Major cities in the district include: Andrews, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, Killeen, and Brownwood.

The current configuration dates from the 2003 Texas redistricting; its first congressman, Mike Conaway, took office in 2005.

Much of the territory now in the district began shaking off its Democratic roots far sooner than the rest of Texas.

For instance, Barry Goldwater did very well in much of this area in 1964, and Midland itself last supported a Democrat for president in 1948.

It was President George W. Bush's strongest district in the entire nation in the 2004 election.