Jeff Davis County is a county in Texas, United States, in the Trans-Pecos region of the far western part of the state. It had a population of 1,996 people at the 2020 census and covers 2,265 square miles (5,870 km2) centred near 30°43′N 104°08′W.
Fort Davis is the county seat, and its postal code is 79734. The county has one incorporated town, one census-designated place, and a handful of unincorporated communities, all in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Jeff Davis County
Jeff Davis County is one of the least populated counties in Texas — only two of its settlements are large enough to be recognized as a census place, and everything else is a ranch community, historic stage stop, or windmill site. The table below marks incorporated places, the CDP, and unincorporated communities separately; Texas has no civil townships, so that column is omitted.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Davis | CDP · seat | 1,201 | 79734 |
| Valentine | Town | 134 | 79854 |
| Chispa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Madera Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bell Place Windmill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Corner Windmill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Place Windmill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saltlick Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
Fort Davis is unincorporated but recognized by the Census Bureau as a CDP; Valentine, near the Presidio County line, is the county’s only incorporated town. The windmill and mill sites are historic ranch stock-water points named on USGS topographic maps rather than population centers — they carry no census count but remain the recognized place names for the surrounding rangeland.
ZIP Codes
- 79734 — Fort Davis (also serves the McDonald Observatory area and most of the county’s interior ranches)
- 79854 — Valentine
The unincorporated windmill and mill sites use the Fort Davis or Valentine ZIP depending on which side of the county they fall on; none has its own postal code.
Geography
Jeff Davis County sits astride the Davis Mountains, Texas’ highest mountain range, and is defined by high desert grassland and volcanic peaks rather than the flat Trans-Pecos basin found in neighboring counties. Elevations reach above 8,300 feet at Mount Livermore, and the terrain is almost entirely land — the county has virtually no surface water beyond intermittent creeks. The pentagon-shaped county is unusual nationally for touching a foreign country, Mexico, at a single point where its southwest corner meets the Guadalupe Municipality of Chihuahua.
The county borders Reeves County to the north-northeast, Pecos County to the northeast, Culberson County to the north, Hudspeth County to the west, Presidio County to the south, and Brewster County to the east.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 1,996 residents, making Jeff Davis one of Texas’ smallest counties by population despite its large land area. Fort Davis (1,201) and Valentine (134) are the two largest communities; nearly all remaining residents live on scattered ranches. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting a rural, ranching-based economy with a limited local job base. Population density is under 1 person per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching — cattle and, historically, sheep and goats — has anchored the county’s economy since Anglo settlement. Tourism tied to the Davis Mountains State Park, the historic Fort Davis National Historic Site, and the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory brings a steady flow of visitors and seasonal jobs. The observatory, perched at over 6,700 feet, is also the county’s best-known institution and a dark-sky destination for astronomy tourism. Local government and the Fort Davis school district are among the county’s few steady employers.
History
Jeff Davis County was organized on March 15, 1887, carved from Presidio County, and named for Jefferson Davis, who served as United States Secretary of War in the 1850s before becoming president of the Confederate States of America. Fort Davis, the namesake military post established in 1854 to protect travelers on the San Antonio–El Paso Road from Apache and Comanche raids, predates the county and gave both the town and the surrounding mountains their name. The fort was decommissioned in 1891 and is preserved today as a National Historic Site.
Getting There
State Highway 17 and State Highway 118 cross at Fort Davis, the county’s only significant road junction; there is no interstate or rail service in the county.
- Alpine, Texas — 24 miles southeast
- Marfa, Texas — 21 miles south
- Van Horn, Texas — 36 miles north
- Marathon, Texas — 55 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Midland International Air and Space Port, roughly 170 miles northeast; there is no Amtrak service in the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jeff Davis County?
It is in far West Texas’ Trans-Pecos region, centered on the Davis Mountains, bordering Reeves, Pecos, Culberson, Hudspeth, Presidio, and Brewster counties.
What is the population of Jeff Davis County?
1,996 people at the 2020 census, one of the smallest county populations in Texas.
How big is Jeff Davis County?
2,265 square miles (5,870 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Jeff Davis County?
Fort Davis is the county seat.
How many towns are in Jeff Davis County?
One incorporated town (Valentine), one census-designated place (Fort Davis), and several unincorporated ranch communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jeff Davis County?
79734 (Fort Davis) and 79854 (Valentine).
What is Jeff Davis County known for?
The Davis Mountains, Texas’ highest range, and the University of Texas’ McDonald Observatory, one of the country’s premier dark-sky astronomy sites.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.