Winkler County, Texas

Winkler County, Texas

Winkler County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 7,110. Its county seat is Kermit . The county is named for Clinton M. Winkler, a Colonel in the Confederate Army.

Roy Orbison was reared in the town of Wink.

Part of the large Haley Ranch, founded by the father of Texas historian J. Evetts Haley, is in Winkler County, with another portion in neighboring Loving County.

Winkler County was represented in the Texas House of Representatives from 1993-2008 by George E. "Buddy" West of Odessa. West died on June 25, 2008, and he was succeeded in January 2009 by fellow Republican Tryon D. Lewis, who unseated West in the April 8 primary election.