Crane County is a county in Texas, United States, on the eastern edge of the Permian Basin oil field. It had a population of 4,675 people at the 2020 census and covers 785 square miles (2,030 km2) of land, centred near 31°25′N 102°31′W.
Crane is the county seat, and its postal code is 79731. The county has one incorporated city and one unincorporated place, no civil townships (Texas does not use the township system), sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 48103.
Towns & Villages in Crane County
Crane County has two named settlements: the county seat of Crane, an incorporated city, and Tubbs Corner, an unincorporated crossroads community. Nearly the entire county population lives in or around Crane.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane | City · seat | 3,443 | 79731 |
| Tubbs Corner | Unincorp. | — | 79731 |
ZIP Codes
- 79731 — Crane (also serves Tubbs Corner and the rest of the county)
Crane County is served by a single ZIP code; there is no separate postal designation for any other place in the county.
Geography
Crane County sits on the eastern shoulder of the Permian Basin, a flat-to-rolling stretch of west Texas rangeland cut by shallow draws feeding the Pecos River drainage. The terrain is largely mesquite and creosote grassland used for cattle grazing and oil production, with little surface water; 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) of the county is water. The county borders Ector County to the north, Upton County to the east, Crockett County and Pecos County to the south, and Ward County to the west. Live sibling pages: Ector County, Upton County, Crockett County, Pecos County, and Ward County.
Demographics
Crane County’s 2020 census population was 4,675, with the large majority living in the city of Crane; Tubbs Corner is a small rural cluster outside it. Median household income in Crane County runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the county’s small, oil-dependent economy. Population density is about 5.9 people per square mile, one of the more sparsely settled counties in the Permian Basin.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas production dominates Crane County’s economy. The Waddell Ranch field, developed since the 1920s, had more than 800 producing wells as of 2007 and remains one of the largest oil-producing properties in Texas. Crane Independent School District and Crane County government are the leading non-oilfield employers, and county life centers on the city of Crane, the only town of any size.
History
Crane County was created in 1887 and formally organized in 1927, and takes its name from William Carey Crane, a former president of Baylor University in Waco. The county remained sparsely populated ranchland until oil was discovered in 1926; by 1927 an estimated 6,000 people had arrived to work the new field, a boom that shaped the county’s economy for the century that followed.
Getting There
Crane County is crossed by Interstate 20 along its northern edge and by U.S. Highways 67 and 385 and State Highway 329 through the county seat.
- Odessa — 28 miles north
- Midland — 55 miles northeast
- Fort Stockton — 60 miles southwest
- McCamey — 20 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Midland International Air & Space Port, about an hour’s drive northeast of Crane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Crane County?
It is in west Texas, on the eastern edge of the Permian Basin, bordered by Ector, Upton, Crockett, Pecos, and Ward counties.
What is the population of Crane County?
Crane County had a population of 4,675 at the 2020 census.
How big is Crane County?
The county covers 785 square miles (2,030 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Crane County?
Crane is the county seat.
How many towns are in Crane County?
The county has one incorporated city, Crane, and one unincorporated community, Tubbs Corner.
What ZIP codes are in Crane County?
The whole county is served by ZIP code 79731.
What drives Crane County’s economy?
Oil and gas production, centered on the long-producing Waddell Ranch field.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.