Fort Davis, TX
Music connected to Fort Davis
About Fort Davis
- • Ty Mitchell, a country music singer, was born and raised in Fort Davis.
- • The McDonald Observatory's modern visitor programs originated in Fort Davis.
- • Its location along the San Antonio-El Paso Road established the town.
- • A local legend claims a ghost haunts the Hotel Limpia's halls.
- • The silver boom in nearby Shafter led to Fort Davis's economic growth.
- • It's named for Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, established in 1854.
- • The population is around 1,050, smaller than many high school graduating classes.
- • At 5,050 feet, it boasts cooler summers than most Texas cities.
- • Tourism and hospitality drive the local economy.
- • A sense of peaceful isolation permeates the town's atmosphere.
- • The El Paso Chihuahuas are the closest minor league baseball team.
- • Fort Davis High School won the state six-man football championship in 1995.
- • The Davis Mountains are formed from volcanic activity during the Tertiary period.
- • McDonald Observatory sits atop Mount Locke, offering dark skies for astronomical viewing.
- • Limpia Creek flows through the town, providing a vital water source.
- • The Montezuma quail, a colorful bird, inhabits the grassy slopes of the Davis Mountains.
- • The area features a variety of oak trees, including Emory and gray oaks.
- • Evidence suggests the area was inhabited by various indigenous groups, including the Apache.
- • In 1880, the Buffalo Soldiers helped quell a Victorio raid near Fort Davis.
- • Fort Davis National Historic Site showcases well-preserved 19th-century military buildings, dating back to 1854.
- • Highway 17, the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop, offers panoramic views.