Martin County
countyMartin County is located on the southern High Plains of West Central Texas. As of 2020, the population was 5,237. The county seat is Stanton. Martin County is part of the Midland–Odessa combined statistical area. The county was created in 1876 and organized in 1884 and is named for Wylie Martin, an early settler. The economy of Martin County is largely driven by agriculture and the oil and gas industry. Key crops include cotton, small grains, and corn. The energy sector plays a vital role in local growth and employment. Martin County offers a glimpse into the rugged beauty and resilient spirit of West Texas. Its history is intertwined with the development of the railroad, the rise of cotton farming, and the oil boom. The county's landscape, characterized by its wide-open spaces and distinctive flora, provides a unique backdrop for its close-knit communities.
Martin County, Texas
- Classification
- County
- FIPS Code
- 48317
- Country
- United States
- County
- Martin County
- Region
- Southern High Plains of west Central Texas
- Elevation
- 2,775 ft
- Total Area
- 916 sq mi
- Land Area
- 915 sq mi
- Water Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Latitude
- 32.3
- Longitude
- -101.96
- Climate
- Annual average rainfall is 15.72 inches. The January minimum temperature averages 30° F, and the average maximum in July is 95° F.
- Notable Features
- Spraberry Trend (oil field) · Sulphur Spring Creek · Mustang Creek
- Neighboring Areas
- Dawson County · Howard County · Glasscock County · Midland County · Andrews County · Gaines County · Borden County
- Population (2020)
- 5,237
- Est. Population (2024)
- 5,179
- Median Age
- 37.2
- Median Income
- $77,083
- Poverty Rate
- 8.11%
- Owner-Occupied
- 66.9%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- The racial makeup of the county was 48% White (Non-Hispanic), 28.5% White (Hispanic), 8.78% Two Races Including Other (Hispanic), 8.15% Other (Hispanic), and 3.58% Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic).
- Government Type
- Commissioners’ court
- Governing Body
- Commissioners’ Court
- Body Size
- 5 members
- Unemployment Rate
- 2.8%
- Employment Sectors
- Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction · Educational Services · Health Care & Social Assistance
- School Districts
- Grady ISD · Stanton ISD
- Transportation
- I-20 · US 87 · SH 115 · SH 137 · SH 176 · SH 349
- Major Facilities
- Martin County Hospital District
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Founded
- 1876
- Named After
- Wylie Martin, one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists
- Historical Significance
- The county's history is tied to ranching, farming, and the oil industry.
- Key Events
- County formed from Bexar County · Organized in 1884 · First White settlement in 1881