How Hockley County Went from Open Range to Cotton Country

The Texas Legislature created Hockley County in 1876 from parts of Bexar and Young county lands. For decades it was lightly settled ranching country. As late as 1920, only 137 people lived in the whole county. That changed fast when large ranchers sold their lands to farmers in the 1920s. Farm numbers jumped from 18 in 1920 to 1,344 by 1929. Cotton was the main crop, growing from 87 acres planted in 1920 to over 95,000 acres by 1929.

The county organized officially in 1921. The city now known as Levelland won the county-seat vote over Ropesville. It was called Hockley City until 1922, when it was renamed Levelland. Oil was discovered in 1937, adding another economic layer on top of farming. The county's name honors George W. Hockley, who served as secretary of war for the Republic of Texas.