Marathon, TX

About Marathon

• • Singer/songwriter Jo Carol Pierce, known for her unique style, hails from Marathon.
• • The Gage Hotel, a landmark of West Texas hospitality, was founded here in 1927.
• • The railroad's arrival in 1882 established Marathon as a vital transportation hub.
• • A local legend says a lost silver mine remains hidden in the surrounding mountains.
• • The drought of the 1950s devastated ranching, impacting Marathon's economy.
• • It's named after the Greek battlefield; established in 1882, not incorporated.
• • With ~410 residents, its population is smaller than many high school graduating classes.
• • At 4,049 feet, the air is crisp, and the stars feel remarkably close.
• • Ranching and tourism are key to the local economy, supporting many families.
• • A serene escape, it evokes a feeling of peaceful isolation under a vast sky.
• • The closest pro team is the El Paso Chihuahuas (baseball), a minor league affiliate.
• • High school football games against Fort Davis are a classic small-town rivalry.
• • The landscape features volcanic rock formations from the Tertiary period.
• • Nearby is the unique geological feature of Solitario, a laccolith.
• • The area lies within the Rio Grande watershed.
• • Pronghorn antelope roam the grasslands near Marathon.
• • The area is characterized by Chihuahuan Desert scrub vegetation.
• • The Gage Hotel, built in 1927, is a prominent landmark.
• • US 90 passes through town, connecting it to larger cities east and west.

Songs About Marathon