When first post office opened here Jan. 4, 1884, with Charles H. Welch as postmaster, settlers proposed to name the town Midway, because it was halfway between Ft. Worth and El Paso. Finding that another post office in Texas had that name, they chose Midland instead. Site of the first post office was 108 East Missouri, location of main loading dock of the current facility. Postal headquarters moved four times before returning to the original site upon completion of the new federal building (1974). Midland Post Office now serves a region of 32,000 square miles. (1974)