Orla, Texas Explained

Orla
Settlement Type:Ghost town
Pushpin Map:Texas
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within the state of Texas
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Texas
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Reeves
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2000
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Coordinates:31.825°N -103.9089°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID

Orla is a town in Reeves County, Texas, United States. It lies approximately 38miles north of Pecos. Orla is believed to have two residents and has its own post office, located on U.S. Route 285.[1] The post office was established 26 December 1906, with Joshua D. McAdams as first postmaster.[2]

History

Orla was founded in 1890, and served as a section house for the newly built Pecos Valley Railroad, incorporated by John J. Hagerman, an American industrialist, to link Eddy, New Mexico (now Carlsbad), with Pecos, Texas. The population remained small until World War II, when the town's population finally grew, and the number of businesses increased to two to serve the population of nearly 60 residents. The population reached a high of around 250 people when oil, gas, and sulfur activity brought more workers to the region in the 1960s.[3]

Today, due to the new oil price increase, the town has been brought back, with three new gas stations, two restaurants, multiple camps and worker housing units, and varying construction companies.

Climate

This area has a large amount of sunshine year-round due to its stable descending air and high pressure. According to the Köppen climate classification, Orla has a desert climate, Bwh on climate maps.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Find USPS Locations. United States Postal Service. October 21, 2023.
  2. Schmidt, Walter G. (1993) An Encyclopaedia of Texas Post Offices, p. 162, Chicago, Illinois: The Collectors' Club of Chicago.
  3. Web site: Adventure Travel: Ghosts of West Texas. www.LetsBeWild.com. 18 December 2012.
  4. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=184714&cityname=Orla%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Orla, Texas