economics

Big Spring's economy is primarily based on agriculture (with cotton as the primary crop) and petroleum production and refining. An economic system is a System that involves the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services between Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Refining (also called affining) is the process of Purification of a substance. Public-sector institutions such as Howard College, a federal prison, and a VA hospital are also major employers in the area. Howard College (officially Howard County Junior College) is a Community college with its main campus in Big Spring Texas and branch campuses in San See also List of US state prisons, List of US military prisons This is a list of U Veterans Health Administration (VHA is the component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA that implements the medical assistance program of the VA through Other noted large-scale employers in Big Spring are StarTek USA [1]an outsourcing call center, Wal-Mart, Solitaire (a mobile home manufacturing company) and ALON USA (the oil refinery; headquarters are in Dallas and is owned by an Israeli firm).

Big Spring's population and economy have seen steady declines since the closure of Webb Air Force Base, a training site for Air Force bombardiers and pilots, in 1977. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology An economic system is a System that involves the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services between Webb Air Force Base, previously named Big Spring Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force facility of the Air Training Command (ATC that operated A bombardier ( French for " bomberman " in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer

In recent years, Big Spring has been the site of several major hang gliding championship tournaments, including the U. History See also History of hang gliding Summary: Hang gliding existed in China perhaps by the 4th century AD according to the writing of the S. Hang Gliding Nationals. History See also History of hang gliding Summary: Hang gliding existed in China perhaps by the 4th century AD according to the writing of the The city was also the site for the filming of parts of Hangar 18.

Notable residents, past and present

Points of interest

Landmarks

Organizations

Media

Education

Prisons

References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. Howard County is a County located in the US state of Texas. In 2000 its population was 33627 The Big Spring Vietnam Memorial is a memorial located in Big Spring, Texas, United States, honoring American Servicemen Cornell Corrections redirects here For the university in Ithaca New York see Cornell University. United States Census Bureau. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). The United States Geological Survey ( USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1504 - France cedes Naples to Aragon. 1606 - Gunpowder Plot: Guy Fawkes
  4. ^ Big Spring from the Handbook of Texas Online
  5. ^ Howard County from the Handbook of Texas Online
  6. ^ "4 workers hurt in oil refinery explosion in Big Spring", Associated Press, 18 February 2008. The Handbook of Texas (ISBN 0-87611-151-7 is a comprehensive Encyclopedia of Texas geography history and historical persons published by the Texas The Handbook of Texas (ISBN 0-87611-151-7 is a comprehensive Encyclopedia of Texas geography history and historical persons published by the Texas Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common  
  7. ^ "Blast rocks Texas oil refinery", CNN, 18 February 2008. Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common  
  8. ^ Daniel "Bubba" Franks bio (2000 NFL draft preview) on packers.com, the official website of the Green Bay Packers

External links

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