Winkler

Formed February 26, 1887 (237^th county)

Winkler County (7,791), Kermit (6,271)

The tan brick Texas Renaissance structure was built in 1929.  It is at the corner of Winkler and Poplar streets.  Winkler Street is Texas State Highway 115 through the city.  David S. Castle provided the courthouse designs.  The building was enlarged in 1954.  Two courthouses have been in Kermit since Winkler County’s founding on February 26, 1887.  Winkler County was part of Tom Green County as the 237^th county.  The county was named for Confederate Colonel Clinton M. Winkler.  Kermit got its name from the son of United States President Theodore Roosevelt. 

Winkler County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Winkler, Andrews, and Crane counties and One County Court Judge serves Winkler County.  The county is in far West Texas on the border with New Mexico.  Odessa, Texas is to the southeast and El Paso, Texas is to the west.  The county center is 3.6 miles South of Kermit.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Andrews, Ector, Ward, and Loving counties and New Mexico. 

The area of the county is 841 square miles.  It is 188 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 178 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 9.3 persons per square mile making it 174 out of 254 in the state.  Winkler County has 92.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county is square except for the northwest quarter, which is missing.  The border with New Mexico forms the missing piece.  Kermit is located near the county center.  Kermit is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 80.5% of the county population.