Irion County, Texas


Irion County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,599. Its county seat is Mertzon. The county is named for Robert Anderson Irion, a secretary of state of the Republic of Texas.
Irion County is included in the San Angelo, Texas, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Beginning in 1858, until 1861, Butterfield Overland Mail crosses the region.
In 1876 John Arden brought the first flock of sheep from California and Billy Childress established the longhorn 7D Ranch.
The Texas legislature forms Irion County from Tom Green County in 1889. Sherwood becomes the county seat.
Oil was discovered in Irion County in 1928.
In 1936 Mertzon becomes county seat.
Currently, the Old Irion County Courthouse in Sherwood is the only property in the county which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The Spraberry Trend, the third-largest oil field in the United States by remaining reserves, underlies much of the county.

Major highways

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,771 people, 694 households, and 523 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile. There were 914 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 90.68% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.79% Native American, 6.55% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. 24.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 694 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 6.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were non-families. 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 4.70% from 18 to 24, 26.90% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,500, and the median income for a family was $45,458. Males had a median income of $35,642 versus $20,395 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,515. About 8.30% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.20% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

Oil & Gas Activity Summary

is one of the . The table below contains oil and gas data from 1993 through Sept 2019 covering 4,910 wells that have been producing in that period of time.
CategoryLast Year ValueCurrent Year ValueYoY TrendYoY % Change
Total Wells3,5054,910Up40.09%
Total Producing Wells2,8962,847Down-1.69%
Percentage of Wells Producing83%58%Down43%
Past Year Active Producers7768Down-12%
Past Year Total Permits162288Up78%
Average Well Depth6,5496,549Flat0%
Average BOE per Well340350Up3%

Communities

City