The History of the Area Counties
County formation maps https://www.mapofus.org/texas/
Brewster County
BREWSTER
02 Feb 1887
BREWSTER created from PRESIDIO; BREWSTER not fully organized.(Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 4/p. 4)
22 Feb 1887
BREWSTER fully organized. (Casey, 27-28)
15 Mar 1887
BUCHEL (extinct), FOLEY (extinct), and JEFF DAVIS created from PRESIDIO; BUCHEL, FOLEY, and JEFF DAVIS not fully organized, all attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
01 Jun 1887
JEFF DAVIS fully organized, detached from BREWSTER. (Jacobson and Nored, 151)
27 Mar 1889
BREWSTER gained from FOLEY (extinct), lost to PRESIDIO. (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
21 Apr 1897
BREWSTER gained all of BUCHEL (extinct) and FOLEY (extinct); BUCHEL and FOLEY eliminated. (Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 90/p. 115)
BREWSTER
02 Feb 1887
BREWSTER created from PRESIDIO; BREWSTER not fully organized.(Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 4/p. 4)
22 Feb 1887
BREWSTER fully organized. (Casey, 27-28)
15 Mar 1887
BUCHEL (extinct), FOLEY (extinct), and JEFF DAVIS created from PRESIDIO; BUCHEL, FOLEY, and JEFF DAVIS not fully organized, all attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
01 Jun 1887
JEFF DAVIS fully organized, detached from BREWSTER. (Jacobson and Nored, 151)
27 Mar 1889
BREWSTER gained from FOLEY (extinct), lost to PRESIDIO. (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
21 Apr 1897
BREWSTER gained all of BUCHEL (extinct) and FOLEY (extinct); BUCHEL and FOLEY eliminated. (Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 90/p. 115)
Buchel County (existed 1867-1897: taken from Presidio County dissolved into Brewster County)
BUCHEL (extinct)
15 Mar 1887
BUCHEL (extinct) created from PRESIDIO; BUCHEL not fully organized, attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
21 Apr 1897
BUCHEL (extinct) lost all territory to BREWSTER; BUCHEL eliminated.(Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 90/p. 115)
BUCHEL (extinct)
15 Mar 1887
BUCHEL (extinct) created from PRESIDIO; BUCHEL not fully organized, attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
21 Apr 1897
BUCHEL (extinct) lost all territory to BREWSTER; BUCHEL eliminated.(Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 90/p. 115)
Foley County
FOLEY (extinct)
15 Mar 1887
FOLEY (extinct) created from PRESIDIO; FOLEY not fully organized, attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
27 Mar 1889
FOLEY (extinct) lost to BREWSTER and PRESIDIO . (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
21 Apr 1897
FOLEY (extinct) lost all territory to BREWSTER; FOLEY eliminated. (Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 90/p. 115)
FOLEY (extinct)
15 Mar 1887
FOLEY (extinct) created from PRESIDIO; FOLEY not fully organized, attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
27 Mar 1889
FOLEY (extinct) lost to BREWSTER and PRESIDIO . (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
21 Apr 1897
FOLEY (extinct) lost all territory to BREWSTER; FOLEY eliminated. (Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 90/p. 115)
Jeff Davis County
JEFF DAVIS
15 Mar 1887
JEFF DAVIS created from PRESIDIO; JEFF DAVIS not fully organized, attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
01 Jun 1887
JEFF DAVIS fully organized, detached from BREWSTER. (Jacobson and Nored, 151)
27 Mar 1889
JEFF DAVIS authorized to exchanged with PRESIDIO [exchange disputed and never took effect, not mapped; see 11 November 1903]. (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
11 Nov 1903
Dispute between JEFF DAVIS and PRESIDIO ended; 1887 boundary confirmed [see also 27 March 1889]. ("Presidio County v. Jeff Davis County," in SW Rptr., 1st ser., 77:278-279)
