Monahans is the birthplace of the Grammy award winning country and folk singer, Guy Clark, who has mentioned the city in several of his songs.
Monahans is the county seat of Ward County in Texas, although a small part of the city's limits extends towards Winkler County, as well. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 6,953, spread among roughly 2,500 homes. The city is in the east of Texas, roughly 30 miles from the border of New Mexico. The nearest major city is Odessa to the northeast, about 40 miles along Interstate 20. There are, however, other settlements close by, such as Kermit to the north, Pecos to the west, and Fort Stockton directly to the south. The history of the city dates back to the 1880's where several Indian tribes - the Lipan Apaches, Mescaleros, and Comanches - once roamed. As you'd expect from somewhere in the south, the weather is classified as humid subtropical, where you'll experience hot and humid summers and mild winters.
Moving to Monahans
Before you move anywhere it's important that you consider the lay of the land. Make sure it's the right place for you and think about your specific needs regarding the sort of property you want, how close you'll be to work, if you want to be near any schools, and generally what the way of life is like in the area. Basically, be prepared!
Good for Families
Monahans has a high quantity of single family detached housing. In fact, these account for over 77 percent of the homes in the city, so anyone looking for a larger rental property in Monahans with 3-4 bedrooms will find there are plenty of those available. On the flip side, if you're looking for townhouses for rent, you won't be so lucky, as only 0.5 percent of housing is made up of them. Hi rise apartments are available too, although not in high numbers, while studio apartments are difficult to find. In terms of bedrooms, your best bet is finding a 3 bedroom property as these account for almost half the homes there. But, don't be discouraged, because you should be able to find whatever it is you're looking for, it may just take some perseverance.
Good Availability
The vacancy rate in the city is higher than the national average, so there's a good chance that you'll have a relatively simple time tracking something down. Renters, however, need to be aware than the majority of the city's properties are owner occupied, with only about 25 percent occupied by renters. This isn't anything unusual, however, and there should still be plenty of rental housing throughout the city for you to take a look at.
When You Move
There are all sorts of things to think about when you move to ensure a simple transition. In order to secure a property, you'll need to put down a deposit, so make sure you're able to do so. You'll also need to show proof of income, so it's always a good idea to line up a job before you try to find somewhere to live. If you don't work you might need to get a guarantor on your contract in order to actually get any agent or landlord to sign off on you. It's always best to have everything prepared from the get-go, so that as soon as you find somewhere you like, you can put in an offer, hopefully get it accepted, and sign your contract as soon as possible.
Neighborhoods in Monahans
Monahans is a small city, so it's not full to the brim with dozens of neighborhoods. In fact, there are only three; two in the actual city itself, and another that stretches off into the countryside beyond towards Pecos in the west. It's worth looking around the general area to determine where you want to be and whether you'd prefer to be centrally located in town or out in the wilds. If you're near the center of town, you may be able to get away without a form of transportation, but for anywhere else you'll probably want to invest in a car if you don't already have one.
City Center: City Center comprises the eastern half of the city and has the highest rental prices in the area. You'll find all the usual stuff here, such as restaurants like Super Burger and Bush's Chicken, along with parks -- Hill Park, Rudy Park, Allen Park -- and schools. Here you'll also find The Million Barrel Museum.
W Sealy Ave / S Helen St: More city center fare here with a fairly dense school district comprising several schools. In the west you'll also find Roy Hurd Memorial Airport.
Barstow / Grandfalls: This is the large neighborhood that stretches west of the city out onto the dusty plains. There's little out here except the odd remote family home, as well as mobile homes as well. Fat chance of you tracking down an apartment block here!
Living in Monahans
One of the major attractions in the city is Sandhills State Park, a place that attracts thousands of people each and every year. Sand football and sand surfing are popular pastimes here and can be seen year round, while youth activities and family picnics are also common. If you're thinking of getting married, you might want to know that weddings are also popular in the park. Worth a thought! There are also several other attractions in the region, such as the Freedom Fair, the Green Thumb Show, Wickett Bluegrass Festival, Butterfeld Overland Stagecoach and Wagon Festival, and several livestock shows and rodeos. So, there's always something to get involved in through the city and its surrounding area.
But how about getting around? Well, the walk score of 71 means that walking is easy if you're centrally located. Other than that, however, there isn't a public transit system in the city, so most people tend to use bicycles, motorbikes, scooters, cars, and so on in order to traverse the region. If you're looking to commute out of town or visit somewhere for business or pleasure, it's easy enough via Interstate 20, which cuts right through the city linking to the east and west.