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Loving County, Texas

8 topographic sheets cover 1 settlement here, and 1 property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

1 National Register listing published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Loving County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 8 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a building.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 1 populated places in this county; 1 is covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

1

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Loving County Courthousebuilding200606000362

The county from the air

28 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 797 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 28 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, 1953-11-22, scale 1:54000
1953-11-22, scale 1:54000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-06, scale 1:54000
1953-12-06, scale 1:54000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-02, scale 1:63000
1954-05-02, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-02, scale 1:63000
1954-05-02, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-02, scale 1:63000
1954-05-02, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-02, scale 1:63000
1954-05-02, scale 1:63000. 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, 1968-02-04, scale 1:22800
1968-02-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-04, scale 1:22800
1968-02-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-04, scale 1:22800
1968-02-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-04, scale 1:22800
1968-02-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-18, scale 1:11600
1969-01-18, scale 1:11600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-18, scale 1:11600
1969-01-18, scale 1:11600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-18, scale 1:11600
1969-01-18, scale 1:11600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-01-18, scale 1:11600
1969-01-18, scale 1:11600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-09, scale 1:115194
1971-03-09, scale 1:115194. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-29, scale 1:80000
1976-01-29, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-29, scale 1:80000
1976-01-29, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-29, scale 1:80000
1976-01-29, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-04-21, scale 1:80000
1976-04-21, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-11-17, scale 1:61000
1979-11-17, scale 1:61000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-11-17, scale 1:61000
1979-11-17, scale 1:61000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-11-17, scale 1:61000
1979-11-17, scale 1:61000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-11-17, scale 1:61333
1979-11-17, scale 1:61333. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1990-09-27, scale 1:4800
1990-09-27, scale 1:4800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

2 stations

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

The 1950 census, district by district

4 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.

  • 151-1Commissioner's Precinct 1
  • 151-2Commissioner's Precinct 2
  • 151-3Commissioner's Precinct 3
  • 151-4Commissioner's Precinct 4

Wildfire, 2010 to 2020

15 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 15 of them, burning about 10,673 acres. 1 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Equipment and vehicle use6
Missing data/not specified/undetermined4
Power generation/transmission/distribution3
Natural1
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
6 May 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined10,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceLOVING #1
10 May 2011Equipment and vehicle use600 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceJ E HALEY
19 July 2020Power generation/transmission/distribution20 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASSFIRE#15
26 April 2011Equipment and vehicle use15 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMENTONE MUTUAL AID
15 August 2020Natural10 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASSFIRE#17
4 April 2011Arson/incendiarism10 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceANADARKO #1
19 June 2010Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceANADARKO
19 June 2010Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServicePURPLE CG

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

Storms, 1954 to 2025

60 of 80 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 80 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 4 injuries and about $1,027,800 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail48
Thunderstorm Wind13
Flash Flood12
Tornado7

