Cactus, Texas
Cactus is a city in Moore County on the flat, dry High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, about 58 miles north of Amarillo. The town is dominated economically by a large beef-processing plant, which draws a workforce from across the region and gives Cactus one of the most diverse populations in the Panhandle. The surrounding country is open shortgrass plains devoted to cattle feeding, irrigated farming, and ranching.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 3,165
- Change from 2020 base
- +3.8%
- Land area
- 2.1 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Moore 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 Moore 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 Cactus
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Cactus.
History
Oil and Gas Shaped Moore County Starting in the 1920s
Moore County went from a cattle-ranching area to an oil and gas hub after commercial production began in 1927, reshaping the county's towns and economy.
Property Tax
Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax in Moore County
One Dumas office decides what your Moore County property is worth; a different one, blocks away, sends the bill and takes your money.
Groundwater / Wells
You Need a Permit Before Drilling a Water Well
Moore County sits inside the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, which requires approval before you drill any non-exempt water well.
Nearby
Places near Cactus
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Cactus
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