Rankin, Texas
Rankin is a small city in Upton County in the Permian Basin country of West Texas, about 50 miles southeast of Odessa. The surrounding land is open, arid ranch country underlain by the oil and gas fields that define the region's economy. It serves as the seat of Upton County, a sparsely populated area where ranching and the petroleum industry have long shaped daily life.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 733
- Change from 2020 base
- -5.9%
- Land area
- 1.1 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Upton 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 Upton 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 Rankin
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Rankin.
Local History
Rankin became the county seat after a railroad reroute
Rankin replaced Upland as the county seat after a railroad changed its route in 1911, then oil booms shaped the town into what it is today.
Property Tax
Two offices handle property taxes in Upton County
The appraisal district and the tax assessor-collector are separate offices in different towns, so knowing which one to call saves you time.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill
If your home in Upton County is your primary residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.
Nearby
Places near Rankin
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Rankin
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