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Monahans, Texas

8 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1986. It stands in the Monahans census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79756. The Survey maps it on the Monahans quadrangle. 7,836 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 2,621 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Monahans within Ward County

Population over time

2 figures

Monahans grew from 6,953 to 7,836 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20106,953
20207,836+883 (+13%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 8 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

77 since 2008

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 77 fires within 5 miles of Monahans between 2008 and 2018, burning about 1,299 acres in total. 2 started naturally. 3 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined29
Equipment and vehicle use19
Debris and open burning12
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Misuse of fire by a minor3
Arson/incendiarism3
Natural2
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2009Arson/incendiarism1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE
10 September 2009Power generation/transmission/distribution1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE
27 August 2009Power generation/transmission/distribution1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE
12 August 2008Misuse of fire by a minor1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
5 July 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
4 July 2008Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
17 July 2009Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGRASS FIRE
15 July 2010Debris and open burning1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Service31ST HELEN

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Ward County

Storms near this place

53 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Monahans in 53 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 31 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind, 10 flash flood, 1 lightning. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2021Thunderstorm WindMonahans$200,000A thunderstorm moved across Ward County and produced wind damage south of Monahans. The damage swath included metal roofs/carports lifted or bent, downed tree branches between one to three inches in diameter, and several damaged travel trailers. The damage was generally oriented in an easterly direction. After re-analysis of radar data, the damage was determined to be the result of a microburst that occurred at approximately 9:15 pm CDT. The survey team estimated the peak wind speeds to be between 75 to 85 mph. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindMonahans$50,000Severe thunderstorm winds resulted in several roofs being blown off of businesses in Monahans, including the Boys and Girls Club. In addition, a new radio antenna tower which was installed by the city just nine months prior to the storm was blown down and destroyed.
September 2002Thunderstorm WindMonahans$50,000Local media reported that a large transmitter tower was blown down near Monahans by severe thunderstorm winds.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindMonahans$35,000A report was received from the public of a small camper trailer destroyed due to strong winds south of I-20 in Monahans. Additionally, a semi-trailer was flipped, and damage to a personal vehicle and home was also reported due to both hail and damaging winds. The time of occurrence was estimated by radar. The wind speed was estimated to be around 80 mph based on the damage, and the cost of property damage was also estimated.
September 2004Flash FloodMonahans$25,000Multiple reports from Monahans indicated that heavy rainfall produced flash flooding that quickly inundated city streets and threatened several residences. Local law enforcement officials reported that city streets remained barricaded at 19:00 CST. Flood waters in the city receded by late evening. No major damage was reported.
August 2002HailMonahans$25,000Numerous reports of large hail up to the size of golfballs were received from Monahans. Local newspaper reports indicated that several roofs and vehicles received damage due to the hail.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindMonahans$20,000A cluster of thunderstorms moving to the southeast from southeastern New Mexico formed into a bow echo as it moved into the city of Monahans. Winds of at least 60 mph occurred for up to 25 minutes. An unofficial 84 mph was clocked by a local resident. Many signs were blown down. A small barn was carried by the wind into power lines, resulting in local power outages. Most reports came from the sheriff's office and SKYWARN Spotters.
June 2004HailMonahans$20,000no account filed
August 2014Thunderstorm WindMonahans$11,000A thunderstorm moved across Ward County and produced damage in Monahans. There were four to five telephone poles snapped, trees knocked over, a storage building turned on its side, and windows in mobile homes were broke. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
August 2002LightningMonahans$10,000The local newspaper reported that lightning resulted in a minor house fire. Damage was restricted to the kitchen of the home. No injuries were reported.
June 1996Thunderstorm WindMonahans$5,000no account filed
June 2021Flash FloodMonahans$1,000Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding near Monahans. There was flooding reported by law enforcement on 45th and Loop Road. Power poles that were laying on the ground were reported to be floating near the roadway. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 1995HailMonahans$1,000Sheriff's office reported golf ball-size hail just south of Monahans.
