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Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and three passengers react to the historic launch on board the New Shepard.
The whole world tuned in on Tuesday to see the richest man in the world, Jeff Bezos, fly into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The ride was remarkable to watch, followed by the exciting celebration after landing.
But where did it all take place?
A small town between the beautiful Guadalupe Mountains called Van Horn, Texas.
Looking east on Broadway Street in downtown Van Horn, Texas on September 17, 2019. There is only one doctor in town, but another doctor will soon have full privileges at the local hospital. Dr. Ed Garner is the only doctor covering 11,000 square miles of territory in West Texas. He practices at Culberson Hospital, the only hospital serving three counties in and around Van Horn, Texas. The hospital and staff can handle mild to moderate emergencies, but for more serious incidents, locals must travel 120 miles to El Paso, Texas. | Getty Images
Bezos celebrated the picturesque town and said: “I would also like to thank the town of Van Horn. This is a tiny and amazing little town part of your city, “said Bezos after his 10-minute journey into space on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
Bezos’ Blue Origin flight has been in the works for over a decade, which makes us wonder why he chose Van Horn, Texas of all places?
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The city is located in West Texas, just off Interstate 10, with just over 2,000 residents. It is 458 miles from Austin Texas, the capital of the lonely star state, and about 48 miles from the Mexican border.
In the mid-2000s, Bezos actually bought more than 150,000 acres of land just 25 miles from Van Horn, thinking the land was perfect for rocket engine development and testing, according to NewsWest9.
Bezos also interviewed a local newspaper in 2005 saying he wanted land in West Texas. He mentioned that as a young boy he spent his summers in South Texas on his grandfather’s ranch.
In terms of Van Horn, it felt remote and away from densely populated areas, which makes it the perfect place for missile testing.
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Just a short drive from the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the city’s economy is heavily dependent on tourism. A little further, about 60 miles north, are Big Bend and Carlsbad Caverns, as well as an old barrier reef with the four highest peaks in Texas, which is also frequented by tourists.
According to the Texas State Historical Association, an estimated 10,000 vehicles pass the city on Interstate Highway 10 and stop at the city’s hotels, restaurants, stores, and truck stops on their way to other destinations.
Interestingly, one famous visitor to the city was football commentator John Madden, who mentioned a favorite Mexican restaurant in Van Horn in Time Magazine, according to TSHA.
Van Horn Mayor Rebecca Brewster said, “Our greatest driving force is the tourism dollar. We often see ourselves as the junction of the Texas Mountain Trail,” Brewster continued. “[Van Horn] can be your hub for all your adventures in the far west of Texas. “
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In addition to tourism, the city’s residents are also known for their work in livestock, mining, and irrigated agriculture. The oil industry also plays an important role in the economy.
Van Horn, a member of Culberson County, is located in the Permian Basin, known as the main crude oil producing region in North America, making it an active place for companies in the oil industry including Chevron Corp., Apache Corp. according to Bloomberg.
Now that Jeff Bezos has made his mark on the city, it will be interesting to see the economic boost, if any, that is coming from Blue Origin.
There is a lack of housing in Van Horn and Blue Origin has not helped the problem.
The average home value in Van Horn is estimated at just over $ 247,000, according to Zillow, but much of the available homes have been rented to Blue Origin employees in recent years. Although the staff try to coexist with the locals, this poses a problem for the city dwellers who are now lacking housing options.
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Blue Origin staff have made an effort to blend in with the small community, many joining the local school board and city council and becoming volunteer firefighters, but most of these people are still seen as Van Horn’s outsiders.
According to Bloomberg, Blue Origin itself helped raise more than a million for the Van Horn community through grants to the school district, food bank, and city infrastructure. It has also expressed its plan to support funding for higher education and job skills.
Even so, Mayor Brewster said there was little feedback from city residents as to whether they would agree to the launch site being in their home country, NewsWest9 said.
When Bezos came to Van Horn in 2005 to discuss the FAA’s approval process, residents showed little opposition to Bezos’ plans, NewsWest9 continued, and shortly afterwards the Blue Origin spaceport was built.
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Few jobs at the spaceport actually went to local residents, and many say they have no idea what is going on at the launch site. Additionally, some believe that Blue Origin actually harmed the city, making it ineligible for state and federal grants due to the influx of Blue Origin employees, Bloomberg said.
Historically a quaint town born on the Texas and Pacific Railway, Van Horn today has achieved international fame for better or for worse. It will be interesting to see if space tourism is an option for the economy and future of this small town.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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