Sheep and Cattle Ranching Shaped Irion County

By 1930, Irion County had more than 33,000 cattle, roughly 3,700 mohair goats, and nearly 203,000 sheep. The land is mostly open range. Ranching remains central to local life even after oil and gas production became significant in the mid-20th century.

If you are buying rural land here, check whether the seller has an agricultural valuation — often called an ag exemption. Ag valuations are based on how the land is used for farming or ranching, not on market value. That can mean a much lower tax bill. The appraisal district sets these. Contact the Irion County Appraisal District at irioncad.org to ask about current ag valuation requirements.