Sutton County was built on sheep, goats, wool, and mohair

After the county was established in 1887, ranchers on the Edwards Plateau found that sheep and Angora goats thrived on the dry, brushy terrain. Wool and mohair became the main cash crops. During the Great Depression, local producers formed the Wool and Mohair Cooperative Marketing Association, which sold 2.7 million pounds of wool in its first year of operation.

Oil and gas development also came to the county, peaking in the 1970s. Today, hunting leases bring in additional income alongside cattle, sheep, and goat operations. If you are buying ranchland here, the land's ranching history matters for both its ag-use tax status and its long-term use.