Posted on 02/24/2006 9:24:46 PM PST by jecIIny
February 25, 2006 1 Cafe, 1 Gas Station, 2 Roads: America's Emptiest County By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
MENTONE, Tex. How empty is Loving County?
So empty that when Sheriff Billy Burt Hopper ran for office in 2004, he and his opponent attended each other's campaign barbecues. So empty that it cannot sustain two political parties: Republicans and Democrats all call themselves Democrats and vote in a single primary.
So empty that it has trouble seating 12 jurors who are not related to a defendant. (Not that there is much crime, although or maybe because Sheriff Hopper patrols in a pickup with two shotguns and an AK-47.) So empty that the jail was moved to Pecos in Reeves County, 26 miles away, in 1994.
In fact, this is the emptiest county seat of the emptiest county in the country.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
THAT'S THE GUY!!
Is that a McDonald in the distance?
And why are all the counties geography square?
He resembles Jackie Gleason a lot.
They don't have a lawyer there...
I don't think I would care for the place. Too damn hot, and no trees.
Because it's
"Always glad to help."
You guys all miss a key point in the story...if you read the entire thing. So they have elections....and the census of 2000 tells everyone that the county has a population of 67. Yet there are a total of 89 votes cast in this election. Even the Sheriff will tell you...because he knows everyone...there are likely 71 folks who live there presently. You have 17 votes cast...which can't exist. And did anyone from the county catch this? No. Was it a Bush-win county...yep. We all must ride down to Loving County and discover how they rig up the elections and whether they bring folks in or allow dead folks to vote. We Republicans are finally doing something right, and we ought to find the best way of capitalizing on this for future elections.
"And why are all the counties geography square?"
I was raised in Newcastle very close and very small--It was a great place to be a boy but hard to make a living.
Is it true Texans have wall-to-wall carpeting on their ranches?
"And why are all the counties geography square?"
Most of the counties in the eastern third of the state aren't - lots of river boundaries.
Most of the county lines in the west are straight because there aren't many natural boundaries like rivers - easier just to draw a line and let the surveyors mark them.
Look at the US east and west of the Mississippi; state boundaries pretty much follow the same pattern.
I was in Odessa for awhile. Just think of the High School football film "Friday Night Lights". I went ot the local McD's on a Friday night and it was closed 'cause everyone and I mean everyone was at the game. LOL
Sounds like heaven...not literally...
What part of Texas is Mentone located in?
Sounds like my kinda place.
I could be the Republican.
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