Ward County was formed from Tom Green County on February 26, 1887, organized on March 29, 1892, and named in honor of Thomas William Ward, 1807-1872. Ward was at the storming of Bexar in December 1835, served as Commissioner of the General Land Office from 1841 to 1848, and was United States consul at Panama from 1853 to 1856. Monahans is the county seat.