Edwards County's Wool and Mohair Heritage Still Shapes the Economy

Early settlers found the Edwards Plateau rocky and hard to farm. But it was great for grazing. Ranchers shifted to sheep and angora goats. By 1940, the county had more than 331,000 sheep and 376,000 angora goats. Rocksprings became one of the world's top mohair markets. The county still calls itself the "Top-o-the-World" in mohair. It holds an annual festival in May to mark that history.

About 95 percent of farmland in the county is pasture. Ranching numbers are smaller now than at their peak. But ranching is still the backbone of the local economy. Hunting and fishing also matter. Tourism from hunters and anglers brings in about 20 percent of annual county income, according to the Handbook of Texas. If you are buying ranch land here, know both the ranching and hunting lease markets.