Hall County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Texas Panhandle’s eastern edge along the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. It had a population of 2,825 at the 2020 census and covers 904 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 883 square miles are land and 21 square miles are water, centred near 34°31′N 100°41′W.
Memphis is the county seat, and its postal code is 79245. The county has two cities, two towns, and several unincorporated communities scattered across its ranchland. Hall County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Hall County
Fourteen named places appear on maps of Hall County: two incorporated cities, two incorporated towns, and ten unincorporated communities, several of them now ghost towns or single-crossroads settlements. Population figures below are shown only where a 2020 census count exists for the place itself; unincorporated communities are not separately counted and are marked —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | City · seat | — | 79245 |
| Turkey | City | — | 79261 |
| Estelline | Town | — | 79233 |
| Lakeview | Town | — | 79239 |
| Brice | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South Brice | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eli | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hulver | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lesley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newlin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Parnell | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plains Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plaska | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weatherly | Unincorp. | — | — |
Brice and South Brice are two distinct rail-era settlements a few miles apart along the old Fort Worth and Denver line, not a single place split in two — both names are kept.
ZIP Codes
- 79245 — Memphis (also serves the surrounding rural county)
- 79261 — Turkey
- 79233 — Estelline (PO Box only)
- 79239 — Lakeview
The smaller unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own; mail there is addressed to the nearest post office town.
Geography
Hall County lies in the Rolling Plains of the Texas Panhandle, where the Caprock Escarpment breaks down toward the Red River valley. The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and its tributary Mulberry Creek cut broken, canyon-edged country through the county’s eastern half, while the western uplands are flatter grazing and cropland. Hall County borders Donley County to the north, Collingsworth County to the northeast, Childress County to the east, Cottle County to the southeast, Motley County to the south, and Briscoe County to the west.
Demographics
Hall County had 2,825 residents at the 2020 census, down from earlier decades as the Panhandle’s farm counties have steadily lost population. Memphis and Turkey are the two largest communities, together holding most of the county’s population. Census figures show the county 67.1% White, 33.6% Hispanic or Latino of any race, and 7.2% Black or African American. Median household income runs well below the Texas median of $75,780, typical of a sparsely populated ranching county; population density is roughly 3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives Hall County’s economy, chiefly cotton farming and cattle ranching on the plains west of the Red River breaks. Memphis, the county seat, functions as the county’s retail, medical, and government center, with the Hall County courthouse anchoring its downtown square. Turkey, the county’s other incorporated city, is known locally as the hometown of Western swing bandleader Bob Wills and hosts an annual Bob Wills Day celebration.
History
Hall County was created by the Texas Legislature in 1876 out of the Bexar and Young territories and formally organized in 1890. It is named for Warren D. C. Hall, who served as secretary of war for the Republic of Texas. Memphis was laid out as the county seat when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway reached the area, and the rail line shaped the pattern of small trackside communities — including Brice, South Brice, and Newlin — that dot the county today.
Getting There
U.S. Route 287 crosses the county through Memphis, with State Highways 70, 86, and 256 connecting the smaller communities. Nearby anchors:
- Clarendon — about 25 miles north
- Childress — about 30 miles east
- Amarillo — about 95 miles northwest
- Wichita Falls — about 140 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hall County, Texas?
It sits on the eastern edge of the Texas Panhandle, along the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, about 95 miles southeast of Amarillo.
What is the population of Hall County?
2,825 people, at the 2020 census.
How big is Hall County?
904 square miles (2,340 km2), of which 883 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Hall County?
Memphis is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hall County?
Two cities (Memphis and Turkey), two towns (Estelline and Lakeview), and about ten smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hall County?
79245 (Memphis), 79261 (Turkey), 79233 (Estelline), and 79239 (Lakeview).
Who is Turkey, Texas famous for?
Western swing musician Bob Wills, who grew up near Turkey; the town holds an annual Bob Wills Day festival in his honor.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.