Texas's Most Redneck Towns (Yes, They Exist)

In 1967, three judges sat down in a Texas ghost town to settle a chili argument. One voted for the New Yorker, one voted for the Texan, and the third said his taste buds had been burned clean off. The contest was declared a draw, and the town has been hosting chili cookoffs ever since. This is a countdown of Texas's most redneck towns, and we mean that as a compliment. To make the list, a town had to commit: a monument, a resolution from the Texas Legislature, a title fight with a rival town, or a festival no other place would dream up. A fiberglass mule that went to a presidential inauguration. A world record for spitting a watermelon seed. A barbecue feud that split one family into two restaurants. A town sold for about $29,000 that ended up in a number one country song. And two towns still fighting over who is the real Cowboy Capital of the World. Which town did we leave off? Stephenville fans, the comments are open. Make your case. CHAPTERS 0:00 The Word 3:52 #8 Muleshoe 7:01 #7 Luling 10:05 #6 Lockhart 13:01 #5 Terlingua 16:23 #4 Luckenbach 19:38 #3 Pecos 22:34 #2 Stephenville 25:05 #1 Bandera 27:56 What They Have in Common SOURCES Texas Highways – A Tale of Two Cities: Stephenville, Bandera and the Cowboy Capital of the World: https://texashighways.com/travel-news/a-tale-of-two-cities-stephenville-bandera-and-the-cowboy-capital-of-the-world/ Texas Highways – A Look at Terlingua's Chili Origins: https://texashighways.com/culture/history/a-look-at-terlinguas-chili-origins/ Texas Monthly – Chili Relations: https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/chili-relations/ Texas Monthly – A Timeline of Lockhart Barbecue: https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/a-timeline-of-lockhart-barbecue/ Texas Monthly – Can Luckenbach Be Saved?: https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/can-luckenbach-be-saved/ Handbook of Texas (TSHA) – Luckenbach, TX: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/luckenbach-tx Official Luckenbach Texas – History: https://www.luckenbachtexas.com/luckenbach-texas-history KXAN – How Did Lockhart Become the Barbecue Capital of Texas?: https://www.kxan.com/kxan-documentaries/family-beef/how-did-lockhart-become-the-barbecue-capital-of-texas/ Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center – Lockhart, the Barbecue Capital of Texas: https://trerc.tamu.edu/blog/lockhart-the-barbecue-capital-of-texas/ Luling Watermelon Thump – History: https://newsite.watermelonthump.com/history/ Washington Post – At Texas Festival, Watermelon Seed Spitting Is Big Sport: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/at-texas-festival-watermelon-seed-spitting-is-big-sport/2014/06/26/4c58d270-f588-11e3-a606-946fd632f9f1_story.html The Bitter Southerner – The Wounded Fruit (Luling Watermelon Thump): https://bittersoutherner.com/the-wounded-fruit-spit-seeds-spread-joy-luling-watermelon-thump-shane-mitchell City of Muleshoe – Explore: https://www.city-of-muleshoe.com/explore/index.php National Mule Memorial: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Mule_Memorial Pecos, Texas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecos,_Texas Rodeo (history and Spanish origins): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodeo Austin American-Statesman – Texas History: What Makes Stephenville the Cowboy Capital of the World: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/history/2021/06/14/texas-history-makes-stephenville-cowboy-capital-world/7576508002/ #Texas #TexasHistory #SmallTownTexas