Created August 21, 1876, organized May 11, 1910.
Named for Richard Andrews killed at the Battle of Concepcion, October 28, 1835, the first man to fall in the Texas revolution.
Andrews County came into existence in 1876 when the 15th Legislature of
Texas created 54 counties in the Panhandle and South Plains. It was named
for Richard Andrews, the 1st man to die in the war for Texas independence in
1835. Prior to 1890, the county was inhabited primarily by some ranchers,
military personnel and Indians—Anasazi, Apache and Comanche. By 1900 the population
had reached 975 (mostly farmers and ranchers) with two communities—Shafter
Lake and Andrews—in the county. Both communities wanted to be the county
seat, so, in order to woo voters, Shafter Lake gave lots to cowboys to
enable them to vote for that town in the election. But, when Shafter Lake
refused to extend the deadline for the give-away for an individual, R. M.
Means, whose wagon broke down on the way to the town, the tide began to
turn. Mr. Means returned to Andrews, bought land and began giving lots to
cowboys as well. The election was held on July 16, 1910 and Andrews won,
beating Shafter Lake at its own game.
Agriculture took a hit in 1917-1918 from blizzards and drought and reduced the population by over half, but it rebounded in the ‘20’s and ‘30’s with the production of cotton and sorghum. The late ‘20’s also saw the start of oil production in Andrews County with the major strike by Deep Rock Oil Company in 1929. It was in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s that the oil business exploded with the discovery of over 100 new fields and Andrews County experienced unprecedented growth and prosperity. Things began slowing in the ‘70’s and some diversification of industry was called for, such as the Kirby Vacuum Plant and Waste Control Specialists.
The County is governed by 4 commissioners and a county judge. Over the years, this government has provided the citizens of Andrews County with 1st class facilities at a low cost. In 1911, construction began on a 2-story courthouse. In 1938 the present courthouse was built, with renovations being made in 1955 and 1976. Other facilities include and airport, library, museum, 7 parks, civic center, community building, rodeo arena, and a Senior Citizens center. Andrews County is a very unique county in its service to its citizens.
Two Billionth Barrel
Andrews County produced it’s 2nd billionth barrel of crude oil August 21, 1981. Sixteen years and 96 days after its first billionth barrel came from beneath the county’s 1500 square miles.
In producing two billion barrels in 52 years, Andrews became the third county in Texas history to do so. Ector and Gregg counties had entered the record book earlier.
In an energy-starved nation, revitalized multi-pay production zones in Andrews underwent secondary recovery and a few were on the threshold of tertiary recovery methods to yield almost 40 million barrels of crude annually along with 32 million cubic feet of gas.
Almost one billion dollars of petroleum products were sold from beneath Andrews land in 1981 and fueled a fast-paced economic upturn in the community. Population figures for the county were estimated at 14,000 plus at the end of the year.
The county ranked 8th in the state in production of crude oil as over 2,000 oil field workers received $40.6 million in payrolls. State taxes of $43.3 million were paid on Andrews petroleum products during the year.
A community-wide celebration marked the occasion of the two billionth barrel as the entire citizenry joined in marking the historic occasion.
Billionth Barrel
On May 25, 1965, from one of 7,400 producing oil wells in the county's 196 fields, came the Billionth Barrel of Andrews County crude oil. In the 35 years and 5 months since oil flowed from the county's discovery well, C. E. Ogden No. 1, in Dec. 1929, Andrews has attained a new place in history. In 1929, the county had about 400 people. Its wealth, mostly in land and livestock, amounted to $8,109,399. Five persons in the county filed income tax returns. There were fewer than 100 children in school. Highway bonds in the amount of $200,000 were about to be issued, as a measure for county improvement. By 1956, Andrews County produced more than 60,000,000 barrels of oil annually--gaining recognition as number one in Texas and in the United States. Of great significance is the fact that presently proven reserves underlying the county total more than one billion barrels, without any consideration for additional recoveries by secondary methods. Andrews is more than a product of the billion barrels of crude of oil it has produced, more than the gasoline plants working through the night, more than modern highways, paved streets, homes, schools, dreams. Its destiny is great in human resources--and oil. (1965)
1889 Courthouse
