Everything Big Spring is known for
Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Big Spring.
Stanton, Texas. It might seem like a quiet spot on the map, nestled in Martin County, but this place has a way of producing folks who leave their mark. You see, even small towns can be a crucible for talent, a place where ambition takes root.
Joseph Heneage Finch, English nobleman and sportsman, was born in Middlesex, England, to Heneage and Jane (Wightwick) Finch on February 21, 1849. Heneage was the sixth earl of Aylesford; Joseph, the seventh earl, was a minor but legendary figure on the West Texas frontier. He married Edith Williams, the daughter of a member of Parliament, in 1871. They had two daughters. In late 1874 Finch lavishly entertained the prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, at his estate, Packington Hall, outside London. Finch quickly became a member of the prince's inner circle of raucous intimates, infamous for their materialistic, extravagant lives. The prince invited Finch to accompany him on a seventeen-week goodwill tour of India in 1875–76. Though he arranged the sporting events and served as his sponsor's personal hunting guide, Finch abruptly returned home in early 1876 to confront his unfaithful wife and her lover. The divorce suit that followed involved the highest members of English society and resulted in Finch's being exiled, in effect, by Queen Victoria herself. No longer welcome in polite company in England, he dropped out of sight, but in late summer 1883 he arrived at the West Texas cattle town of Big Spring. There he bought a 2,500-acre ranch north of town and a $40,000 herd of cattle on "range delivery," or sight unseen. Because the rustic boomtown had few conveniences, in quick succession Finch bought a hotel and a bar, the former, at least, at an inflated price. He also built a meat market. Though initially unable to gain the acceptance of the local cowboy-cattleman fraternity, the earl won them over in time by his generosity with his liquor, by his being introduced formally at roundup by a prominent cattleman, and by his pleasant personality. He spent his waking hours partying, drinking, and hunting, to the neglect of his ranch and stock. Although mysterious and remote, he became a valued and respected member of the community, for the frontiersmen did not pry into one's personal life. On January 13, 1885, after hosting a two-week party that was spoken of in awe for years, he unexpectedly died. His hard drinking had apparently caught up with him. Finch's significance, however, does not lie in his self-destructive antics but rather in his being a classic example of a little-publicized but stock frontier character who, along with the buffalo hunter, Indian fighter, and cowboy, helped settle the frontier West-the remittance man. Few in number, perhaps never more than a few hundred, remittance men were typically wealthy Europeans, mostly Englishmen, who for various reasons were exiled to reform or to perish, to the remote regions of the world, where they regularly received money (remittances) from home. On the United States frontier, where men were expected to be rugged individualists, these outcasts were generally not admired. Finch was an exception.
Patricia Lee McCormick, bullfighter and artist, was born on November 18, 1929, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the daughter of E. B. McCormick and Frances Lee “Bob” (Owen) McCormick. At the age of seven, McCormick and her family vacationed in Mexico City. The family decided to attend a bullfight, which introduced young Patricia to the sport. When she was thirteen years old, the family moved to Big Spring, Texas, where her father became chief engineer at Cosden Petroleum Corporation. While attending Big Spring High School, she enjoyed landscape painting as a hobby. After graduating high school in 1948, McCormick attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied opera . She discovered that she lacked musical talent and transferred to Texas Western College (now University of Texas at El Paso) in El Paso to study art. McCormick crossed the Texas-Mexico border to visit Juárez and rediscovered bullfighting at the Plaza de Toros there. She began studying the method by practicing in her dorm with her father’s World War I blanket as a cape and reading as much as she could about matadors. Not long afterwards, McCormick left college and pursued a career in bullfighting. Before her career even began, McCormick faced criticism. A lack of Latin blood—meaning a lack of proper temperament—financial support, and contacts all hindered her way. However, gender quickly emerged as McCormick’s greatest obstacle. She convinced former matador Alejandro del Hierro to mentor her in the sport despite his skepticism of her abilities. On September 9, 1951, Patricia