Hudspeth County, Texas

7 local notes for Hudspeth County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Big Bend / Far West.

Money & Taxes

Property Tax

Two offices handle your property taxes here

In Hudspeth County, one office sets your property value and a separate office handles vehicle registration. Neither office is the same as your property tax collector.

Home & Property

Water Rights

A local district regulates groundwater pumping

The Hudspeth County Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 requires permits for most irrigation wells and tracks how much groundwater is pumped.

Mineral Rights

Your land deed may not include what is underground

In Texas, the mineral rights and the land surface can be owned by different people. The mineral owner has the stronger legal right to access the property.

Cars & Driving

Vehicle Registration

No emissions test required for vehicle registration here

Hudspeth County is not on the state list of counties that require an emissions test. Since January 2025, most Texas vehicles no longer need a safety inspection to register either.

Outdoors

Hunting

Mule deer and pronghorn require specific permits here

Hudspeth County is in the Trans-Pecos hunting zone for mule deer. Pronghorn hunting requires a special permit issued to landowners.

History & Culture

Historic Building

The county courthouse is built from adobe

The Hudspeth County Courthouse in Sierra Blanca, built in 1919, is made of adobe and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

County Origins

This county was born where two railroads met

Hudspeth County formed in 1917 from eastern El Paso County. The town of Sierra Blanca grew up at the spot where two railroads met in 1881.