Biohazard Cleanup Near Roy Rotan Midland, TX

Midland began in late June 1881 as Midway Station, a section house on the Texas and Pacific Railway at the midway point between Fort Worth and El Paso.

When its post office was granted on January 4, 1884, the town was renamed Midland because other Texas towns were already named Midway.

Midland County was organized in March 1885 with Midland as its county seat, and the city was incorporated in 1906.

In its early ranching years Midland was nicknamed the 'Windmill Town' for the windmills that dotted the surrounding plains.

Midland had a population of 132,524 in the 2020 Census, up from 111,147 in 2010, and had grown to an estimated 147,615 by July 2025.

Midland has about 53,400 households, about 65% of its homes are owner-occupied, and its median owner-occupied home value is about $319,200.

Midland became the financial and administrative hub of the Permian Basin after the 1923 Santa Rita oil discovery nearby, and by 1950 some 215 oil companies had offices in the city.

During World War II, the Midland Army Air Field operated one of the largest bombardier training schools in the world, from 1942 to 1945.

Midland College was founded in 1969, and the city is also home to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum.

Midland is the birthplace of First Lady Laura Bush.