When Lamesa won the election to become the county seat of Dawson County by five votes in 1905, an unusual change followed: Within a few days, residents moved the homes and businesses, school, and Baptist and Methodist churches from Chicago to Lamesa. This local history links two names and offers a concrete introduction to the county’s development.

Between the Llano Estacado and Lamesa

Dawson County lies on the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado in the southern High Plains. Long before modern settlements, Paleo-Indigenous people camped about 17,000 years ago at Sulphur Springs Draw in the Lamesa area. This date is an approximation; it points to a very early human presence in the region.

The names Chicago and Stemmons also tell a story of relocation. The OTO Ranch, later called Bar TO, was established in Dawson County around 1887. The Chicago post office opened at the ranch headquarters on May 15, 1889. The settlement of Chicago was renamed Stemmons in 1904. Dawson County itself was organized in 1905 and named for Nicholas Mosby Dawson. That same year, Lamesa won the election to become the county seat; homes, businesses, the school, and churches then moved from Chicago to Lamesa within a few days.

History in the Townscape and Everyday Life

The Dawson County Courthouse in Lamesa was built in 1916 in the Classical Revival style and is still used as a public building. The style designation places it within an architectural tradition shaped by classicism. The Dal Paso Museum offers another way to explore the early settlement period, with household furnishings, pioneer tools, and ranching and agricultural equipment on display.

The Lamesa Area Chamber of Commerce serves as the community’s visitor center and helps visitors find their way around Lamesa. The visitor center is located at 123 Main Avenue on Lamesa’s town square. This brings local history and practical visitor information together in Lamesa at two distinct points of interest.

Another chapter is the Lamesa Farm Workers Community, now Los Ybanez. It existed from 1942 to 1980. The Farm Security Administration approved an application for a 50-acre migrant labor camp southeast of Lamesa. The community included 50 dwellings, a gatehouse, the manager’s residence, and a community center. It had indoor plumbing and running water, as well as a medical clinic, educational programs, a nursery, recreational activities, and religious services. Residents played baseball, celebrated Mexican and U.S. holidays, and listened to Conjunto music.

Baptists founded Dawson County’s first church in Chicago in 1904. In Lamesa, Methodists built the first church building in 1907; four denominations took turns using it on successive Sundays. During World War II, Dawson County was one of five Texas counties awarded the Army-Navy E Award. Lamesa Field was established as a military airfield in 1942 and served from 1942 to 1944 for primary and advanced glider training for Army Air Forces cadets.

Culture and Activities in Lamesa

Theater history can also be traced through specific dates. The Lamesa Community Theater group was founded in 1981 and prepared the melodrama “Skulduggery on the Square” as its first production. The theater sells individual tickets and season packages. The Lamesa Movieland Theater is nonprofit and supported by more than 125 volunteers. Lamesa also promotes itself as the home of chicken-fried steak and celebrates this tradition with a three-day festival held every April. For performances and festival dates, it is advisable to check the relevant dates before traveling.

Golf is another of Lamesa’s offerings: The Lamesa Municipal Golf Course is a nine-hole course and is open to visitors passing through Dawson County. The course also offers memberships with unlimited play year-round. The options range from a visit while passing through to a membership with a longer playing period.

For hunting enthusiasts, Stafford CRP Unit No. 2524 is designated as a public hunting area in Dawson County and covers 327 acres. The map it is based on is labeled 2025–2026. Check the current seasonal regulations before your trip.

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