Alpine, Texas
Alpine occupies a high valley in the foothills of the Davis Mountains in Brewster County, sitting above 4,000 feet in the Big Bend country of far West Texas. About 128 miles southwest of Odessa, it serves as the largest town and commercial hub for a vast, sparsely populated region and is a common staging point for travelers heading to Big Bend National Park. The town is home to Sul Ross State University, and ranching and the university have long shaped its economy.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 5,989
- Change from 2020 base
- -0.4%
- Land area
- 4.8 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Brewster County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Property here runs through the appraisal district and tax office for Brewster County. The homestead exemption, appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Alpine
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Alpine.
History / Mining
Terlingua's mercury mines drove Brewster County's early economy
The Chisos Mining Company at Terlingua was once a major U.S. mercury producer. When it collapsed, it left behind what is now called Terlingua Ghost Town.
Property tax
Texas homestead exemption cuts your school tax bill
A qualifying Brewster County homeowner can use the Texas residence homestead exemption to lower the value taxed by a school district.
History / Historic District
Alpine's downtown was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2026
Alpine's downtown was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in spring 2026. The district spans about 40 blocks and includes nearly 300 buildings and sites near the Union Pacific tracks.
Nearby
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Nearby counties
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Next steps for Alpine
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