Barnhart, Texas
Unincorporated community in Irion County · Not an incorporated municipality
About Barnhart
Barnhart is an unincorporated community in Irion County, Texas, United States. As of 2017, the population was estimated to be 105.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Barnhart is governed
Barnhart appears to be an unincorporated community or a census-designated place, so it may have no city government of its own — services usually come from Irion County and its elected officials. The chart below is a generic template; readers can correct it if Barnhart does have local officials.
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Barnhart
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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History
Barnhart was founded by Willam E. Barnhart in 1910, when the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway was constructed through West Texas, passing through the area. A post office opened in Barnhart in 1912, and a school operated in the community from 1912 to 1969. The population was estimated to be approximately 50 in 1915. By 1920, the town had the Barnhart State Bank (which was moved to an adjacent town in 1927) and a newspaper - the Barnhart Range, published by Ed Downing.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Barnhart became a large-volume shipping point, due to its location between major railroad lines. Barnhart was described as "dusty, bawling cattle, hell-raising cowboys and trains a half-mile long", in the 1920s and 30s. Barnhart had everything the cowboys and railroaders needed: A hotel, cafe, a bank and a theater. Because of the remoteness of West Texas, traditional cattle drives continued to Barnhart, long after the practice was popular. The amount of cattle coming through began to cause problems for the local ranchers. To protect the pastures from over-grazing, ranchers began to put up more fencing. This ended what may have been the beginning of the end to cattle drives in Texas. To circumvent the issue, the Ozona-Barnhart Trap Company was formed in 1924. A long, narrow path of leased/purchased land stretching 34 miles, from south of Ozona to Barnhart, became Texas’ last major cattle trail.
In April 1934, Barnhart's former postmaster pled guilty in federal court to “conversion of funds.” Barnhart, which is out in the middle of the Texas plains, naturally lacked law enforcement at that time. During the Great Depression, the federal government began buying up the cattle, and then having them slaughtered to reduce supply, in hopes of reviving a market that had practically died. By the year 2000, the population was estimated to be 160.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.