Pecos, Texas
Established in 1881 as stop on the Texas and Pacific Railroad, Pecos gained early fame as a hangout for rowdy cowboys and fast-draw lawmen. Touted as "Home of World's First Rodeo," Pecos was the scene of a cowboy contest in 1883 that was the forerunner of today's popular sport.
Today Pecos is a hub of both east-west and north-south travel, and a commercial center for ranching, irrigated farming, produce processing, and oil production. Area hunting includes mule deer, javelina, and upland game birds.