The town of Muleshoe, Texas, was incorporated in 1926. It had been founded just 13 years earlier, when the Pecos and Northern Texas Railway laid tracks across the agrarian expanse of Bailey County. Named after the nearby Muleshoe ranch (founded in 1877 by Civil War veteran Henry Black), the town became the county seat and quickly entered a period of expansion. By 1930, it had grown to nearly 800 residents. It topped 1,300 just ten years later. By 1960, Muleshoe had tripled in size to a population of 3,871. When the town reached more than 5,000 people in 1970, it boasted 200 businesses, two hospitals, two banks, a library, a newspaper and a radio station. (More Photos)

Today, Muleshoe is the agricultural and shipping center of the county, with farm supply manufacturing and food and feed processing plants playing major roles in the local economy. Muleshoe is also located at the heart of a thriving dairy industry. A community center was built in 1969 and is home to the area’s largest junior livestock show in February and also serves as the host of the World Championship Muleshoe Pitching Contest every July 4th . Twenty miles south of town on Highway 214 is the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. Established in 1935, the Refuge is wintering grounds for sandhill cranes and refuge is the oldest in Texas.