McCormick premiered as a guest bullfighter in Juárez. Although the bull trampled her a couple of times during this first appearance, the crowd enjoyed her overall performance, and the judges deemed it superior. Three months after her debut, McCormick received an invitation to Mexico’s Matadors’ Union; she was the first American woman so invited. After joining Mexico’s Matadors’ Union, she performed in her first professional bullfight in Juárez on January 20, 1952. McCormick performed under the same rules as men per the Matadors’ Union and her own insistence. She believed that she needed to “fight by the same standards” of a male matador for others to take her seriously. Other female bullfighters, called toreras , rode horses in the ring during their performances and only dismounted to deal the killing blow. McCormick spent the entire fight on her feet, standing her ground and pivoting when necessary. Despite the equality of the rules, the Matadors’ Union authorities insisted McCormick wear a traje corto , which included an Andalusian waistcoat, as described by news features, and had a higher waist than the uniform of the male matadors. Male matadors traditionally wore the traje de luces uniform. The Union considered the traje corto to have more dignity than the traje de luces , although the clothing differentiated McCormick from the male matadors. The different uniform emphasized the discrimination McCormick faced throughout her career, specifically the glass ceiling that blocked her from a promotion. To become a full-fledged matador, a ceremony, or alternativa , had to occur before apprentices advanced to the senior rank; the ceremony also required a sponsor. McCormick remained an apprentice, or novillera , fighter. She never advanced to the rank of matador because no male matador offered to sponsor her. Renowned matadors praised her skill and courage, and she often received top billing. Despite the praise she received, including for her decision to bullfight with larger animals in contrast with other women bullfighters, male matadors lamented McCormick’s gender. News features often quoted one matador’s comment, “Had she not been born a woman, she might have been better than any of us.” The macho atmosphere of the predominantly male sport of bullfighting left McCormick with a need for an escort. She did not date during her time as a bullfighter. She also observed the local standard
In 1881, as Big Spring was being established, Joseph Fisher (1845-1906), born in Austria, opened a general store in a tent. William (1855-1932), a brother, joined him in 1883. They had a trade territory as large as four New England states. Their free delivery pushcart doubled at times as the city hearse. The firm served as the first local bank, sometimes open until 2:00 a.m., to cash paychecks. The Fishers aided farmers and ranchers, often carrying debtors for years. Their generosity benefited fraternal orders, schools, and churches. The store was closed in 1941. (1976)
Big Spring, the county seat of Howard County, is at the intersection of Interstate Highway 20, U.S. highways 80 and 87, State Highway 350, Farm Road 700, and the Missouri Pacific line in southwest central Howard County. The city is in a rocky gorge between two high foothills of the Caprock escarpment in West Texas. It derives its name from the nearby "big spring" in Sulphur Draw, which was a watering place for coyotes, wolves, and herds of buffalo , antelope, and mustangs ; the spring was a source of conflict between Comanche and Shawnee Indians and a campsite used by early expeditions across West Texas. Signal Mountain, ten miles southeast of Big Spring, was a landmark used by early cattlemen. In 1849 Capt. Randolph B. Marcy 's expedition reached Big Spring on the return trip from Santa Fe and marked it as a campsite on the Overland Trail to California. The spring was also a campsite on the Santa Fe Trail from Fort Smith, Arkansas, to El Paso. Early ranchers, among them Adolph Miller and C. C. Slaughter , reached the area in the late 1870s, and after the ranchers came four-section plots with squatters' dugouts. In the late 1870s the community of Big Spring began near the spring as a settlement of hide huts and saloons for buffalo hunters. In 1880 the Texas and Pacific built through the area, following the line of Sulphur Draw several miles north of the spring. The community moved to the tracks, and Big Spring became the site of railroad shops and a station. When Howard County was organized in 1882 Big Spring became the county seat. That same year a post office started operating in the community, and its first general store opened. By 1884 Big Spring had an estimated population of 1,200, six saloons, four general stores, and a weekly newspaper (the Pantagraph ). Several private schools were operating in the community