Martin County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Spraberry Trend oil field of the southern High Plains. It had a population of 5,237 at the 2020 census and covers 916 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 915 square miles are land, centred near 32°18′N 101°58′W.
Stanton is the county seat, and its postal code is 79782. The county has one incorporated town and several unincorporated communities and CDPs; it observes Central time. Martin County was created in 1876 and organized in 1884.
Towns & Villages in Martin County
Martin County has one incorporated town, two census-designated places, and a handful of small unincorporated communities scattered across its ranch and farm country. The table below lists every named place carried over from the county’s settlement list, with 2020 census figures where the U.S. Census Bureau tracks them separately.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanton | City · seat | 3,867 | 79782 |
| Ackerly | Town | 840 | 79713 |
| Lenorah | CDP | 477 | 79749 |
| Tarzan | CDP | 113 | 79783 |
| Grady | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flower Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Courtney | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dix | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Merrick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Three Leagues | Unincorp. | — | — |
Ackerly straddles the Martin–Dawson county line, with part of the town in each county; the population figure above is for the ZIP-code area, not the town limits alone. A small edge of the city of Midland extends into southeastern Martin County, but Midland’s population center and city hall are in Midland County, so it is not listed as a Martin County town here.
ZIP Codes
- 79782 — Stanton (county seat)
- 79713 — Ackerly (also serves nearby farms straddling the Dawson County line)
- 79749 — Lenorah
- 79783 — Tarzan
Grady, Flower Grove, Brown, Courtney, Dix, Merrick and Three Leagues are unincorporated crossroads communities without their own ZIP code; mail there is typically routed through Stanton or Ackerly.
Geography
Martin County sits on the caprock of the southern High Plains, a mostly flat to gently rolling plain used for cotton farming, cattle ranching, and oil production. The county lies within the Spraberry Trend, one of the largest oil fields in the United States by estimated crude output. There are no major natural lakes or rivers; the terrain is drained by shallow draws that feed the Colorado River basin to the east. The county borders Dawson County to the north, Howard County to the east, Glasscock County to the southeast, Midland County to the south, Andrews County to the west, and Gaines County to the northwest.
Demographics
Martin County had 5,237 residents at the 2020 census. Stanton is the largest community, followed by Ackerly. The county’s median household income runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the mix of oilfield and agricultural work; Tarzan’s small ZIP-code area reports the highest incomes in the county, while Lenorah’s is the lowest. Population density is roughly 5.7 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties on the southern plains.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas production from the Spraberry Trend is the county’s dominant industry, supplemented by cotton farming and cattle ranching on the surrounding plains. Stanton, the county seat, hosts the county courthouse and most local services; Ackerly and Lenorah remain small farm-service communities. The county is part of the wider Midland–Odessa oilfield economy just to its south and west.
History
Martin County was created from Bexar and Young territory by the Texas Legislature in 1876 and formally organized in 1884. It is named for Wylie Martin, an early Texas settler and soldier in the Texas Revolution. The county’s early economy was cattle ranching; cotton farming followed with irrigation development in the 20th century, and oil discoveries on the Spraberry Trend from the 1950s onward reshaped the county’s economy and tax base.
Getting There
U.S. Route 87 runs north–south through the county via Stanton, and Interstate 20 crosses the southern part of the county near Midland. Farm-to-market roads connect the smaller communities.
- Midland — 20 miles south
- Big Spring — 20 miles east
- Lamesa — 25 miles north
- Odessa — 35 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Midland International Air & Space Port, just south of the county line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Martin County, Texas?
It is on the southern High Plains of West Texas, immediately north of Midland County and about 20 miles north of the city of Midland.
What is the population of Martin County?
5,237 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Martin County?
916 square miles (2,370 km2), of which 915 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Martin County?
Stanton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Martin County?
Two incorporated towns (Stanton and Ackerly), two census-designated places (Lenorah and Tarzan), and several small unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Martin County?
79782 (Stanton), 79713 (Ackerly), 79749 (Lenorah), and 79783 (Tarzan).
What is Martin County’s economy based on?
Oil and gas production from the Spraberry Trend, plus cotton farming and cattle ranching.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.