Midland
Around Midland
Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Texas · 188k people
Midland
Locals say Permian Basin · “Tall City”
Tall city, wide skies, and the pulse of the oil patch.
RockHounds GoldPermian Green
Welcome to the Permian Basin, where the horizon stretches forever and the oil pumps keep time. Whether you're here for the rodeo, the RockHounds, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly wave and a cold drink. Grab a kolache and settle in—this land has a way of growing on you.
Clubs for Midland
No clubs for Midland yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Midland. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Midland. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Showcases the region's oil history and geology.
- Midland County Horseshoe Arena Hosts rodeos, concerts, and trade shows.
- Scharbauer Sports Complex Home of the Midland RockHounds baseball team.
- I-20 Wildlife Preserve Urban wetland with trails and birdwatching.
- Sibley Nature Center Nature center with exhibits and desert gardens.
- Hogan Park Large municipal park with sports facilities and a lake.
- Outdoors Hike the I-20 Wildlife Preserve
- Outdoors Watch the sunset from a desert overlook
- With kids Visit the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum
- With kids Attend a RockHounds game
- Evenings Honky-tonks with live country music
- Evenings Downtown Midland bars
- Locals love Steakhouses
- Locals love Honky-tonks
Through the year
- Permian Basin Fair & Expo September Annual county fair with rodeo, livestock shows, and carnival rides.
- Midland RockHounds home games April–September Minor league baseball at Scharbauer Sports Complex; a summer staple.
- Tall City Blues Fest Summer Blues music festival featuring local and national acts.
- Midland County Rodeo Spring Traditional rodeo events with bull riding and barrel racing.
- Midland Arts and Culture Season Year-round Gallery openings, theater productions, and concerts at Wagner Noël.
Semi-arid climate with low humidity, hot summers, and mild winters. Dust storms can blow in quickly, but the open skies and clear light are a local treasure. Best: Spring and fall offer mild days and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “Permian Basin”
- The oil-producing region around Midland and Odessa.
- “Oil patch”
- The oil industry and its culture.
- “Pumpjack”
- The nodding oil extraction machine seen everywhere.
- “West Texas”
- The broader geographic area.
Getaways
- Odessa Visit the Odessa Meteor Crater and the Presidential Museum.
- Big Spring See the historic Spring and Big Spring State Park.
- Monahans Sandhills State Park Slide down giant sand dunes and camp under the stars.
- San Angelo Stroll along the Concho River and visit the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.
Local flavour
Teams
- Midland RockHounds Double-A Texas League
Also rooting for Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Texas Rangers (MLB), Dallas Mavericks (NBA), Dallas Stars (NHL), Texas Tech Red Raiders (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Chicken-fried steak A West Texas staple, often served with cream gravy.
- Barbecue brisket Slow-smoked, central-Texas style, popular across the Permian Basin.
- Tex-Mex enchiladas Cheese enchiladas with chili con carne, a regional classic.
- Kolaches
Where people go
- Oil derricks and pumpjacks The iconic machinery of the Permian Basin, scattered across the desert.
- Steakhouses Classic Texas steak joints serving big cuts and cold beer.
- Honky-tonks Country bars with live music and dancing, a staple of West Texas nights.
- Rodeo arenas Rodeo culture is strong, with events throughout the year.
- Desert landscapes Mesas, scrubland, and sand dunes like Monahans Sandhills State Park.
Heritage and traditions
Midland is proud of its deep roots in the oil industry, its cowboy heritage, and the resilience of a community that has weathered booms and busts. Locals also take pride in the Bush family's legacy and the region's wide-open spaces.
This time of year in Midland
- McCamey Oil Days October Honors the town's oil history with a parade, street fair, and oilfield equipment displays.
Say it like a local: “Fixin' to” — About to do something; preparing to.
Festivals
- Lamesa Cotton Festival September Celebrates the region's cotton industry with a parade, live music, and cotton-themed events.
- McCamey Oil Days October Honors the town's oil history with a parade, street fair, and oilfield equipment displays.
- Midland First Friday Art Walk First Friday of each month Monthly event where local galleries and studios open their doors, featuring art, music, and refreshments.