September 2014Flash FloodMonahans$500Heavy rain fell across Ward County and produced flash flooding in Monahans. Two to three feet of water was reported over some of the roads on the south side of Monahans. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 1994HailMonahans$500no account filed
February 2026HailMonahans-The public sent a photo of quarter-sized hail in Monahans. The total time of occurrence is partially estimated from radar.
May 2025HailMonahans-A video shared by the public shows a large amount of approximately quarter-size hail in Monahans. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindMonahans-The AWOS station KE01 Roy Hurd Memorial Airport measured a 61 mph wind gust. The total duration/time of occurrence is estimated.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindMonahans-A thunderstorm moved through Monahans and the public estimated a wind gust of 60 mph.
May 2015HailMonahans-A thunderstorm moved across Ward County and produced penny sized hail on the south side of Monahans.
May 2010Thunderstorm WindMonahans-No known damage was reported with this gust.
April 2007Flash FloodMonahans-Five to six inches of water flowed over the road into Monahans Sandhills State Park. Also, in Grandfalls on Texas Highway 18, six to twelve inches of water flowed over the road.
August 2006Flash FloodMonahans-An isolated thunderstorm developed directly over Monahans and remained stationary for half an hour. This resulted in water flowing across city streets in Monahans after the storm.
August 2006Flash FloodMonahans-Flash flooding was reported in downtown Monahans. Most locations had curb to curb flooding but some locations were under two feet of water.
May 2005HailMonahans-Nickel size hail was reported at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 1776 and Texas Highway 18.
June 2005HailMonahans-A slow moving thunderstorm produced penny to quarter size hail over Texas State Highway 18 and Farm to Market Road 1219 south of Monahans for more than half an hour during the late afternoon of the 9th. No damage was reported.
July 2004Flash FloodMonahans-An ambulance crew traveling between Coyanosa and Monahans reported flash flooding that caused high water to flow over Farm to Market Road 1776 in several locations.
July 2004Flash FloodMonahans-A second focus for thunderstorm development and heavy rainfall evolved over the west Texas Upper Trans Pecos region early Sunday. This activity slowly tracked east into the western Permian Basin. Isolated occurrences of flash flooding resulted from this complex of heavy rainfall.Officials at Monahans Sandhills State Park reported that nearly a half foot of water flowed over secondary roads.
October 2004Thunderstorm WindMonahans-A large tree was blown down by severe thunderstorm winds just west of Monahans.
September 2004Flash FloodMonahans-Trained spotters reported high water flowing over Farm to Market Road 871 in southeast Ward County. Several secondary roadways also were inundated by flood waters.
October 2004Flash FloodMonahans-More than one and a half feet of water was reported flowing through several city streets in Monahans shortly after midnight on the 5th. By 01:00 CST the public reported three feet of flood waters crossing Farm to Market Road 1176 near the intersection of State Highway 18 south of the city.
August 2002HailMonahans-Reported by a spotter at the intersection of Farm to Markets 1219 and 1776.
October 2002HailMonahans-Quarter size hail was reported at the intersection of Highways 18 and 1776.
May 1997HailMonahans-Although this storm was beginning to fall apart it was still able to produce golfball size hail near Monahans.
June 1995HailMonahans-A cluster of thunderstorms moving to the southeast from southeastern New Mexico formed into a bow echo as it moved into the city of Monahans. Winds of at least 60 mph occurred for up to 25 minutes. An unofficial 84 mph was clocked by a local resident. Many signs were blown down. A small barn was carried by the wind into power lines, resulting in local power outages. Most reports came from the sheriff's office and SKYWARN Spotters.
June 1995HailMonahans-Sheriff's office reported golf ball-size hail just south of Monahans.
June 1995HailMonahans-A cluster of thunderstorms moving to the southeast from southeastern New Mexico formed into a bow echo as it moved into the city of Monahans. Winds of at least 60 mph occurred for up to 25 minutes. An unofficial 84 mph was clocked by a local resident. Many signs were blown down. A small barn was carried by the wind into power lines, resulting in local power outages. Most reports came from the sheriff's office and SKYWARN Spotters.
July 1994HailMonahans-The Sheriff's Office in Ward County reported that a southwest-moving storm dropped nickel-size hail near Monahans.
July 1994HailMonahans-The Sheriff's Office in Ward County reported that a southwest-moving storm dropped nickel-size hail near Monahans.
April 2017HailMonahans-no account filed
May 2015HailMonahans-no account filed
April 2015HailMonahans-no account filed
April 2015HailMonahans-no account filed
June 2012HailMonahans-no account filed
May 2008HailMonahans-no account filed
May 2007HailMonahans-no account filed
May 2001HailMonahans-no account filed
May 2001HailMonahans-no account filed
May 2001HailMonahans-no account filed
June 1996HailMonahans-no account filed
May 1996HailMonahans-no account filed
June 1996HailMonahans-no account filed
May 1995HailMonahans-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Ward County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Thorntonville1.7 miles8
Wickett6.0 miles8
Three Corner Windmill9.3 miles7
Pyote13.0 miles8
Royalty15.4 miles9
Grandfalls17.7 miles9
Barstow28.1 miles9

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on MonahansAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q980109The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1363045. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.

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.