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 2005Thunderstorm WindMentone3 hurt, $500,000Destructive winds estimated to be 80 mph affected portions of Loving County. Twenty-six power poles were blown down along a five mile stretch of Highway 302 west of the Loving and Winkler County line. This resulted in widespread power outages. Three oil field workers were injured when their trailers were destroyed by the winds.
June 1985Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
June 2021Thunderstorm WindMentone$480,000A thunderstorm moved across Loving County and produced wind damage. There were 30 power poles that were broken and blown down seven miles north of Mentone. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
April 1999Tornado (F2)Mentone$20,000The Reeves County tornado crossed the Pecos River and headed north across open country. Soon after it crossed the river, the tornado hit some oil field supplies and caused some damage. The only oil pumpjack in the path was overturned. Engineers at a pumpjack manufacturer estimated winds in the range of 110-130 mph to knock over this large piece of equipment. Vegetation mainly consisted of brush less than 4 feet tall with disturbances ranging from snapped or flattened to bent more than 45 degrees. The small foliage on these plants was generally still present, but wind-torn.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindMentone$12,000A thunderstorm in Claudette's outer convective band resulted in damaging winds near Mentone. A porch was blown off of a mobile home, and a power pole was blown down.
June 2005Thunderstorm WindMentone$5,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew the roof off of a large barn northeast of Mentone.
August 2004Thunderstorm WindRed Bluff Res$5,000A rural resident of northwestern Loving County reported severe thunderstorm winds that broke large tree limbs and displaced large appliances, including a retired clothes dryer, that were stored outside.
September 2014Flash FloodMentone$2,000Heavy rain moved across Loving County and produced flash flooding in Mentone. Eight to ten men were stranded on oil field equipment due to high water in town. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
October 1997Thunderstorm WindMentone$2,000Downbursting winds knocked down two utility poles in Mentone.
September 2014Flash FloodMentone$1,000Heavy rain fell across Loving County and produced flash flooding in Mentone and along the Pecos River. State Highway 302 was reported to be closed in Loving County. The Pecos River was reported to be flooded 16 inches deep over State Highway 302 a half a mile on either side of the river near Mentone. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
September 2014Flash FloodMentone$500Heavy rain fell across Loving County and produced flash flooding near Mentone. There was water flowing eight inches over State Highway 302. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
September 2014Flash FloodMentone$300Heavy rain fell across Loving County and produced flash flooding. An oil tanker was reported to be stranded on Farm to Market Road 300. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
April 2025HailMentone-Quarter-sized hail reported on State Highway 302 per spotter network. Time is estimated from radar.
June 2025HailMentone-Quarter-size hail was reported by the public in rural Loving County. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
May 2024HailMentone-Lots of hail on the ground, and some may be larger. Picture from public Facebook photo.
July 2023HailMentone-A trained spotter observed quarter to half dollar size hail in Mentone.
October 2023HailRed Bluff Res-Hail was observed at the Tornado Gas Plant.
March 2020Tornado (EFU)Mentone-A thunderstorm in Reeves County produced a tornado about eight miles west of Mentone. A National Weather Service survey team was unable to locate damage directly caused by the tornado due to poor road networks. Photos provided by the public and emergency management suggested that the tornado was significant, however due to a lack of damage indicators, the survey team was unable to determine a path and intensity. Thus, the tornado was rated an EF-U. It was estimated that the tornado traveled roughly 12 miles before lifting from storm spotter reports and radar signatures. The tornado started in Reeves County and moved east into Loving County. It lifted before reaching Highway 302 and moved just north of Mentone.
April 2012HailMentone-A storm moved over Loving County and produced three to four inch hail six miles east of Orla. Wind gusts were up to 70 to 75 mph.
April 2012HailMentone-A thunderstorm moved over Loving County and produced four inch hail and wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph two miles west of Mentone.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindMentone-No damage was reported.
October 2008Flash FloodRed Bluff Res-Local law enforcement reported flooding near Red Bluff Lake on private roads. Water flowing over the roadways was up to a foot deep.
March 2007HailMentone-Marble to golfball size hail fell northwest of Mentone.
June 2007Tornado (EF0)Mentone-A tornado formed over open country north of Mentone. No damage occurred.
March 2005HailMentone-At 18:53 CST, the Loving County Emergency Manager reported half dollar size hail in Mentone. The swath of large hail and its parent severe thunderstorm continued east across southern Loving County. By 19:30 CST, local officials reported penny size hail that covered Interstate 20 fifteen miles east-northeast of Mentone. The accumulating hail resulted in slick driving conditions along the interstate.
June 2005HailRed Bluff Res-Golfball size hail was reported at Red Bluff Dam on the Reeves and Loving County line.
June 2005HailMentone-A rancher in northern Loving County reported very large hail ranging in size from golfballs to tennis balls along Farm to Market Road 652.
June 2005HailMentone-A left-moving supercell produced large hail along a swath from Mentone to near the Texas and New Mexico border in northern Loving County. Initial reports indicated penny size hail in Mentone and just east of the city along Texas Highway 302. A rancher reported golfball size hail fell in rural areas of the county before the storm moved over the state line. No damage was reported.
August 2005Flash FloodMentone-A National Weather Service trained spotter reported water flowing over portions of Farm to Market Road 652 in northern Loving County. The public also reported high water threatening homes on the Loving County, Texas/Lea County, New Mexico county line.
June 2005HailMentone-Penny size hail was reported by the public along Farm to Market Road 652 north of Mentone.
June 2005HailMentone-The public reported nickel size hail just east of Red Bluff Lake.
September 2004Flash FloodMentone-Several public reports indicated flash flooding across western Loving County. At 11:00 CST, at least one foot of water was reported flowing over Farm to Market Road 652 in the northwestern parts of the county. Additional flooding was reported at 11:45 CST along County Road 300 one mile north of Mentone, where flowing water up to one foot deep crossed the road.
October 2004HailMentone-A storm spotter in Mentone reported penny to nickel size hail.
October 2004HailMentone-A storm spotter reported pea to penny size hail northwest of Mentone.
June 2003HailRed Bluff Res-An isolated and long lived low precipitation supercell moved south across the New Mexico state line and into West Texas. An NWS COOP observer reported golfball size hail near Red Bluff Lake on the Reeves/Loving County line.
June 2000Flash FloodMentone-The general public reported water over the road on State Highway 302 east of Mentone.
April 1999Flash FloodWest Portion-Flash flooding occurred on FM 652. Part of a fence was washed onto the road.
May 1999Tornado (F0)Mentone-Brief tornado in open country north of Mentone.
May 1999HailMentone-Vegetation stripped along State Highway 302.
April 1999HailRed Bluff Res-Hail fell on the New Mexico state line.
July 1999Flash FloodCentral Portion-Minor flooding was reported along State Highway 302 east of Mentone.
May 1995Tornado (F0)not stated-Reported by Reeves County Sheriff's Office as they assisted in spotting for rural Loving County.
April 1993HailOrla-The public reported dime-size hail in western Loving County. No damage resulted.
October 2023Thunderstorm WindRed Bluff Res-no account filed
May 2023Thunderstorm WindRed Bluff Res-no account filed
May 2021HailRed Bluff Res-no account filed
May 2021HailMentone-no account filed
May 2021HailMentone-no account filed
March 2019HailMentone-no account filed
June 2019HailMentone-no account filed
June 2019HailMentone-no account filed
May 2018HailMentone-no account filed
April 2015HailMentone-no account filed
May 2015HailMentone-no account filed
October 2015HailMentone-no account filed
June 2014HailMentone-no account filed
June 2013HailMentone-no account filed
May 2010HailMentone-no account filed
May 2010HailRed Bluff Res-no account filed
July 2009Flash FloodMentone-no account filed

Every populated place in the county

1

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.

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.