Marfa, Texas
Marfa sits on the high desert grasslands of the Marfa Plateau in the Big Bend country of far West Texas, the seat of Presidio County and roughly 177 miles southeast of El Paso. Ringed by ranchland and distant desert mountains, the small town is widely known for the Marfa Lights, unexplained glows sometimes seen at night on the plain east of town. Since the arrival of the minimalist artist Donald Judd and the Chinati Foundation in the late 20th century, Marfa has also become a noted destination for contemporary art.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 1,574
- Change from 2020 base
- -12%
- Land area
- 1.6 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Presidio 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 Presidio 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 Marfa
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Marfa.
County History
How Presidio County and Marfa Came to Be
Presidio County was one of Texas's largest counties when it was organized in 1875, and Marfa became the county seat in 1885 after the railroad arrived.
Property Tax
Who Handles Property Tax in Presidio County
Two separate offices handle property taxes here. One sets the value, and a different one collects the bill.
Water Wells
Drilling a Water Well in Presidio County
Presidio County has its own groundwater district, and all wells must be registered with it before drilling.
Nearby
Places near Marfa
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Marfa
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