Blazed from
the Fort Griffin-Dodge City Trail
through
New Mexico to Colorado
about 1860 by
Oliver Loving
1812-1867
first cattle trail driver from
Texas — — Map (db m61470) HM
Formed from Tom Green County
Created February 26, 1887
Organized July 8, 1893
Named in honor of Oliver Loving, 1812-1867, farmer, rancher and an early trail driver.
Mentone, the county seat — — Map (db m61281) HM
Only town in Loving County — last organized, most sparsely populated (both in total and per square mile) county in Texas.
Established 1931 and named for an earlier town (10 miles north) which legend says was named by a French . . . — — Map (db m202084) HM
Built 1910 in Porterville, a town abandoned after Pecos River flood of 1930. Moved here for school and social center. Also used by various church groups and for non-denominational worship.
Oldest building in Loving County.
Recorded Texas . . . — — Map (db m61283) HM
Only Texan instrumental in mapping 3 major cattle trails: Shawnee, Western and Goodnight-Loving trails.
Born in Kentucky. Came to Texas 1845, to farm, haul freight, deal in cattle. Started large Palo Pinto County ranch. In 1858, drove herd to . . . — — Map (db m61282) HM
Over these tracks passed the Butterfield Stage, 1858-1861, providing for first time in history a combined passenger and mail service from Atlantic to Pacific coast. Operating westward from St. Louis and Memphis, John Butterfield's company used 1,350 . . . — — Map (db m61274) HM