Ochiltree County is a county in Texas, United States, at the top of the Panhandle along the Oklahoma line. It had a population of 10,015 at the 2020 census and covers 918 square miles (2,380 km2) centred near 36°17′N 100°49′W.
Perryton is the county seat, and its postal code is 79070. The county has one incorporated city and two unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 48357.
Towns & Villages in Ochiltree County
Ochiltree County has three named places on the map: one incorporated city and two unincorporated communities, one of which is largely inside neighboring Lipscomb County. CDP = Census-Designated Place, an unincorporated community the Census Bureau tracks separately; Unincorp. = an unincorporated settlement with no CDP boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perryton | City · seat | 8,492 | 79070 |
| Farnsworth | CDP | 95 | 79033 |
| Waka | CDP | 50 | 79093 |
| Booker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Huntoon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Twichell | Unincorp. | — | — |
Booker is best known as a Lipscomb County town — most of its land and population sit across the county line to the east, with only a small slice reaching into Ochiltree County, which is why it carries no ZIP or population figure of its own here. Huntoon and Twichell are rural rail-siding communities along the old Santa Fe line north and west of Perryton, with no current population count.
ZIP Codes
- 79070 — Perryton (the county’s only city-delivery ZIP)
- 79033 — Farnsworth (also serves nearby rural addresses)
- 79093 — Waka (post office box service only)
Booker, Huntoon, and Twichell have no dedicated ZIP code and use Perryton or Booker (Lipscomb County) addresses.
Geography
Ochiltree County sits on the flat, high shortgrass plains of the Texas Panhandle, drained by Wolf Creek and the North Fork of the Canadian River in the south of the county. The terrain is almost entirely dry land, with only a small share of surface water. The county borders Texas County, Oklahoma to the north, Beaver County, Oklahoma to the northeast, Lipscomb County to the east, Roberts County to the south, Hansford County to the west, and Hemphill County to the southeast.
Demographics
At the 2020 census, Ochiltree County had 10,015 residents. Perryton is by far the largest community, followed by Farnsworth. Median household income runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting a farm-and-ranch economy with a large share of workers in agriculture and meatpacking. Population density is about 11 people per square mile, typical for the sparsely settled Panhandle.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching, wheat and corn farming, and natural gas production drive the county economy, alongside a large beef-processing plant in Perryton that employs a significant share of the local workforce. Ochiltree General Hospital and the Perryton Independent School District are the largest public employers. The county was historically one of Texas’s dry counties, a status that shaped its early social life.
History
Ochiltree County was created in 1876 and organized in 1889, named for William Beck Ochiltree, an attorney general of the Republic of Texas. Early settlement followed the arrival of the railroad, and Perryton grew as a shipping point for area wheat and cattle. The county was long known as one of roughly 30 completely dry counties in Texas, a designation that lasted for much of the 20th century.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 83 runs north-south through Perryton, with State Highways 15 and 70 crossing the county east-west.
- Guymon, Oklahoma — 35 miles north
- Borger, Texas — 55 miles south
- Amarillo, Texas — 105 miles southwest
- Woodward, Oklahoma — 90 miles east
The nearest commercial air service is Amarillo’s Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport; Perryton also has its own municipal airport for general aviation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ochiltree County?
It is in the northern Texas Panhandle, on the Oklahoma state line.
What is the population of Ochiltree County?
10,015 at the 2020 census.
How big is Ochiltree County?
918 square miles (2,380 km2).
What is the county seat of Ochiltree County?
Perryton is the county seat.
How many towns and communities are in Ochiltree County?
One incorporated city (Perryton) and several unincorporated communities, including two Census-designated places.
What ZIP codes are in Ochiltree County?
79070 (Perryton), 79033 (Farnsworth), and 79093 (Waka).
Was Ochiltree County a dry county?
Yes — for much of the 20th century it was one of about 30 Texas counties that banned alcohol sales entirely.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.