BIG BEND COUNTRY: MIDLAND

MIDLAND TEXAS

The billboard is telling you to get off Interstate 20 at Exit 136 to Visit Midland, Home of Presidents.

The presidents to which the billboard refers are the two George Bush's that Texas has been so kind as to lend America for a short time, to varying degrees of gratitude.

If you visit Midland you can visit the childhood home of George W. Bush and tour his fully-restored house that is furnished just as it was when George lived there from 1952-56.

There are other museums in Midland beside the old Bush home. There is the Midland County Historical Museum, the Museum of the Southwest Complex, the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame, the American Airpower Heritage Museum and Commemorative Air Force Headquarters and the Fire Museum.

That seems to be a lot of museums in a town that at last count had 101,033 people living in it. Midland started in the late 1800s as a water stop for the railroad, midway between El Paso and Fort Worth on the Texas and Pacific Railroad.

Midland sits atop the Permian Basin oil, which was discovered in the 1920s. Oil continues to be pumped from the ground around Midland.

Midland is often linked with nearby Odessa, often referred to as Midlland-Odessa. The combined population of the Midland-Odessa metro area is 255,978, when last counted in 2007.

To eyes that have seen many cities with tall skylines, it may seem odd that Midland is nicknamed "The Tall City." For a long time Midland's 22 story Wilco Building was the tallest building between Fort Worth and Phoenix. Apparently El Paso and Albuquerque did not have any tall buildings during this period. The tallest building today in Midland is the Bank of America building at 24 stories and 332 feet. There were plans to build 4 taller skyscrapers in the 1980s, but then the oil business went bust. Currently 5 of Midland 40 skyscrapers sit vacant.

Midland has some minor league sports teams, like the Midland Rockhounds, playing baseball in Citibank Ballpark. The West Texas United Sockers play soccer in Grande Communications Stadium. The West Texas Drillers play football at Memorial Stadium.

email feedback