Discover Dawson County: History, Culture and Lamesa

Dawson County lies on the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado in the southern High Plains. The landscape combines a broad regional character with an unusually rich history centered around Lamesa. If you are planning a trip involving culture, regional cuisine, sports and historical discoveries, the county offers various points of interest for planning your days and choosing a suitable vacation rental.

Lamesa and the History of the County Seat

Dawson County was organized in 1905 and named after Nicholas Mosby Dawson. That same year, Lamesa won the election to become the county seat by a margin of five votes. The decision immediately changed the local settlement history: After Lamesa won the competition, the residents of Chicago moved their homes and businesses, as well as the school and the Baptist and Methodist churches, to Lamesa within a few days.

The Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa was built in 1916 in the Classical Revival style and is a prominent reference point for the history of the county seat. The Dal Paso Museum provides additional insight into everyday life during the early settlement period. Its exhibits include household furnishings, pioneer tools, and ranching and farming equipment. This gives families and other travel groups an opportunity to learn about regional history not only through dates, but also through tangible objects.

Historical Traces and Cultural Impressions

The history of Dawson County goes back further. Paleo-Indigenous people camped at Sulphur Springs Draw about 17,000 years ago. Later, the OTO Ranch, later called Bar TO, was established in Dawson County around 1887. The Chicago post office opened at the ranch headquarters on May 15, 1889. The settlement of Chicago was renamed Stemmons in 1904.

The history of the churches also reflects the development of the communities. The first church in Dawson County was established by Baptists in Chicago in 1904. In Lamesa, the Methodists built the first church building in 1907. It was used alternately by four denominations on successive Sundays. During World War II, Dawson County was one of five counties in Texas to receive the Army-Navy E Award.

Another historical chapter is the Lamesa Farm Workers Community, now Los Ybanez. It existed from 1942 to 1980. The community included 50 residential buildings, a gatehouse, the managers’ residence and a community center. Its amenities included indoor plumbing and running water; there was also a medical clinic, educational programs, a nursery, recreational activities and religious services. The Farm Security Administration approved an application for a 50-acre migrant labor camp southeast of Lamesa. Community life included baseball, Mexican and U.S. holidays, and conjunto music.

Golf, Theater and Regional Cuisine

For active days, the Lamesa Municipal Golf Course is available. The nine-hole course is also open to visitors passing through Dawson County. In addition, the golf course offers memberships with unlimited year-round play.

Two theaters provide cultural variety. The Lamesa Community Theater sells individual tickets and season packages. Its theater group was founded in 1981; its first production was the melodrama “Skulduggery on the Square.” The Lamesa Movieland Theater is a nonprofit theater supported by more than 125 volunteers. This makes it possible to combine historical sightseeing with an evening of stage or film culture, without every day of the trip having to focus on the same theme.

Local food culture is also part of Lamesa’s character. The city is promoted as the home of chicken-fried steak and celebrates this tradition with a three-day annual festival every April. Those planning a trip around culinary experiences can take this date into account when organizing their year.

Nature, Aviation History and Orientation

Stafford CRP Unit No. 2524 is a 327-acre public hunting area in Dawson County. This provides a nature-oriented focus in addition to history, theater and golf. When choosing accommodation, the key factor is therefore the type of daily itinerary you prefer: Lamesa offers the cultural and culinary points of interest mentioned above, while the county is also connected with its landscape and public hunting area.

Lamesa Field and Lamesa Municipal Airport are part of the area’s aviation history. Lamesa Field was established as a military airfield in 1942 and served as a site for elementary and advanced glider training for Army Air Forces cadets. The longest runway at Lamesa Municipal Airport is Runway 16/34, measuring 5,002 × 75 feet. For local orientation, the visitor center is located at 123 Main Avenue on Lamesa’s town square. The Lamesa Area Chamber of Commerce serves as the visitor center for the Lamesa community.

If you are looking for a vacation rental in Dawson County, your preferred travel profile can help structure your search: For museums, the courthouse, theaters and the chicken-fried steak festival, it makes sense to search for Lamesa as the destination. Additional destinations for orientation: Travis, Carson County, Llano, Mclennan, Trinity, Wilson County and Brazoria.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.