by 1890, and the town had a public school by 1898. By 1900 Big Spring had a population of 1,255. The Big Spring Herald was founded as a weekly in 1904 and became a daily in 1928. In 1905 an opera house opened, and in 1907 the city incorporated with an aldermanic form of city government. Big Spring installed a waterworks in 1913. In 1914 the city had a hotel, three banks, and Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Christian, and Methodist churches. In 1920 Big Spring was a small city of 4,273 that served as a shipping point for livestock, cotton and small grains. Oil was discovered in the vicinity in 1926, and the city experienced a boom over the next ten years. In 1927, in response to rapid growth, Big Spring switched to a council-manager form of city government . The population of Big Spring had grown to 13,375 by 1930. By 1936 there were 810 wells in production in the surrounding oilfields, and Big Spring State Park , developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps , opened. The Big Spring State Hospital for the mentally ill was opened in 1939. The city's growth was halted briefly in the late 1930s, and its population fell to 12,604 in 1940 but then revived again during World War II . Big Spring Army Air Corps Bombardier School was opened on land southwest of the city in 1942 and during the war graduated more than 5,000 bombardiers. After the school was closed as a military installation in 1945, its airfield served as the municipal airport for a number of years. Howard County Junior College opened in 1946. In 1950 the city reported 650 businesses and 17,258 inhabitants. Big Spring again grew dramatically during the 1950s, when its population increased by 80 percent-to 31,230. It flourished through its petrochemical industries and as a banking and distribution center for the county. Part of this growth was also due to a renewed military presence: the airfield was reactivated as a military base in 1951, and in 1952 it was renamed Webb Air Force Base . Over the next several decades the city's population began a slow decline, falling to 28,735 by 1970, 24,804 by 1980, and 23,093 by 1990. In 2000, however, the population incr
Joseph Potton (1847-1920), a native of England and master mechanic for Texas & Pacific Railroad, built this Victorian residence in 1901. Designed by the Fort Worth firm of S. B. Haggart and Son, the house was constructed of Pecos sandstone with iron pillars and zinc gable decorations. Potton, a school board trustee, and his wife occupied the home after he retired in 1912 and often entertained here. Later their daughter, Mrs. Henry R. Hayden, and her family resided here. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1976.
In 1906 a group of pioneers arrived on the frontier north of Big Spring to take advantage of rancher Sid Moore's offer to sell land to farmers. Four acres were set aside, and a one-room school was built in 1906. The first school term, with one teacher and fifteen students, lasted six months. A second teacher was hired in 1908, and a curtain was used to partition the classrooms. Both school and community were named in honor of Moore. The school became the center of community activities, and on one occasion a double wedding was held on the front steps. The school trustees, besides serving as administrators, took care of repairs and maintenance work. A residence for teachers was added in 1933, and a 1934 bond election provided funds to enlarge the school and build a gymnasium. The school and community experienced some hard times, and the year 1917 is remembered as one of the worst. Young men were lost to World War I, and an influenza epidemic devastated the community. On February 26, 1945, the school and adjoining buildings were destroyed by fire. The school was never rebuilt, and the district was discontinued and partitioned as required by the Gilmer-Aiken School Law in 1949. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.
6 alumni who reached major-college or pro sports
Big Spring High School, a Class 4A institution, has a proud history of athletes who have gone on to compete at major college and professional levels. The community has long supported its Steers, and that support has helped cultivate a tradition of excellence. Several former Steers have made their mark in professional football, showcasing the talent developed right here in Big Spring.
Among the notable alumni are Ken Coffey, who played safety for the Washington Redskins, and Bob Flowers, who played center for the Green Bay Packers. Bubba Franks, a tight end for the Green Bay Packers, also honed his skills in Big Spring. Charley Johnson was a quarterback for the St. Louis Cardinals, while Cliff Patton played guard for the Philadelphia Eagles. Charlie West also represented Big Spring as a safety for the Minnesota Vikings.
