Ward County is located about 30 miles west of Odessa and about 25 miles south of the southeast corner of New Mexico. The southern and western boundaries of Ward County run along the banks of the Pecos River.
The county seat is Monahans. Other towns are Barstow, Pyote, Grandfalls, Royalty, Thorntonville and Wickett.
Ward County sits amid the Permian Basin oilfield, making oil and gas production the major industry.
The Monahans Sandhills State Park is a major tourist attraction along with the Pyote Rattlesnake Bomber Base Museum and the Million Barrel Tank Museum.
Quality of life is very good in Ward County with its mild winters and dry climate. There are parks, swimming pools, and meeting facilities in almost all communities. Ward County has a great senior citizens program, a full-service hospital, libraries in three communities, an 18-hole golf course, a baseball and softball complex, a convention center, coliseum and rodeo grounds, Bently 4-H Center, Texas State 4-H Water Camp, and the perch pond that is stocked with trout each autumn.
Interstate 20 and a railroad traverse Ward County. The area is served by Ward Memorial Airport, and Midland International Airport is less than an hour drive.
Monahans and Grandfalls have good schools with excellent facilities. Many district and state championships have been achieved in academics, sports and band.
Because of the geographic location, high quality of life, low crime rate, and excellent school systems, Ward County is a bedroom community for the whole West Texas-Southeastern New Mexico area. Many families live in Monahans and the surrounding Ward County communities and commute to jobs up to 100 miles away.
With two very nice motels, Monahans is a day-trip center for the Davis Mountains, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Carlsbad Caverns, and the Commemorative Air Force activities.
Area events include the Butterfield Stagecoach Festival, Grandfalls Cowboy Days, Fourth of July Freedom Festival, and the Wickett Bluegrass Festival.
All in all, Ward County is a good place to visit and a great place to live.
County Judge Sam Massey