JEFF DAVIS
15 Mar 1887
JEFF DAVIS created from PRESIDIO; JEFF DAVIS not fully organized, attached to BREWSTER "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
01 Jun 1887
JEFF DAVIS fully organized, detached from BREWSTER. (Jacobson and Nored, 151)
27 Mar 1889
JEFF DAVIS authorized to exchanged with PRESIDIO [exchange disputed and never took effect, not mapped; see 11 November 1903]. (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
11 Nov 1903
Dispute between JEFF DAVIS and PRESIDIO ended; 1887 boundary confirmed [see also 27 March 1889]. ("Presidio County v. Jeff Davis County," in SW Rptr., 1st ser., 77:278-279)
Non-County Area16
Non-County Area 16
31 Dec 1849
Non-County Area 16 created from SANTA FE (extinct) in anticipation of the creation of EL PASO, PRESIDIO, and WORTH (extinct) on 3 January 1850.(Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 24/p. 21)
03 Jan 1850
Non-County Area 16 eliminated when it lost all territory to creation of EL PASO, PRESIDIO, and WORTH (extinct). (Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 29/p. 24)
Non-County Area 16
31 Dec 1849
Non-County Area 16 created from SANTA FE (extinct) in anticipation of the creation of EL PASO, PRESIDIO, and WORTH (extinct) on 3 January 1850.(Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 24/p. 21)
03 Jan 1850
Non-County Area 16 eliminated when it lost all territory to creation of EL PASO, PRESIDIO, and WORTH (extinct). (Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 29/p. 24)
Pecos County )
PECOS
08 May 1871
PECOS created from PRESIDIO and Non-County Area 26; PECOS not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 70/p. 73)
28 Apr 1874
PECOS attached to EL PASO "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1874, 14th leg., reg. sess., ch. 109/p. 155)
09 Mar 1875
PECOS fully organized, detached from EL PASO. ("Pecos County," New Handbook of Texas, 5:121)
14 Apr 1883
PECOS lost to creation of REEVES. (Texas Laws 1883, 18th leg., reg. sess., ch. 103/p. 105)
24 Mar 1885
PECOS gained very small area [above NW corner of VAL VERDE] from CROCKETT, lost to creation of VAL VERDE. (Texas Laws 1885, 19th leg., ch. 50/p. 48)
14 Jul 1905
PECOS lost to creation of TERRELL; TERRELL not fully organized, attached to PECOS "for judicial, surveying and recording purposes." Act passed 8 April 1905; took effect 14 July 1905. (Texas Laws 1905, 29th leg., reg. sess., ch. 70/p. 96)
27 Jul 1905
TERRELL fully organized, detached from PECOS. ("Terrell County," New Handbook of Texas, 6:263)
PECOS
08 May 1871
PECOS created from PRESIDIO and Non-County Area 26; PECOS not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 70/p. 73)
28 Apr 1874
PECOS attached to EL PASO "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1874, 14th leg., reg. sess., ch. 109/p. 155)
09 Mar 1875
PECOS fully organized, detached from EL PASO. ("Pecos County," New Handbook of Texas, 5:121)
14 Apr 1883
PECOS lost to creation of REEVES. (Texas Laws 1883, 18th leg., reg. sess., ch. 103/p. 105)
24 Mar 1885
PECOS gained very small area [above NW corner of VAL VERDE] from CROCKETT, lost to creation of VAL VERDE. (Texas Laws 1885, 19th leg., ch. 50/p. 48)
14 Jul 1905
PECOS lost to creation of TERRELL; TERRELL not fully organized, attached to PECOS "for judicial, surveying and recording purposes." Act passed 8 April 1905; took effect 14 July 1905. (Texas Laws 1905, 29th leg., reg. sess., ch. 70/p. 96)
27 Jul 1905
TERRELL fully organized, detached from PECOS. ("Terrell County," New Handbook of Texas, 6:263)
Presidio County
PRESIDIO
03 Jan 1850
PRESIDIO created from Non-County Area 16; PRESIDIO not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 29/p. 24)
