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Irion County, Texas

25 topographic sheets cover 8 settlements here, and 1 property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

1 National Register listing published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Irion County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 85 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a building.
  • It was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 8 populated places in this county; 8 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

1

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Irion County Courthousebuilding197777001455

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 1893 - Irion County / compiled and drawn E. Shutze
Land ownership map (1893) - Irion County / compiled and drawn E. Shutze. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

36 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 855 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 36 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-12-15, scale 1:63000
1953-12-15, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-05-04, scale 1:63000
1954-05-04, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-23, scale 1:18400
1968-01-23, scale 1:18400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-23, scale 1:18400
1968-01-23, scale 1:18400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-23, scale 1:18400
1968-01-23, scale 1:18400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-01-23, scale 1:18400
1968-01-23, scale 1:18400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-20, scale 1:21670
1969-03-20, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:115755
1969-12-08, scale 1:115755. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:115755
1969-12-08, scale 1:115755. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-12-08, scale 1:115755
1969-12-08, scale 1:115755. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-17, scale 1:17600
1970-02-17, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-02-06, scale 1:33600
1971-02-06, scale 1:33600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-03-14, scale 1:25600
1972-03-14, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-03-14, scale 1:25600
1972-03-14, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-03-14, scale 1:25600
1972-03-14, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-03-14, scale 1:25600
1972-03-14, scale 1:25600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-05-01, scale 1:23200
1976-05-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-05-01, scale 1:23200
1976-05-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-05-01, scale 1:23200
1976-05-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-05-01, scale 1:23200
1976-05-01, scale 1:23200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-05, scale 1:80000
1979-10-05, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-05, scale 1:80000
1979-10-05, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-05, scale 1:80000
1979-10-05, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-10-16, scale 1:80000
1979-10-16, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

6 stations, 1 gage

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

5 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 118-1Justice Precinct 1: Mertzon town
  • 118-2Justice Precinct 1 - That part outside Mertzon town
  • 118-3Justice Precinct 2
  • 118-4Justice Precinct 3
  • 118-5Justice Precinct 4

Wildfire, 2001 to 2020

124 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 124 of them, burning about 80,530 acres. 22 started naturally and 4 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Equipment and vehicle use50
Missing data/not specified/undetermined28
Natural22
Debris and open burning9
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Arson/incendiarism4
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Recreation and ceremony1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
1 January 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined42,110 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceROCKER B
26 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined10,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSCOTT RANCH FIRE
8 August 2019Power generation/transmission/distribution5,882 acresTexas A & M Forest Service7D
20 August 2019Power generation/transmission/distribution3,554 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceNOELKE
10 February 2009Power generation/transmission/distribution3,200 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceLOWER WEST HOLLOW
28 July 2006Equipment and vehicle use1,300 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMUNSON ROAD COMPLEX
2 March 2009Equipment and vehicle use1,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHIGHLAND PEN
21 June 2002Equipment and vehicle use1,000 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1958 to 2025

