Monahans, TX
Music connected to Monahans
About Monahans
- • Singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin, of The Gatlin Brothers, was born in Monahans.
- • The Million Barrel Museum, showcasing an early oil storage tank, originated here.
- • The Texas and Pacific Railway's arrival in 1881 spurred the town's initial growth.
- • Local legend says a stagecoach carrying gold was robbed and buried near Monahans.
- • The oil boom of the 1920s dramatically transformed Monahans from a ranching town.
- • Named for surveyor John Monahan, it was established in 1881 and incorporated in 1927.
- • With approximately 7,800 residents, it's smaller than many West Texas county seats.
- • At 2,634 feet, the elevation offers expansive views of the surrounding Permian Basin.
- • Oil and gas extraction remains the predominant industry in the Monahans area.
- • A quiet, resilient spirit permeates the air, reflecting the community's hard-won history.
- • The Midland RockHounds, a minor league baseball team, are the closest pro sports presence.
- • Monahans High School's football team, the Loboes, have a strong tradition of state playoff runs.
- • The landscape features extensive sand dunes, part of the Permian Basin.
- • The Monahans Sandhills State Park showcases impressive active sand dunes.
- • Pronghorn antelope can be found roaming near Monahans.
- • Shinnery oak is a common plant in the sandy soils around Monahans.
- • Oil was discovered near Monahans in 1926, leading to a boom.
- • Interstate 20 passes directly through Monahans, connecting it to major cities.