Originally established as the halfway point between Fort Worth and El Paso along the length of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, Midland, TX, has always been a quiet, hardworking town that is welcoming and affordable. "Feel the Energy," is the city's motto, which today extends to its development as a center of oil and natural gas as well as its budding finance, information technology and healthcare industries. If you're looking for a neighborhood with nice weather, a booming economy and many places to relax and have fun, this city is for you.
The city was founded under the name of Midway in 1881 as a railroad service point. In 1884, the area was commissioned to receive a post office and changed its name to Midland. The area grew to be important in cattle ranching but was not incorporated until 1906. Over the next few years, the city heavily invested in its infrastructure to develop a community fire department and sanitation system. Today, this community has a population of approximately 125,000, making it the 25th most populous city in Texas.
If you're single and looking for fun activities, the McCormick Gallery is a great place to explore on an evening or weekend. You can watch a performance of the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale at the Permian Basin Theater. Chateau Club is a well-known music club where many famous singers and bands got their start.
If arts aren't your thing, perhaps sports are. You could take in a game featuring the city's minor league baseball team, the Midland RockHounds. Soccer fans can take in a game of the West Texas United Sockers while the city's Mad Dog Rugby Club provides even more opportunities for spectators to cheer on their favorite athletes.
The community has plenty of museums and sites of historical significance that make for great outings. Take the family to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum to learn about the history of oil and gas extraction in the neighboring area, or head over to the Marian W. Blakemore Planetarium to gain greater knowledge about the sun and the stars.
Transportation in and around the city is done primarily by car. The city maintains a limited bus system called the EZ Rider for public transit. For longer trips, there are several airports within an hour's drive of the city.
Undergraduate, graduate and vocational students can find a place to rent in the neighborhood of their school. You can choose from local colleges such as Midland College, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin Campus and Odessa College. The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin Campus offers a physician's assistant program while the other schools have many areas of study.
You can choose to rent an apartment close to where you work for convenience and a short commute time. The city's top three employers are the Midland Independent School District, Warren Equipment Companies and the Midland Memorial Hospital and Medical Center. Also in the top 10 employers are several energy and information technology corporations.