Ward County
Ward County, Texas
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Ward County is on the southwestern edge of the High Plains region of southwest Texas. The center of the county is at 31°32' north latitude and 103°07' west longitude, near the community of Pyote. Monahans, the county seat, is in the northeastern corner of Ward County at the intersection of Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 18, thirty-three miles southwest of Odessa on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The area was named for Thomas W. Ward. Ward County covers 539,460 acres, or 836 square miles, of generally level land; elevations range from 2,400 to 2,800 feet above sea level. Large areas in north Ward County are composed of active, windblown sand dunes, subject to wind erosion and sediment transport. This area has scattered oak groves and a number of sections commonly barren except for grasses and nongrassy herbs, the abundance of which depends on rainfall. Along the Pecos River in the south and west are areas of alluvial fans composed of sand, gravel, and mud substrate. Scrub brush and sparse grasses grow in this part of the county. Near the towns of Grandfalls and Royalty are areas of caliche with bedrock and alluvial material in the substrate. Scrub brush, sparse grasses, creosote bush, and cacti grow in the shallow, stony soils. Less than 1 percent of Ward County is considered prime farmland. The Pecos River is the only continuous flowing source of surface water in the area; the average annual rainfall is twelve inches. Temperatures in Ward County range from an average low of 29° F in January to an average high of 98° F in July. The average growing season lasts 223 days. The production of petroleum and natural gas are quite important to the economy.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Glenn Justice, John Leffler | © Texas State Historical Association
Ward County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Ward County
- Ward County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Ward County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
2400 ft – 2880 ft
Places of Ward County
Noteworthy | Place | Type |
---|---|---|
Allentown | Town | |
Aroya | Town | |
Barstow | Town | |
Grandfalls | Town | |
Gulf Camp | Town | |
Monahans | Town | |
Ozarking | Town | |
Pyote | Town | |
Quito | Town | |
Royalty | Town | |
Sand Hills | Town | |
Southwest Sandhill | Town | |
Thorntonville | Town | |
Trueheart | Town | |
Wickett | Town |
Photos of Ward County and surrounding areas
Ward County, Texas
View of the Ward County Courthouse entrace in the town of Monahan's, Texas.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Ward County, Texas
The Ward County Courthouse is located in Monahans, Texas. Photograph by Larry D. Moore.

Ward County, Texas
Map of Ward County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Monahans, Texas
A windmill at the Monahan sandhills in Monahans, Texas.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Monahans
Wickett, Texas
Wickett City Hall in the town of Wickett, in Ward County, Texas.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Wickett
Barstow, Texas
Leaning store in Barstow, Texas in Ward County.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Barstow

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Ward County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Ward County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
11,998 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Ward County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
7,805 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$49,916 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Ward County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
3,411,543,190 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Ward County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
209,725,800 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Ward County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
99,098,351 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.0 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
13.9 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
30.9 | 94.9 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Ward County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
835.6 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Ward County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
835.8 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |