BlockBefore

Crane County, Texas

11 topographic sheets cover 3 settlements here.

Research this county

Texas within the United States
Crane County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 25 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 3 populated places in this county; 3 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 1889 - Crane County, state of Texas
Land ownership map (1889) - Crane County, state of Texas. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

34 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 1,176 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 34 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-05, scale 1:17200
1963-05-05, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-05, scale 1:17200
1963-05-05, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-05, scale 1:17200
1963-05-05, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-05-05, scale 1:17200
1963-05-05, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-14, scale 1:21600
1966-01-14, scale 1:21600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-11, scale 1:17800
1967-02-11, scale 1:17800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-11, scale 1:17800
1967-02-11, scale 1:17800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-11, scale 1:17800
1967-02-11, scale 1:17800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-02-11, scale 1:17800
1967-02-11, scale 1:17800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:113589
1969-12-08, scale 1:113589. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:113589
1969-12-08, scale 1:113589. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:113930
1969-12-08, scale 1:113930. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:114404
1969-12-08, scale 1:114404. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-05, scale 1:20200
1971-02-05, scale 1:20200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-05, scale 1:20200
1971-02-05, scale 1:20200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-05, scale 1:20200
1971-02-05, scale 1:20200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-05, scale 1:20200
1971-02-05, scale 1:20200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-27, scale 1:19900
1972-12-27, scale 1:19900. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-27, scale 1:19900
1972-12-27, scale 1:19900. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-27, scale 1:19900
1972-12-27, scale 1:19900. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-12-27, scale 1:19900
1972-12-27, scale 1:19900. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-01-17, scale 1:62666
1980-01-17, scale 1:62666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

2 stations, 1 gage

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

9 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 52-1Commissioner's Precinct 1: Crane city: Crane city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; 6th; Sue
  • 52-2Crane city - That part Bounded by City limits; Sue; 6th; City limits
  • 52-3Crane city - That part Bounded by 6th; Alford, 13th, Gaston; City limits; City limits
  • 52-4Crane city - That part Bounded by 6th; City limits; City limits; Gaston, 13th, Alford
  • 52-5Commissioner's Precinct 1 - That part north of State Hwy. 329, outside Crane city
  • 52-6Commissioner's Precinct 1 - That part south of State Hwy. 329, outside Crane city
  • 52-7Commissioner's Precinct 2
  • 52-8Commissioner's Precinct 3
  • 52-9Commissioner's Precinct 4

Wildfire, 2006 to 2017

40 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 40 of them, burning about 41,976 acres. 8 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined14
Equipment and vehicle use11
Natural8
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Misuse of fire by a minor1
Debris and open burning1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
26 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined15,479 acresTexas A & M Forest ServicePLEASANT FARMS FIRE
25 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined6,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRAND FALLS FIRE
17 March 2008Natural3,018 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCRANE FIRE
6 April 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,800 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCRANE
5 June 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,800 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceJ-BAR RANCH
18 June 2008Equipment and vehicle use2,483 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceTUBBS CORNER RANCH
21 February 2008Equipment and vehicle use1,920 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceBARNSLEY
8 April 2010Equipment and vehicle use1,900 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSAND HILL FIRE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1954 to 2025

60 of 190 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 190 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 2 injuries and about $985,580 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail114
Thunderstorm Wind40
Tornado20
Flash Flood16

