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Oil & Gas Stories & local character

Oil and Gas Activity in Irion County Is Regulated from San Angelo

Irion County Rules & Licenses

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates oil and gas production in Texas. It has nothing to do with railroads today — it is the state agency for energy. Irion County is in RRC District 7C. The district office is in San Angelo.

Oil was discovered in Irion County in 1928. Production became substantial in the late 1950s. If you own land here, mineral rights may have been separated from the surface rights long ago. The RRC website lets you search well records for any property. This matters if you are buying land and want to know what oil or gas activity has happened on it. Check rrc.texas.gov for well records and permitted operators.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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More stories and useful context near Irion County

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Stories & local character

The Railroad Moved the County Seat to Mertzon

Irion County started with Sherwood as its county seat, but when the railroad bypassed Sherwood and ran through Mertzon, the county seat followed.

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Stories & local character

Sheep and Cattle Ranching Shaped Irion County

Irion County's economy was built on livestock ranching, especially sheep and cattle, and that land-use pattern still shapes the county today.

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Practical

Deer Hunting in Irion County Has a Generous Bag Limit

Irion County falls in the Texas North Zone for white-tailed deer, which allows up to five deer per season with a two-buck limit.

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Stories & local character

Oil and Gas Activity Is Regulated by the Railroad Commission

Dimmit County has active oil and gas production, and the Texas Railroad Commission oversees permits, wells, and operator records.

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Place pages in Irion County

Mertzon

Nearby county shelves

Tom Green (29) Reagan (6) Sterling (5) Schleicher (5) Coke (7) Crockett (6)