Claude, Texas
Claude is a small ranching town on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, in Armstrong County about 29 miles east of Amarillo. The surrounding cattle country and open plains served as the backdrop for the 1963 film "Hud," starring Paul Newman, much of which was shot in and around the town. The broken canyon country toward the nearby Palo Duro breaks lies just to the south.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 1,190
- Change from 2020 base
- +0.5%
- Land area
- 1.7 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Armstrong 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 Armstrong 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 Claude
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Claude.
History / Ranching
The JA Ranch: A National Historic Landmark Still Operating in Armstrong County
The JA Ranch in Palo Duro Canyon was founded in 1876 by Charles Goodnight and John Adair. It is the oldest continuously operating cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle and a National Historic Landmark.
Property tax
Two Offices Handle Property Tax in Armstrong County
Armstrong County has two separate offices that deal with property tax. They do different jobs.
Water
Well Water in Armstrong County Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer
Rural land in Armstrong County gets water from the Ogallala Aquifer. It is a large underground source that is slowly shrinking.
Nearby
Places near Claude
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Claude
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