Bubba Franks was a tight end for the Green Bay Packers.
41 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
Big Spring's biggest name walked the halls of Big Spring High School: Ryan Tannehill, who would go on to spend a dozen seasons as an NFL quarterback. He grew up here a three-sport kid — football, basketball, and track —…
Big Spring sits up high, a little island in the plains at 2,556 feet. You can stand on the bluff in the State Park and see forever, mesquite trees dotting the landscape like green freckles. That spring, the one that…
Here is a scene from the old Texas cattle trails, preserved by the folklorist J. Frank Dobie in his book The Longhorns. Dobie spent his life collecting stories from the last generation of men who rode the trails, and…
You're driving past the site of the First National Bank in Big Spring, chartered way back in 1890. It went through a merger in the tough Depression years of the 1930s, eventually moving to new facilities in 1963.…
Joseph Potton (1847-1920), a native of England and master mechanic for Texas & Pacific Railroad, built this Victorian residence in 1901. Designed by the Fort Worth firm of S. B. Haggart and Son, the house was…
In 1881, as Big Spring was being established, Joseph Fisher (1845-1906), born in Austria, opened a general store in a tent. William (1855-1932), a brother, joined him in 1883. They had a trade territory as large as four…
You're driving through Big Spring, where the First Christian Church was established in 1882 with just seven members. Services started in a private home before a small sanctuary was built. The congregation grew, moving…
Big Spring (Big Spring, TX) placed on the 4A Texas high school baseball stat leaderboards for the 2026 season: RJ Gomez (0.523 avg, 5 HR).
You're driving through Big Spring, and the native stone structure to your right is St. Thomas Catholic Church. Organized way back in 1883 as St. Mary's, it was the first Catholic parish in town. Services were held in…
Joseph Heneage Finch, English nobleman and sportsman, was born in Middlesex, England, to Heneage and Jane (Wightwick) Finch on February 21, 1849. Heneage was the sixth earl of Aylesford; Joseph, the seventh earl, was a…
Patricia Lee McCormick, bullfighter and artist, was born on November 18, 1929, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was the daughter of E. B. McCormick and Frances Lee “Bob” (Owen) McCormick. At the age of seven, McCormick and…
Big Spring, the county seat of Howard County, is at the intersection of Interstate Highway 20, U.S. highways 80 and 87, State Highway 350, Farm Road 700, and the Missouri Pacific line in southwest central Howard County.…
You're driving through Big Spring, and right here is where a little piece of rockabilly history was made. Back in 1957, Hank Harral, a local radio man, started Caprock Records. He wanted to record his own music, and he…
You're driving through West Texas, near Big Spring, and right here is the country that inspired Harvey Wallace Caylor. Born in Indiana in 1867, Caylor came to Texas as a self-taught artist, finding his muse among the…
You're driving through West Texas, a region where water is more precious than gold. Right here, the Colorado River Municipal Water District, established in 1949, was a game-changer. This wasn't just about pipes and…
You're driving through West Texas, and right here in Big Spring, you're passing through the territory of Dr. John Harrison Hurt, a physician who served this vast region for over fifty years. Arriving in 1887, his…
You're driving through West Texas, and right here, Rupert Ricker was on the cusp of a monumental discovery. A Navarro County native, Ricker studied the work of geologists who suspected oil lay beneath this very land. He…
You're driving through West Texas, and right here near Big Spring, you're passing through the legacy of Florence Marie Hall. Born in Big Spring in 1937, Marie wasn't just a businesswoman; she was a force for good.…
You're driving through Big Spring, Texas, and right here is where Dr. Daniel William McIntyre set up shop in 1883. After his wife passed, he moved his two young daughters and his mother-in-law to this dusty frontier…
You're driving through Big Spring, Texas, where Preston Ershell Harrison spent nearly twenty years as a pioneer in mental healthcare. As superintendent of Big Spring State Hospital from 1957 to 1975, he believed in the…
