Concho Valley

Last updated
Concho Valley
Region
CVCOG.png
Texas Counties in the Concho Valley
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
StateFlag of Texas.svg  Texas
Region West Texas
Area
  Total42,410 km2 (16,376 sq mi)
Population
  Total157,721 [1]
Area code 325

The Concho Valley is a region in West Texas. The region takes its name from the Concho River ("shell" in Spanish), named due to its abundance of freshwater mussels in the river. [2]

Contents

Counties

There are variations of the region, but according to the Concho Valley Council of Governments, the Concho Valley consists of 13 counties encompassing an area of 16,376 square miles (42,414 km2).

Cities

The Concho River running through a park in San Angelo. SanAngeloParkConcho.jpg
The Concho River running through a park in San Angelo.

With an estimated population of 97,492 in 2014, San Angelo is the principal city and center of the San Angelo metropolitan area. [3]

Geography

The Concho Valley is located in West Texas in an area from the southwestern reaches of the Edwards Plateau and the northeastern edge of the Chihuahuan desert. The North Concho River and South Concho River merge to form the Concho River in San Angelo.

Identity

Many businesses and organizations use the term "Concho" or "Concho Valley", helping to form a regional identity in the area surrounding the Concho River. Some include the Boy Scouts of America Concho Valley Council, Concho Valley Council of Governments, Concho Valley Electric Cooperative, etc. The oldest is Fort Concho, built in 1867.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concho County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Concho County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,303. Its county seat is Paint Rock. The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1879. It is named for the Concho River.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sterling City, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Sterling City is the county seat of Sterling County, Texas, United States. Its population was 1,121 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christoval, Texas</span> CDP in Texas, United States

Christoval is a census-designated place (CDP) in Tom Green County, Texas, United States. Its population was 504 at the 2010 census. It is part of the San Angelo, Texas, metropolitan statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Angelo, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

San Angelo is a city in and the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States. Its location is in the Concho Valley, a region of West Texas between the Permian Basin to the northwest, Chihuahuan Desert to the southwest, Osage Plains to the northeast, and Central Texas to the southeast. According to the 2020 United States Census, San Angelo had a total population of 99,893. It is the principal city and center of the San Angelo metropolitan area, which had a population of 121,516.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwards Plateau</span> Geographic and ecological region of Texas, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Concho</span> US Army fort in Texas, used 1867–1889

Fort Concho is a former United States Army installation and National Historic Landmark District located in San Angelo, Texas. It was established in November 1867 at the confluence of the North and South Concho Rivers, on the routes of the Butterfield Overland Mail Route and Goodnight–Loving Trail, and was an active military base for the next 22 years. Fort Concho was the principal base of the 4th Cavalry from 1867 to 1875 and then the "Buffalo Soldiers" of the 10th Cavalry from 1875 to 1882. The troops stationed at Fort Concho participated in Ranald S. Mackenzie's 1872 campaign, the Red River War in 1874, and the Victorio Campaign of 1879–1880.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwards Aquifer</span> Source of drinking water in Texas

The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Located on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas, it is the source of drinking water for two million people, and is the primary water supply for agriculture and industry in the aquifer's region. Additionally, the Edwards Aquifer feeds the Comal and San Marcos Springs, provides springflow for recreational and downstream uses in the Nueces, San Antonio, Guadalupe, and San Marcos river basins, and is home to several unique and endangered species.

Ben Ficklin (Benficklin), Texas is a ghost town and the former county seat of Tom Green County from 1875 to 1882. It was located 5 miles (8 km) south of Fort Concho on the east bank of the South Concho River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Concho Valley Council of Governments</span>

The Concho Valley Council of Governments (CVCOG) is a voluntary association of cities, counties and special districts in West Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Concho River</span>

The South Concho River is one of the few rivers in Texas to run south to north for its entire length. Rising from Anson Springs some 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Christoval, Texas, in Tom Green County, it flows north through the town of Christoval, then continues north for 13 miles (21 km) before it joins the Middle Concho to form Twin Buttes Reservoir in what is now southwest San Angelo. When released, the river flows through Lake Nasworthy, and continues north to join the North Concho River at Bell St. in east San Angelo. The river is known for its cool, clear, deep water and its pecan-covered banks. Watercress grows in the shallows along the banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Concho River</span> River in Texas, United States

The North Concho River is a river in west-central Texas and one of three tributaries of the Concho River. The river is 88 miles (142 km) long. The other two tributaries are the Middle Concho and South Concho Rivers. The Concho River flows into the Colorado River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts</span> Art museum in Texas, USA

The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts is an art museum serving 14 counties located in San Angelo, Texas. The museum features a growing permanent collection and is home to traveling exhibitions. In addition, it features a research library, an education wing, a rooftop sculpture collection, and community meeting space.

The Diego de Guadalajara expedition of 1654 was a Spanish expedition dispatched to follow up on the finding of freshwater pearls from pearl mussels in the Concho River in what is now Texas. Although results were disappointing, the expedition led to continued contact with the people of the area and then to Spanish settlement in and around San Angelo, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Hattie's Bordello</span>

Miss Hattie's Bordello is a tourist trap and interpretive museum located in downtown San Angelo, Texas. It purports to be the building where "Miss Hattie" operated a brothel from 1902 to 1952.

References

  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-03-14. Retrieved 2015-05-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Julia Cauble Smith: Concho River from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  3. "San Angelo (city) 2014 Population Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2015.

31°24′12″N100°26′08″W / 31.4032°N 100.4356°W / 31.4032; -100.4356