- West Texas Jazz Festival April A multi-day jazz festival with performances by regional and national artists.
- Midland Christmas Parade December A festive downtown parade with floats, marching bands, and Santa Claus.
- Midland's Independence Day Celebration July 4 Fourth of July festivities with fireworks, food vendors, and live music at a city park.
Landmarks with a story
- George W. Bush Childhood Home The restored home where the Bush family lived in the 1950s, now a museum about the 43rd president's early life.
- Midland County Courthouse A grand 1920s courthouse built in the Beaux-Arts style, a centerpiece of downtown Midland.
- First Presbyterian Church A historic church with stained-glass windows and a prominent role in the community since the early 1900s.
- St. Ann's Catholic Church One of the oldest Catholic parishes in the area, serving a diverse congregation since the early 20th century.
- Haley Memorial Library A historic library and research center preserving local history and genealogical records.
- Midland Theatre A restored 1930s movie palace that now hosts concerts and events, a symbol of downtown revival.
Food traditions
- Chili cook-offs Community competitions for the best chili, often held at fairs and festivals, reflecting the cowboy tradition of hearty one-pot meals.
- Tamales at Christmas A Hispanic tradition of making and sharing tamales during the holidays, passed down through generations.
- Barbacoa on weekends Slow-cooked beef (often cheek or head) served with tortillas and salsa, a weekend staple at Mexican eateries.
- Cowboy coffee Strong, black coffee brewed over an open fire or in a pot, a staple of ranch work and outdoor gatherings.
- Pinto beans and cornbread A simple, filling meal from ranching days, often served with ham hocks or bacon.
Music and arts
- Conjunto music A Tex-Mex accordion-driven genre with deep roots in the Hispanic community.
- Country music Honky-tonk and outlaw country are popular, reflecting the cowboy and oilfield culture.
- Cowboy poetry Oral tradition of reciting verses about ranch life, often featured at local gatherings.
- Western swing A dance-oriented blend of country, jazz, and blues, popular at dance halls.
A little history
- 1881 Midland founded as a railroad town
- 1920s Discovery of oil in the Permian Basin
- 1948 George H.W. Bush moves to Midland to start his oil career
- 1970s Oil boom drives rapid growth and prosperity
- 1980s Oil bust leads to economic downturn and bank failures
Rivalries
- Midland vs Odessa high school football A fierce Friday Night Lights rivalry between the two cities.
- Texas Tech vs Texas A&M College football loyalties split among locals.
- Game day Friday Night Lights
- Game day Rodeo
- Outdoors Hunting
- Outdoors Fishing
- With kids Midland Children's Museum
- With kids Midland County Library
People speak with a Southern drawl, often using 'y'all' and mixing in Spanish words like 'compadre' or 'amigo'. The accent is relaxed, with a tendency to drop 'g's in -ing words. Oil field jargon like 'rig', 'derrick', and 'roughneck' is common.
Only here
- Midland is known as the 'Tall City' for its downtown skyscrapers standing above the flat plains.
- The Permian Basin is one of the largest oil-producing regions in the world, with a skyline of pumpjacks.
- The Bush family's legacy is everywhere – from the childhood home to the presidential museum.
- The friendly rivalry between Midland and Odessa is a local obsession, especially in football.
New here? A few tips
- Be prepared for extreme heat in summer (100°F+) and mild winters; always carry water.
- Get a pickup truck – it's practical for oilfield roads and ranch country.
- Learn basic oilfield jargon like 'rig', 'roughneck', and 'pumpjack' to connect with locals.
- Try the chicken-fried steak and a steak dinner at a local steakhouse – they're iconic.
- Attend a high school football game in the fall; Friday Night Lights is a real tradition.
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Part of Midland area
Nearby
Every areaOdessaTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patchAndrewsTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patch.Big SpringTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and the open road.MonahansTexasWhere the desert meets the oil patchSeminoleTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and the smell of cotton and crude.Big LakeTexasBig skies, warm hearts, and a thousand stars.HobbsNew MexicoWhere the desert sky meets the oil patch.SnyderTexasHeart of the oil patch, soul of the plains
Midland, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.