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1954Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurtno account filed
March 2000Flash FloodCountywide$500,000Extensive flooding near Crane and points south closed highways and caused damage. The Crane Country Club sustained damage to the golf course as well as the building and equipment. The damage was so extensive that the county nearly decided to permanently shut down it operations. All roads in and out of Crane were closed overnight with U.S. Highway 385 sustaining some damage.
October 1995HailCrane$170,000no account filed
May 2015HailCrane$100,000A thunderstorm moved across Crane County and produced baseball sized hail in Crane. A damage survey was conducted the next day. Many vehicles had hail damage ranging from broken windshields to numerous dents. The majority of the damage was to vehicles, however there was damage noted at several homes. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 1995HailCrane$75,000The two supercells that hammered northern Pecos County moved east-northeast into southern Crane County. The first storm had golf ball-size hail in the city of Crane that lasted about 15 minutes and the second storm, which hit Tubbs Corner, had hail up to softball-size that lasted 10 minutes.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindCrane$20,000Severe thunderstorm winds downed at least four utility poles along Farm to Market Road 1601 north of Texas Highway 329 in east-central Crane County. Damaging winds spread east toward Crane, where several large trees were blown down.
June 2000Thunderstorm WindCrane$20,000A severe thunderstorm produced very strong winds and caused damage across the city of Crane. There were numerous reports of roof damage, carport damage, broken windows, and tree damage. An electric meter was knocked off a house and a water line was broken by a falling tree.
May 2015HailCrane$10,000A thunderstorm moved across Crane County and produced golf ball sized hail south of Crane on Highway 385. There were reports of broken windows and some damage to cars. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2008HailCrane$10,000Quarter to golfball sized hail fell in Crane.
May 2005Thunderstorm WindCrane$10,000Severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines in Crane.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindCrane$10,000The Crane County Sheriff's Office and the public reported 60 mph winds that blew down power lines.
May 2008HailCrane$10,000no account filed
October 1995HailCrane$10,000no account filed
October 1995Thunderstorm WindCrane$10,000no account filed
July 2017Thunderstorm WindCrane$7,000A thunderstorm moved across Crane County and produced wind damage in the City of Crane. There were downed powerlines at W. 6th Street and Katherine Street. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindCrane$6,000A thunderstorm moved over Crane and produced wind damage. Utility poles were snapped inside the city limits of Crane along Highway 385. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindCrane$5,000Severe thunderstorm winds at the Rio Pecos Power Plant resulted in damage to Power Unit #5.
June 2004HailCrane$5,000no account filed
April 1997Thunderstorm WindCrane$4,000Downburst winds from a thunderstorm knocked down trees and powerlines, and caused roof damage to a few houses.
May 1992Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500no account filed
May 1993HailCrane$500no account filed
May 1993HailCrane$500no account filed
November 1993Thunderstorm WindCrane$50no account filed
April 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$30no account filed
May 2025HailCrane-A report from the public of tennis ball-size hail in Crane was shared on social media.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindCrane Co Arpt-The West Texas Mesonet station 1 NNW Crane measured a 64 mph wind gust.
October 2025Thunderstorm WindCrane Co Arpt-The West Texas Mesonet station at Crane measured a 65 mph wind gust. The sheriff's office in Crane relayed a delayed report of some power outages, but did not reported any damage.
October 2023HailJuan Cordona Lake-Public report of pea to ping pong ball size hail between Grandfalls and Crane. Time and location are estimated from radar.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm produced a 69 mph wind gust at the Crane Mesonet site.
April 2021HailCrane-A thunderstorm produced ping pong to two inch hail stones near Crane, TX.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm produced a 58 mph wind gust near Crane at the mesonet site.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm produced a 61 mph wind gust ten miles south of Penwell.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm produced a 65 mph wind gust five miles west of Crane.
March 2019Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm moved across Crane County and produced a 62 mph wind gust one mile north northwest of Crane.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm moved across Crane County and produced a 64 mph wind gust one mile north northwest of Crane at the Mesonet site.
July 2017Flash FloodCrane Co Arpt-Heavy rain produced flash flooding about twelve miles north of Crane. Water was over US Highway 385 between Ranch Road 1233 and Caprock Road roughly ten to fourteen miles north of Crane.
May 2015HailCrane-A thunderstorm moved across Crane County and produced one inch hail in Roadside Park south of Crane on Highway 385.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindCrane-A thunderstorm moved over Crane County and produced a wind gust of 65 mph four miles west of Crane.
October 2008HailCrane J Bar Arpt-A trained spotter reported nickel sized hail falling at the intersection of FM1601 & FM1233.
May 2008Tornado (EF0)Crane-Local law enforcement relayed a trained spotter report of a tornado west of Crane. No damage was reported.
June 2008Flash FloodCrane Co Arpt-Crane Police Department reported one foot of water flowing across several low water crossings in Crane.
October 2008HailCrane J Bar Arpt-A trained spotter reported golf ball sized hail about 13 miles northwest of Imperial. About 25 minutes later, the same spotter reported quarter sized hail 17 miles north of Imperial.
March 2007HailCrane-Marble to golfball size hail fell along U.S. Highway 385 north of Crane.
March 2007HailCrane-Penny size hail was reported on Farm to Market Road 1601 northwest of Crane.
April 2007Flash FloodCrane-Several cars were stalled in one to two feet of water at the intersection of U.S. 385 and Texas Route 329.
April 2007HailCrane-Quarter to golfball size hail fell in a swath south of Crane.
August 2007Flash FloodJuan Cordona Lake-Six inch pools of water accumulated on the ground and led to water protrusion inside the control room at Chevron-Warren Petroleum.
October 2007HailCrane-Penny to nickel sized hail fell at the Chevron--Warren Petroleum plant and along Texas State Highway 1053.
July 2007Flash FloodCrane-The Crane Police reported flooding at the intersection of 8th and Gaston streets. Due to the high water, the interstection was rendered impassible and therefore barricaded by the police.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindCrane J Bar Arpt-Trained spotters from the Chevron-Warren Petroleum Plant estimated 60 mph winds. No damage was reported.
March 2006Thunderstorm WindCrane-A trained spotter at a petroleum plant in rural Crane county reported 60 mph wind gusts. No damage was reported.
May 2006HailCrane-Penny size hail fell two miles north of Tubbs Corner in western Crane County on Farm to Market Road 1053.
May 2006HailCrane-Golfball to baseball size hail fell along U.S. Highway 385 north of Crane.
May 2006HailCrane-Nickel size hail fell at the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 1053 and 1233.
August 2006Flash FloodCrane-Six inches of water was flowing over Gaston Street in Crane.
July 2005HailCrane-A National Weather Service cooperative observer reported large hail falling for over 30 minutes. At times, strong winds blew the hail horizontally.
August 2005Flash FloodCrane-Flash flooding was reported on Farm to Market Road 1233 west of Crane.
July 2005HailCrane-Nickel to quarter size hail was reported by the public.
August 2005HailCrane-A trained spotter reported nickel size hail on U.S. Highway 385 at the Crane/Ector county line.
August 2005Flash FloodCrane-The public reported over half a foot of water running across the intersection of Texas Highway 329 and Farm to Market Road 1601. The Crane county Sheriff's office reported water flowing over low water crossings across the county.

Mines and quarries

4 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 4 workings inside this county. All of them still produce. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sulfur4

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Crane Sulfur PlantSulfurProducer
Sandhills Sulfur PlantSulfurProducer
Sandhills Sulfur PlantSulfurProducer
Waddell Sulfur PlantSulfurProducer

Every populated place in the county

3

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Crane County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.