60 of 191 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 191 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 5 injuries and about $12,628,280 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail106
Thunderstorm Wind50
Flash Flood20
Tornado14
Flood1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2025HailMertzon3 hurtAn NWS employee measured hail stones of 3.25 inches in diameter. In addition, public reported hail larger than 3.25 inches with at least 25 pickup trucks and larger trucks that had windows broken and significant denting. One truck was dented badly enough to stop the engine. 3 people sustained injuries.
May 1999Flash FloodMertzon1 hurt, $15,000Four cars attempting to cross a flooded low water crossing in northern Irion County were swept away by the swiftly flowing floodwaters. Heavy rains had swelled the Mid-Concho River, flooding the low water crossing along Farm-to-Market Road 853. All of the occupants were accounted for, although one person was treated for hypothermia.
July 1964Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $250no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindMertzon$10,000,000no account filed
May 2006HailMertzon$2,000,000A hail swath with hail sizes ranging from golfball to softball size hail formed and tracked across the town of Mertzon and produced considerable damage to roofs and vehicles. Some of the larger hailstones penetrated roofs and severely damaged vehicles. A Mertzon resident was driving home when the hailstones hit her car as big as baseballs just outside of town. The large hail smashed a hole in her back windshield, punched holes in the hood, ripped the license plate off one of its screws and destroyed both side-view mirrors. At least 250 homes had roof damage.
August 1996Flash FloodMertzon$500,000no account filed
August 1996Flash FloodMertzon$50,000no account filed
June 2007HailBarnhart$15,000Golfball Size hail damaged windows and homes.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindMertzon$10,000High thunderstorm winds knocked down several power poles and caused roof damage to the school in Mertzon.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindMertzon$10,000Winds broke large tree branches in Mertzon.
June 1999Flash FloodWest Portion$10,000no account filed
June 2007HailSherwood$9,000The public reported only quarter size hail. However, it is possible that the hail may have been larger since some cars had broken windshields. Crops were also severely damaged. Radar indicated hail around baseball size.
June 2007HailBarnhart$9,000no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
May 2025HailMertzon-Public report of quarter size hail on social media.
April 2025Thunderstorm WindBarnhart-A storm chaser reported a wind gust of 70 mph.
August 2025Thunderstorm WindSherwood-Mesonet observation station measured a 58 mph wind gust.
August 2025HailSherwood-Public reported half dollar size hail.
May 2024HailMertzon-Public reported quarter size hail.
May 2024HailMertzon-Public reported quarter size hail.
May 2024HailMertzon-Law enforcement reported quarter size hail.
May 2024HailBarnhart-A storm chaser reported baseball size hail 6 miles north of Barnhart.
May 2024HailSuggs-Public reported ping pong ball size hail.
September 2024Flash FloodSherwood-A County Official reported the section of Arden Road is closed between Mertz road and County Road 411 due to flooding.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindSherwood-The public reported large tree branches 3 to 4 inches in diameter broken by the wind.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindSherwood-Public reported several tree branches broken and a wind gust of 60 mph.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindSherwood-Public reported a few tree branches were blown down due to a microburst.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindSherwood-The public reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A Mesonet site measured a wind gust of 62 mph.
September 2023Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A NWS COOP observer reported small tree limbs blown down. The winds were estimated over 60 mph.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A COOP Observer reported wind gusts of 70 mph. The time was estimated by radar.
May 2022HailSherwood-A COOP Observer reported golf ball size hail 3 miles east-southeast of Arden.
May 2022HailSherwood-A trained spotter reported baseball size hail 5 miles north of Sherwood.
May 2022HailSherwood-A trained spotter reported 3 inch diameter hail 4 miles northeast of Sherwood.
May 2022HailSherwood-The public reported tennis ball size hail 4 miles north of Sherwood.
April 2022HailMertzon-Amateur Radio reported ping pong ball size at the Alon service station in Mertzon. Also, nickel to quarter size hail was reported.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A wind gust of 70 mph was reported.
May 2021HailSherwood-A trained spotter reported golf ball size hail. There was no damage or injuries.
August 2021Flash FloodSherwood-The Tom Green Sheriffs Office reported flooded roads in Arden.
August 2021Flash FloodMertzon-A social media post indicated several streets and low water crossings flooded in Mertzon.
May 2021Flash FloodBarnhart-The Irion County Sheriff's Office reported numerous locations along FM 163 north of Barnhart under water with debris floating in the roadway. Flooding was also reported on CR 401 and CR 131.
April 2020Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A COOP Observer estimated a wind gust to 60 mph, 7 miles northwest of Tankersley.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindSherwood-One to two inch tree limbs were broken off by the thunderstorm winds.
June 2019HailMertzon-A trained spotter posted a picture of hail stones via twitter.
May 2019HailMertzon-Law Enforcement reported quarter size hail in Mertzon.
May 2019Flash FloodMertzon-The Irion County Sheriffs office reported a railway washed out at Highway 67 and FM 72. Also, there were reports of residential flooding and two water rescues in Mertzon.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindBarnhart-The Texas Department of Transportation reported power lines blown down at the intersection of FM 2469 and Texas Highway 163.
May 2018HailBarnhart-Texas Department of Transportation reported hail up to two feet deep at the intersection of FM 2469 and State Highway 163. Most of the hail was the size of a nickel, but there was lots of it. The Sheriff reported hail boulders and a porta-potty floating in the ditch.
May 2018Thunderstorm WindBarnhart-A trained spotter reported 70 mph winds in Barnhart.
September 2018FloodSherwood-Texas Department of Transportation reported RM 853 east of Mertzon closed at RM 564 due to high water over the draw.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A West Texas Mesonet site measured a wind gust of 75 mph.
August 2017Thunderstorm WindSherwood-The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet measured a 67 mph wind gust about 3 miles north northeast of Mertzon.
September 2017Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A trained spotter reported minor tree damage.
September 2017Thunderstorm WindSherwood-The West Texas Mesonet near Mertzon measured a 64 knot wind gust.
April 2016Thunderstorm WindBarnhart-A security officer reported two power poles blown down and power outages on the Rocker B Ranch, near County Road 401 and Highway 163.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindSherwood-A cooperative observer estimated the damaging thunderstorm wind gust that resulted in damage to numerous large tree limbs.
May 2015HailSuggs-A storm chaser reported quarter to half dollar size hail in Barnhart.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindSuggs-Barnhart Fire Department and Rescue estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph about 7 miles northeast of Barnhart.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindBarnhart-The public reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph in Barnhart.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindMertzon-The public estimated a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph, 8 miles southwest of Mertzon.

Every populated place in the county

8

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.