Along the banks of the Rio Grande lies Val Verde County, one of the largest counties in Texas and the only one named for a Civil War battle. Although Del Rio is the county seat, Langtry is more famous as the home of Judge Roy Bean, the famous (as well as

infamous) Law West of the Pecos. Among the many evocative images of the county featured in this new

book are photos of the judge’s unique court/saloon. Val Verde County captures the spirit of a region and its people through historic photographs. Most of the topics included are not strictly local in nature:

Pre-Columbian art, United States westward expansion,

the creation of the state of Texas, radio and modern

telecommunications, military history and the Cuban

Missile Crisis, and the oldest continually operating

winery in Texas. From being the oldest archaeological

site in Texas to playing a role in international relations between the United States and Mexico, Val Verde County undoubtedly has a rich and varied history.