You're driving through Howard County, and right here, you're passing through the heart of what was once Comanche and Pawnee territory. This land, especially around what's now Big Spring, was a vital watering hole – the…
You're driving through Big Spring, Texas, and right here is the Veterans Administration Medical Center. Established in 1950 as the VA Hospital, this facility has grown into a vital hub for healthcare for veterans across…
You're driving past Big Spring, and right here is where Howard College got its start. It was founded in 1945 as Howard County Junior College, and the first classes kicked off in September 1946. Initially, students…
You're driving through Big Spring, the birthplace of Lota May Spell. Born in 1885, Spell became a renowned musician and author with a passion for musical education. After studying piano and composition in Germany, she…
You're driving past the Masonic Cemetery in Big Spring. The Staked Plains Lodge No. 598 established this cemetery in May 1885 when member George Bauer donated land. It's now part of the larger Mount Olive Cemetery and…
Howard County sits squarely on the High Plains of West Texas, a vast, relatively flat expanse sculpted by ancient seas and epochs of erosion. Here, the land stretches out in seemingly endless horizons, the sky a…
You're driving through far northwestern Howard County, near the Borden County line. Right here, in 1909, William Pulver Soash envisioned a boomtown. He bought over a hundred thousand acres, advertised fertile soil and…
Howard County sits on the High Plains of West Texas, a landscape of rolling grasslands that seems to stretch endlessly toward the horizon. For centuries, this was Comanche territory, their presence shaping the land and…
In 1906 a group of pioneers arrived on the frontier north of Big Spring to take advantage of rancher Sid Moore's offer to sell land to farmers. Four acres were set aside, and a one-room school was built in 1906. The…
The story of Vincent, Texas, begins on the High Plains of Howard County, a landscape of seemingly endless horizons under a vast sky. Early settlers, drawn by the promise of open range and fertile soil, established…
This seventeen-mile stretch of Interstate 20 through Howard County is named for Trooper Troy Merle Hogue. On December 30, 1994, Hogue was assisting a Howard County deputy investigating a single-vehicle accident on I-20…
Garden City sits squarely on the High Plains of West Texas, a landscape of seemingly endless horizons under a vast sky. It's a place where the wind whispers through the grasses, carrying the scent of dry earth and…
You're cruising down I-20 in Howard County, and right here is Coahoma. This town likely got its name from a Mississippi county, which itself was named after an Indian word meaning 'red panther.' Coahoma started as…
Coahoma High School in Coahoma, Texas qualified for the 2026 UIL state softball championships, reaching the state tournament (final four) in Class three A, Division Two.
Forsan (Forsan, TX) placed on the 2A Texas high school baseball stat leaderboards for the 2026 season: Cole Wyatt (0.548 avg); Jonathyn Mendoza (0.545 avg); Halen Kemper (0.528 avg); Jack Nichols (0.500 avg, 1 HR); Colt…
You're driving through Howard County, and right here is the land once owned by Dora Nunn Roberts. Born in Alabama in 1863, she came to Texas and settled south of Signal Mountain with her first husband in 1884. After…
You're driving through Martin County, where about 1900, J. E. and Nettie Millhollon arrived with their cattle. They settled here, acquiring this homesite and over twenty thousand acres. Their impressive house was built…
You're driving past the site of the Carmelite Monastery, founded in 1882 by German friars who established a German Catholic colony called Marienfeld. They built this adobe structure, using its thick walls and Gothic…
You're driving through Stanton, Texas, where in 1881, Carmelite Monks began establishing the first Catholic church and colony west of Fort Worth. They built a monastery by 1884 and St. Joseph's Church the following…
Stanton, Texas. It might seem like a quiet spot on the map, nestled in Martin County, but this place has a way of producing folks who leave their mark. You see, even small towns can be a crucible for talent, a place…
Stanton (Stanton, TX) placed on the 3A Texas high school baseball stat leaderboards for the 2026 season: Gage McCown (0.488 avg, 2 HR); Mason Martinez (0.484 avg).