Midland, Texas Relocation Guide
|
Population: 98,000 Located in Midland County
Named among the 150 best U.S. cities in which to live for the past twelve years, Midland's warm climate, friendly people, and central location are the primary reasons for the city's popularity. Midland is located midway between Dallas/Fort Worth and El Paso on Interstate 20. Twenty minutes to the west is Odessa, with a population of about 100,000. With Midland's population nearing the 100,000 mark, nearly a quarter of a million people reside in the Midland/Odessa metropolitan area. Midland serves as administrative center for the petroleum producing region known as the Permian Basin, where about 20 percent of America's oil and gas reserves are located in reservoirs deep beneath the surface. The area's low humidity, combined with warm days and cool nights, contributes to the year round comfort of Midlanders. Residents enjoy over 300 sunny days each year. The average heat index for Midland during the summer is lower than that in Dallas, San Antonio or Austin. During the winter, the climate is mild, similar to other desert climates in the southwest. Midland has 49 city-maintained parks. Facilities in these parks include picnic area, playground equipment, jogging trails, hike and bike trails, and public swimming pools. The city also maintains the 36-hole Hogan park Municipal Golf Course, 85 sports playing fields and 32 tennis courts. The COM Swim Team is a non-profit organization which owns an indoor competitive swimming and Olympic diving center. The Midland Rockhounds, a professional franchise of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, provide summertime entertainment. Other sports and hobby clubs are available for enthusiasts. A sampling of these includes the Midland Amateur Radio Club, The Chess Club, The Native Plant Society, The Midland Gem and Mineral Society, Midland Junior Baseball Association, Midland United Girls Softball Association, Permian Basin Roadrunners Jogging Club, Flatlanders Ski Club, Midland Bicycle Association, and many dance schools. Scenic lakes, campgrounds and wilderness areas are easily accessible. Only a few hours drive to the Big Bend National Park, the underground splendor of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and the natural beauty of the Guadalupe and Davis Mountains. Recreation: The city's internationally acclaimed Midland Community Theatre, provides varied cultural activities everyone. Museums span a broad range of subjects. The Permian Basin Petroleum Museum look into the oil and gas industry, while the Museum of the Southwest highlights the art and culture of southwest United States. Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum, Blakemore Planetarium, or Nita Stewart Haley Library and J. Evetts Haley History Center are other options for those looking for something to do. The Confederate Air Force and American Airpower Heritage Museum commemorate America's aerial activities from 1939 through 1945 and World War II history. The Confederate Air Force holds annual air shows at Midland International Airport. If you love good music, the Midland / Odessa Symphony and Chorale presents outstanding pops and classical musical performances. Education: The Midland Independent School District is a growing district with 35 campuses and over 22,000 students and a student / teacher ratio of 16.2. The district provides an instructional program for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Within a 105-mile radius of Midland are a total of eight universities, colleges and junior colleges. Midland College, a two-year community college with a typical enrollment of 4,000 students, offers a variety of unique studies as well as academics courses that students can transfer to a four-year university. The University of Texas at the Permian Basin, a four-year institution, is located in nearby Odessa. UTPB offers 23 undergraduate programs and 15 graduate programs. |