12 Feb 1852
PRESIDIO attached to EL PASO "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1851, 4th leg., reg. sess., ch. 85/p. 91)
19 Jul 1870
PRESIDIO boundaries redefined [no change]. (Texas Laws 1870, 12th leg., called sess., ch. 19/p. 32)
02 May 1871
PRESIDIO lost to EL PASO. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 67/p. 70)
08 May 1871
PRESIDIO lost to creation of PECOS. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 70/p. 73)
12 May 1871
PRESIDIO boundaries redefined [no change]. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 86/p. 86)
1875
PRESIDIO fully organized, detached from EL PASO. ("Presidio County," New Handbook of Texas, 5:331)
02 Feb 1887
PRESIDIO lost to creation of BREWSTER. (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 4/p. 4)
15 Mar 1887
PRESIDIO lost to creation of BUCHEL (extinct), FOLEY (extinct), and JEFF DAVIS. (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
27 Mar 1889
PRESIDIO gained from BREWSTER and FOLEY (extinct); PRESIDIO was authorized to exchange with JEFF DAVIS [exchange disputed and never took effect, not mapped; see 11 November 1903]. (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
11 Nov 1903
Dispute between PRESIDIO and JEFF DAVIS ended; 1887 boundary confirmed [see also 27 March 1889]. ("Presidio County v. Jeff Davis County," in SW Rptr., 1st ser., 77:278-279)
PRESIDIO
03 Jan 1850
PRESIDIO created from Non-County Area 16; PRESIDIO not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 29/p. 24)
12 Feb 1852
PRESIDIO attached to EL PASO "for judicial purposes." (Texas Laws 1851, 4th leg., reg. sess., ch. 85/p. 91)
19 Jul 1870
PRESIDIO boundaries redefined [no change]. (Texas Laws 1870, 12th leg., called sess., ch. 19/p. 32)
02 May 1871
PRESIDIO lost to EL PASO. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 67/p. 70)
08 May 1871
PRESIDIO lost to creation of PECOS. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 70/p. 73)
12 May 1871
PRESIDIO boundaries redefined [no change]. (Texas Laws 1871, 12th leg., 1st sess., ch. 86/p. 86)
1875
PRESIDIO fully organized, detached from EL PASO. ("Presidio County," New Handbook of Texas, 5:331)
02 Feb 1887
PRESIDIO lost to creation of BREWSTER. (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 4/p. 4)
15 Mar 1887
PRESIDIO lost to creation of BUCHEL (extinct), FOLEY (extinct), and JEFF DAVIS. (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 38/p. 26)
27 Mar 1889
PRESIDIO gained from BREWSTER and FOLEY (extinct); PRESIDIO was authorized to exchange with JEFF DAVIS [exchange disputed and never took effect, not mapped; see 11 November 1903]. (Texas Laws 1889, 21st leg., ch. 49/p. 44)
11 Nov 1903
Dispute between PRESIDIO and JEFF DAVIS ended; 1887 boundary confirmed [see also 27 March 1889]. ("Presidio County v. Jeff Davis County," in SW Rptr., 1st ser., 77:278-279)
Reeves County
REEVES
14 Apr 1883
REEVES created from PECOS; REEVES not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1883, 18th leg., reg. sess., ch. 103/p. 105)
04 Nov 1884
REEVES fully organized. (Kennedy, 150)
26 Feb 1887
LOVING, WARD, and WINKLER created from TOM GREEN; LOVING, WARD, and WINKLER not fully organized, all attached to REEVES "for judicial, surveying, and all other purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 12, secs. 1, 3-4/pp. 8-9)
29 Mar 1892
WARD fully organized, detached from REEVES. (Kennedy, 171)
08 Jul 1893
LOVING fully organized, detached from REEVES. Organization was determined to be fraudulent, and the county was officially disorganized 24 May 1897. ("Loving County," New Handbook of Texas, 4:311)
24 May 1897
