Irion

Irion County

Updated on: November 18, 2021
Coordinates
31° 18' 0" N, 100° 58' 48" W (31.3, -100.98)
State
Texas
Region
Central West
County Seat:
Mertzon
Year Organized:
1889
Total Square Miles:
1051.631
1,052 square miles (2,720 km2) land
0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) water
Population:
1516 (2017)
Population: 1,557 est. (2016) 1,599 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
1
Irion County Website
http://www.co.irion.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Tom Green (N and E)
Schleicher (SE)
Crockett (SW)
Reagan (W)

Irion County Town List

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
1516
25 to 64 Years of Age:
49.61%
65 Years of Age and Older:
21.48%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$1.7 B
Labor Force:
771
Unemployment Rate:
3.10%

County Contact

209 Park View
County Courthouse
Mertzon, TX

http://www.co.irion.tx.us

Irion County, Texas, is found in the Edwards Plateau region of west-central Texas. It has an area of 1,051.56 square miles and a population of about 1,500 people. The county seat is Mertzon which was established as early as 1849 by settlers from New York State. The seat has a lot of businesses and offices for county services.  

What is Irion County Known For? 

Irion county is home to the Big Spring National Park. The park offers visitors beautiful scenery and wildlife viewing areas. There are over 200 species of birds living within its borders. You will also find deer, wild turkey, whitetail deer, bobcat, raccoon, beaver, otter, and mink.  

Irion is also famous for being one of the most active oil fields in America. Moreover, the first well drilled here produced over 40 million barrels of crude oil. 

If you’re looking for some fun activities while visiting this place, then look no further than the Big Spring Waterpark. Here you’ll find lots of water slides, pools, a lazy river, a miniature golf course, bumper boats, and other kid-friendly attractions. 

If you want to learn about the county’s history, visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. They offer exhibits on everything from dinosaurs to space exploration. 

Irion county is also home to Hardin Simmons University and South Plains College. These schools provide students with quality education at affordable prices. 

The Economy of Irion County Texas 

 Irion County’s economy largely relies on ranching, oil, gas production, and wildlife recreation. Oil wells make up approximately 70% of the total jobs available in the county. 

Those working in the oil industry receive $40 per hour plus benefits. Those working in tourism earn around $20 per hour plus benefits. 

People employed in agriculture work for $15-$25 per hour plus benefits. Their main job involves farming corn, wheat, soybeans, cotton, sorghum, oats, barley, alfalfa hay, grass seed, etc. 

People who own livestock usually hire ranch hands to care for them. Ranchers pay between $10 -30 dollars per day, depending on the size of their herd. 

Other industries include manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail sales, construction, finance and insurance, real estate, transportation, and public utilities. The average income in this field ranges between $35K – $50k annually. 

Education in Irion County 

Irion County, Texas, has schools that educate children from pre-school through high school graduation. Approximately 60 percent of the population attends private schools. Public schools serve the remaining portion of the community. Some schools include : 

  • Big Spring High School 
  • Irion County High School 
  • Canyon Creek Elementary 
  • East Canyon Elementary Harmony Middle School 
  • Southside Intermediate School 
  • Westwood Junior High School 
  • Windham Junior High School 

Higher Education 

Several universities have campuses within the area. If you choose to attend college or university in this region, there will be an application fee charged by each institution. You can expect to spend anywhere from $100 – $1,000 on tuition fees alone. 

There are many types of degrees offered at these institutions, including Associate’s degree, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Doctorate, and certificates.  

Financial Transparency in Irion County 

Financial transparency is vital in Irion County, TX, because it allows citizens to understand what they owe and what they’re spending money on.  

It provides information about where tax revenue is going so that taxpayers can track whether their taxes are being used appropriately. This helps ensure government accountability. 

Here are the ways used in financial transparency in Irion County 

Audited Financial Statements – These statements show how much money was raised during a specific period and spent during that same time frame. Auditors verify all transactions made with taxpayer funds and then create reports based on those findings. A copy of every transaction must be sent to the IRS along with the audit report. 

Proposed budgets – Every year, elected officials propose a budget outlining exactly how much money should be allocated towards different areas like education, healthcare, law enforcement, infrastructure projects, etc. Citizens get to review proposed budgets before voting on them. They also vote on any changes to existing laws or policies. 

Tax Rates – Tax rates outline the percentage of taxable earnings that go toward paying state and local taxes. Certain groups may not pay taxes in some cases, such as veterans, students under 18 years old, people over 65 years old, farmers, ranchers, and individuals living off less than 200 acres of land. Each group receives special treatment when calculating tax rates.  

Utility reports – Utility companies provide detailed data about electricity usage, water consumption, gas prices, internet costs, phone bills, cable TV bills, etc. This gives consumers insight into how much they’re using versus how much they think they’re using. 

County Offices 

County offices offer essential services to the citizens of Irion County. The following list outlines who work for the various county offices and how to contact them. 

The county judge’s office is under Molly Criner. Contact the office at 325-835-4361. 

James Ridge supervises the County Attorney’s office. Reach the office at 325-835-7101. 

The County Clerk’s office is under Shirley Graham. You can reach her at 325-835-2421. 

Carolyn Huelster heads the County Treasurers’ office. You can contact the office at 325-835-4111. 

The County Tax Assessor-Collector is Joyce Gray. Contact her office at 325-835-7771 or [email protected]. 

Lastly, the County Sheriff’s office is under Sheriff W.A Estes. contact the office at 325-835-2551