Water Valley, Texas
Encyclopedia
Water Valley is an unincorporated community
in Tom Green County, Texas
, United States
. According to the Handbook of Texas
, the community had an estimated population of 120 in 2000. The community is part of the San Angelo, Texas
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
in northern Tom Green County, approximately 22 miles northwest of San Angelo and 64 miles southeast of Big Spring
.
. The community was founded by two men known as Phelin and Glynn. They dammed the North Concho River
and dug an irrigation ditch that opened up the area to settlers, most of which were English
immigrants. From 1885 to 1888, the local post office was known as Yandell, Argenta, or Stella. It was known as Rethaville, Mayes Store, or Mayesville from 1888 to 1889. The community was renamed Water Valley in 1889. By 1914, Water Valley had a population of 175, a general store, gin, and two cotton buyers. Around the same time, the Water Valley Independent School District
was formed. The number of residents stood at 140 in 1940. That figure peaked at 180 in the mid-1950s, before declining to approximately 120 during the later half of the twentieth century.
Although Water Valley is unincorporated, it has a post office
, with the ZIP code
of 76958.
. The district covers northwestern Tom Green and southwestern Coke counties. There is sports teams such as basketball, football, volleyball, and tennis. The Pride of Water Valley Band and FFA chapter are also staples in the community.
The school website is www.wvisd.net
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Tom Green County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. According to the Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
, the community had an estimated population of 120 in 2000. The community is part of the San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
San Angelo metropolitan area
The San Angelo Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in West Texas that covers two counties - Tom Green and Irion. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 111,823.-Unincorporated places:*Barnhart*Carlsbad*Knickerbocker*Sherwood...
.
Geography
Water Valley is situated along U.S. Highway 87U.S. Route 87
U.S. Highway 87 is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,998 miles from northern Montana to southern Texas. Most of the portion from Billings, Montana, to Raton, New Mexico, is co-signed along Interstates 90 and 25...
in northern Tom Green County, approximately 22 miles northwest of San Angelo and 64 miles southeast of Big Spring
Big Spring, Texas
Big Spring is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Texas, United States, at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 87 and Interstate 20. With a population of 25,233 at the 2000 census, it is the largest city between Midland to the west, Abilene to the east, Lubbock to the north, and San Angelo...
.
History
Among the early are settlers was Captain William Turner, who arrived around 1878. He established the Whitbarrow Ranch and built a stone house that later served as a rest home for soldiers during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The community was founded by two men known as Phelin and Glynn. They dammed the North Concho River
North Concho River
The North Concho River is a river in western-central Texas and one of three tributaries of the Concho River. The river is long. The other two tributaries are the Middle Concho and South Concho Rivers...
and dug an irrigation ditch that opened up the area to settlers, most of which were English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
immigrants. From 1885 to 1888, the local post office was known as Yandell, Argenta, or Stella. It was known as Rethaville, Mayes Store, or Mayesville from 1888 to 1889. The community was renamed Water Valley in 1889. By 1914, Water Valley had a population of 175, a general store, gin, and two cotton buyers. Around the same time, the Water Valley Independent School District
Water Valley Independent School District
Water Valley Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Water Valley, Texas .Located in western Tom Green County, the district extends into a portion of southwest Coke County....
was formed. The number of residents stood at 140 in 1940. That figure peaked at 180 in the mid-1950s, before declining to approximately 120 during the later half of the twentieth century.
Although Water Valley is unincorporated, it has a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, with the ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
of 76958.
Education
Public education in the community of Water Valley is provided by the Water Valley Independent School DistrictWater Valley Independent School District
Water Valley Independent School District is a public school district based in the community of Water Valley, Texas .Located in western Tom Green County, the district extends into a portion of southwest Coke County....
. The district covers northwestern Tom Green and southwestern Coke counties. There is sports teams such as basketball, football, volleyball, and tennis. The Pride of Water Valley Band and FFA chapter are also staples in the community.
The school website is www.wvisd.net