LOVING disorganized, reattached to REEVES "for judicial and other purposes" [see also 8 July 1893]. (Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 143/p. 205; "Loving County," New Handbook of Texas, 4:311)
05 Apr 1910
WINKLER fully organized, detached from REEVES. ("Winkler County," New Handbook of Texas, 6:1023)
14 May 1931
LOVING fully organized, detached from REEVES. (Correspondence, Beverly Hanson, District and County Clerk, Loving County, 19 July 2001)
REEVES
14 Apr 1883
REEVES created from PECOS; REEVES not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1883, 18th leg., reg. sess., ch. 103/p. 105)
04 Nov 1884
REEVES fully organized. (Kennedy, 150)
26 Feb 1887
LOVING, WARD, and WINKLER created from TOM GREEN; LOVING, WARD, and WINKLER not fully organized, all attached to REEVES "for judicial, surveying, and all other purposes." (Texas Laws 1887, 20th leg., reg. sess., ch. 12, secs. 1, 3-4/pp. 8-9)
29 Mar 1892
WARD fully organized, detached from REEVES. (Kennedy, 171)
08 Jul 1893
LOVING fully organized, detached from REEVES. Organization was determined to be fraudulent, and the county was officially disorganized 24 May 1897. ("Loving County," New Handbook of Texas, 4:311)
24 May 1897
LOVING disorganized, reattached to REEVES "for judicial and other purposes" [see also 8 July 1893]. (Texas Laws 1897, 25th leg., reg. sess., ch. 143/p. 205; "Loving County," New Handbook of Texas, 4:311)
05 Apr 1910
WINKLER fully organized, detached from REEVES. ("Winkler County," New Handbook of Texas, 6:1023)
14 May 1931
LOVING fully organized, detached from REEVES. (Correspondence, Beverly Hanson, District and County Clerk, Loving County, 19 July 2001)
Santa Fe County (part became Presidio County eventually)
SANTA FE (extinct)
15 Mar 1848
SANTA FE (extinct) created from BEXAR; included parts of present Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. SANTA FE not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1847, 2d leg., ch 87/p. 95)
31 Dec 1849
SANTA FE (extinct) boundaries redefined; gained from BEXAR, lost to creation of Non-County Area 16 in anticipation of EL PASO, PRESIDIO, and WORTH creations on 3 January 1850. (Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 24/p. 21)
13 Dec 1850
State of Texas sold land in present Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to the United States. BEXAR lost territory to the United States; implicitly gained territory extending to new northern limit of Texas. Except for small adjustments, Texas state boundaries now set; SANTA FE eliminated. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49 [1850]/pp. 446-452 and appendix, sec. 10/pp. 1005-1006; Texas Laws 1850, 3d leg., 3d sess., ch. 2/p. 4; Van Zandt, 122)
SANTA FE (extinct)
15 Mar 1848
SANTA FE (extinct) created from BEXAR; included parts of present Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. SANTA FE not fully organized. (Texas Laws 1847, 2d leg., ch 87/p. 95)
31 Dec 1849
SANTA FE (extinct) boundaries redefined; gained from BEXAR, lost to creation of Non-County Area 16 in anticipation of EL PASO, PRESIDIO, and WORTH creations on 3 January 1850. (Texas Laws 1849, 3d leg., reg. sess., ch. 24/p. 21)
13 Dec 1850
State of Texas sold land in present Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Wyoming to the United States. BEXAR lost territory to the United States; implicitly gained territory extending to new northern limit of Texas. Except for small adjustments, Texas state boundaries now set; SANTA FE eliminated. (U.S. Stat., vol. 9, ch. 49 [1850]/pp. 446-452 and appendix, sec. 10/pp. 1005-1006; Texas Laws 1850, 3d leg., 3d sess., ch. 2/p. 4; Van Zandt, 122)
Info sources: Texas Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
This page last updated 9/24/2017.
