Our Community
Eighty miles southwest of Lubbock and
fifteen miles east of the New Mexico state line is
located Denver City, Yoakum County, Texas. Known for
its oil production, Denver City’s first strike was in
1935 by Red Davidson and his crew. Shortly after the
discovery of oil was the emergence of a boom town.
Located three miles to the south of Denver City town
site, Wasson was founded in 1935 by Charles Cragin and
Ben Eggink. When the discovery wells drilled by Red
Davidson and the Denver Producing and Refining Company
got producer wells on the present site of Denver City,
Ben Eggink decided that a move was in order to establish
an oil field town closer to the center of the drilling
activities. Because his partner, Cragin, was unwilling
to enter the new venture, Eggink joined with C.S. Ameen
who was at that time promoting a subdivision at Plains,
the county seat of Yoakum. Using persuasion and gifts
of land, Eggink and Ameen got the needed support, and on
a Sunday morning in November 1939, they moved buildings
and people from Wasson to Denver City. They moved on
Sunday so no injunctions could be filed by those
remaining in Wasson.
Since the establishment of Denver
City, a wonderful little town has been successfully
operating ever since.
Denver City ISD has established
itself as one of the most effective schools in the state
for educating children and building character. DCISD
consists of three campuses, Kelley Dodson Elementary
(K-5), Bill Gravitt Jr. High (6-8), and Denver City High
School (9-12), as well as an adult learning
center-Yoakum County Family Literacy Center, and an
indoor pool facility. DCISD has been awarded
“Recognized” status by the Texas Education Agency
(TEA). Kelley Dodson Elementary was a Blue Ribbon Award
Winner in 2005 and the Denver City High School is a Blue
Ribbon Award Nominee for 2007. |
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