Check Traffic

Check Traffic
Live Cameras, Conditions

°

Homepage / Family
Text Size

Send Love Letters With Valentine, Texas Postmark

'Loving' Cities Around Nation Give Valentines Cards Special Marking

POSTED: Thursday, February 9, 2006
UPDATED: 1:02 pm CST February 9, 2006

Every year around Valentine's Day, cards and letters roll into a tiny adobe-style West Texas post office for weeks as romantics from around the world send messages to get stamped with the distinctive postmark of Valentine, Texas.

Sweethearts from all over the world send a stamped card or letter inside another envelope addressed to the post office, along with a request to give the holiday message the special Valentine postmark.

The postal workers then stamp the envelope with the city's distinctive postmark, created by a student at the town's K-12 public school. The postmark changes annually.

To get your Valentine sent with the town's distinctive postmark, place a stamped envelope with the recipient's address on it inside another envelope and mail it to:

Postmaster Valentine, Texas 79854

Valentine is one of only two towns in Jeff Davis County, one of the state's least populous counties. Fort Davis, 40 miles to the east, is the other town.

According to the Texas State Historical Association, Valentine got its name from a Southern Pacific Railroad construction crew, which reached the site Feb. 14, 1882. Trains first arrived in 1883, and the first post office was established in 1886.

As it became a shipping point for cattlemen, population peaked at more than 600 in the early 1930s. Since then, it's dwindled. And other than its name and post office, Valentine's claim to fame is that it was near here in 1931 that a 6.0 earthquake hit, the largest ever in Texas.

The holiday postmark tradition grew from the 1980s, when former postmaster, Doris Kelley, did some for friends and the favor was spread by word of mouth.

Valentine's Day is big in other Texas post offices, as well as in Nebraska and Colorado.

In Loving, postmaster Sherry Kincaid says her "little bitty community" about 80 miles northwest of Fort Worth gets several thousand pieces of extra mail in weeks leading up to Feb. 14.

Hart, about 60 miles northwest of Lubbock, gets a few items from people looking for a special postmark but isn't in the same league with Valentine or Loving. "I wish we were," postmaster Tommie McCormick said.

Valentine shares its name with Valentine, Neb., a town of about 3,000 that bills itself as America's "Heart City" and also cashes in on the holiday, as does Loveland, Colo., the "Sweetheart City."

Sponsored Links

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
Employers generally have options when it comes to hiring. Makes sure you present yourself as professionally as possible, or else. More

To get the most out of your remodel, check out these 10 home updates that have the biggest payoffs when it comes time to sell your home. More

The first step in reducing debt is recognizing how much you have. Let us help you with the rest and get out from under your debt in 12 months. More

Do you want the look of a quality paint job without the hassle of having to redo it over and over? Spray on siding could be the answer. More

Most Popular

Marketplace

  • AutoClick to Expand

  • JobsClick to Expand

    • 7 Killer Cover Letter Mistakes

      Don’t ruin your chances of landing that new job by making easy to correct mistakes on your cover letter.

    • Why Having Fun At Work Matters

      If people are having fun, they’re going to work harder, stay longer, maintain their composure in a crisis and take better care of the organization.

    • Ten Tips To Boost Your Interview IQ

      Interviewing is a learned skill, and there are no second chances to make a great first impression. So study these 10 strategies to enhance your interview IQ.

    • Learn How To Deal With Pay Cuts

      If you’re about to take a pay cut, find out how you can go about dealing with it and stay proactive about your salary.

  • WomenClick to Expand

    • Healthy Living In Your 40s

      Your guide to looking and feeling your best.

    • Manage Stress, Find Balance

      The idea of living a balanced life may seem like an oxymoron. Yet working toward balance and self-care is key to feeling in control and more joyful at home and work.

    • Weight & Exercise: The Right Mix

      Being healthy is related to how well you take care of yourself. But it’s never too late! A woman can learn new, healthy habits at any age.

  • InsuranceClick to Expand

    • Auto Insurance Quotes

      Simply enter your zip code and get great deals on your car insurance from the top companies. Click here and start saving today!

    • Health Insurance Quotes

      No matter where you live, you shouldn’t have to pay too much for health insurance. Your zip code is all you need and we’ll do the rest to find you great insurance rates.

    • Home Insurance Quotes

      Your home is your most valuable asset. So make sure you have coverage that fits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.

    • Life Insurance Quotes

      What would happen to your family if you were suddenly gone? Don’t leave their future to chance and find top quality life insurance before it’s too late.

    • Business Insurance Quotes

      Don’t take chances when it comes to insuring your business. To get the best rates from top companies in your area just enter your zip code.

  • HomesClick to Expand