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.

Hudspeth County History & Culture

In the 1870s two rail lines were racing toward each other. The Southern Pacific built east from California. The Texas and Pacific built west from Central Texas. They met near Sierra Blanca Mountain on December 15, 1881. That connection completed what was called the nation's second transcontinental rail link. Sierra Blanca quickly became a ranching and shipping hub at that junction.

Hudspeth County was carved out of eastern El Paso County. It was officially organized in February 1917. The county was named for state senator Claude Benton Hudspeth of El Paso.

The county covers 4,566 square miles. It sits between New Mexico, the Mexican state of Chihuahua, and neighboring Texas counties. Today ranching is still the main economic activity.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Hudspeth County

More Hudspeth County notes

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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