Once an oasis for the Kiowa and Comanche tribes who originally settled the area, Sweetwater rises from the Texas plains about 40 miles west of Abilene. After its official founding in the late 1800s, the city evolved into a railroad town and telegraph center. These days, it’s known as a center for wind power and oil production, industries where many of its 10,000 residents work. “What attracts people is our trades and work,” says Kathleen Cox, communications and media relations manager for the City of Sweetwater. “There are a lot of great jobs out here.”
Downtown Sweetwater is a reminder of its 1800's founding.
Sweetwater Steel Co. is a major employer of many residents.
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The Wind Turbine Capital of Texas
The city is nicknamed the “Wind Turbine Capital of Texas” for a reason. Sweetwater Wind Farm and Roscoe Wind Project are south of the city and contribute hundreds of wind-energy jobs to the market. The city also sits on the edge of the Permian Basin, making it an oil production hub. Manufacturing and retail are major area industries, and Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital employs more than 200 workers. Between the school district and the technical college, jobs in education are readily available.
Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in Sweetwater employs over 200 workers.
Wind turbines can be spotted all throughout the exteriors of Sweetwater.
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Friday night football at Sweetwater High
Public school students attend schools in the Sweetwater Independent School District, a small district with a low student-teacher ratio and a Niche grade of B-minus. During fall, weekends tend to revolve football games at Sweetwater High School. “As an old West Texas town, we’re big into Friday Night Lights,” Cox says. “If you’re gonna relocate here, you wear red on Fridays.” Texas State Technical College’s Sweetwater campus was the first community college in the state to offer a wind-energy program.
Many puplic school students attend Sweetwater High School.
Many locals enjoy Friday Football night at Sweetwater High.
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Median home prices low by Texas standards
Sweetwater’s median home price of $146,000 is low by Texas standards and significantly less than the national median. Some older starter homes are priced from $50,000 to $100,000, but most larger, well-maintained houses cost $200,000 to $300,000. Pricier homes are typically on or near Santa Fe Lake. Despite the relatively low prices, properties tend to linger on the market for over 80 days, nearly twice the national average.
There are many median level homes throughout Sweetwater.
Sweetwater has many Median level homes for its residents.
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Local parks and the world’s largest rattlesnake round-up
The city’s park system is a network of sports courts, exercise trails and playgrounds. Lake Sweetwater is about 5 miles away and invites scenic walks, boating and camping. Sweetwater Country Club is home to a semi-private 18-hole golf course that winds around the shoreline.
Since 1958, Sweetwater has hosted the world’s largest rattlesnake round-up. Held in March at the Nolan County Coliseum, the four-day event includes guided hunts, a beard contest and a snake-eating competition. “They milk the rattlesnakes for the venom, then they kill them and have a cook-off with the meat,” says Celeste Borges, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors. The Sweetwater Rifle & Pistol Club hosts their Knife and Coin show in conjunction with the round-up.
The local Sweetwater golf course is next to the popular Sweetwater Lake.
The largest rattlesnake round-up is hosted in Sweetwater.
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Downtown has an Old West vibe
Shops, brewhouses and casual tavern-style restaurants occupy flat-roofed buildings in the centrally located downtown area. “It looks like an old Western town, the way the old buildings are set up,” Borges says. Farther east along Broadway, shopping centers and Mexican joints line the roadsides. Fast-food chains and department stores like Walmart are concentrated around I-20.
At the Pioneer City County Museum near downtown, the story of Sweetwater’s early settlers unfolds inside a grand classical Revival-style building. Exhibitions by local artists are displayed at the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium, attached to an art gallery. West of town, the National WASP WWII Museum pays tribute to the Women Airforce Service Pilots who trained at Avenger Field.
You can spot many historic murals while walking downtown Sweetwater.
The Pioneer City County Museum has many stories of the founding of Sweetwater.
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Getting around on Interstate 20
Interstate 20 passes through Sweetwater, leading 40 miles east to Abilene. From there, travelers can catch direct flights to Dallas-Fort Worth from Abilene Regional Airport. Highway 84 connects Sweetwater to Lubbock, about a two-hour drive.
Crime risk and environmental concerns
According to FBI data, Sweetwater’s crime rates can vary greatly from year to year. However, 2023 saw a slight decrease in violent and property-related offenses.
West Texas residents contend with hot, dry summers, which can lead to dust storms. In addition, several “wind turbine graveyards” occupy over 40 acres on the city’s outskirts. The discarded blades create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and convenient hiding spots for rattlesnakes, raising concern among parents of young children who play nearby.
Written By
Adrienne Ryan
Photography Contributed By
Debbie Giesbrecht
Video By
Taylor Noll
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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an experienced agent in this area.
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