Windmills as Symbols of Economic Development and Progress in West Texas from 1860 to 2011

The outline of a windmill against the sky is a popular image of Texas found on many forms of media including illustrations, photographs, and other print media. How did the image of a windmill become symbolic to Texas? The purpose of this paper is to determine how and why windmills became an important symbol representing the Texas Plains. Methodology used included analysis of scientific information to explore the geography of Texas, which demonstrated why windmills were needed in West Texas. Critical analysis of journals and books were performed to determine the history of the introduction and evolving use of windmills in Texas, and were compared to determine reliability by comparing uses and experiences of individual and corporate windmill owners. Primary sources from archives complimented the research by providing personal experiences to demonstrate that windmills were not just a tool, but were a symbol of survival, prosperity, and progress to Texans. Included in this research are points of quantitative data to demonstrate economic progress realized by use of windmills in agriculture, transportation, and energy industries. The results of the research show that windmills transformed the Texan Plains from an inhospitable environment to one that could support cattle ranching, crop growing, and settlement. The research also demonstrates that windmills contributed to the ability for railroad expansion, which affected settlement and trade. Finally, although power sources evolved, windmills maintained relevancy during the launch of the oil industry and later in the burgeoning clean energy industry.