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Martin County, Texas

15 topographic sheets cover 10 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
Martin County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 81 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 1 property here is on the National Register of Historic Places, listed as a building.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 11 populated places in this county; 10 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
Carmelite Monasterybuilding199999000566

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, 1894 - Map of Martin County, Texas
Land ownership map (1894) - Map of Martin County, Texas. 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 984 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, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1954-04-20, scale 1:63000
1954-04-20, scale 1:63000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-20, scale 1:21400
1965-02-20, scale 1:21400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-20, scale 1:21400
1965-02-20, scale 1:21400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-20, scale 1:21400
1965-02-20, scale 1:21400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-02-20, scale 1:21400
1965-02-20, scale 1:21400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-03, scale 1:29200
1966-02-03, scale 1:29200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-03, scale 1:29200
1966-02-03, scale 1:29200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-03, scale 1:29200
1966-02-03, scale 1:29200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-02-03, scale 1:29200
1966-02-03, scale 1:29200. 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, 1969-03-20, scale 1:21670
1969-03-20, scale 1:21670. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-21, scale 1:12400
1969-03-21, scale 1:12400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-03-21, scale 1:12400
1969-03-21, scale 1:12400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-05-16, scale 1:30000
1970-05-16, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-05-16, scale 1:30000
1970-05-16, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-05-16, scale 1:30000
1970-05-16, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-05-16, scale 1:30000
1970-05-16, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-15, scale 1:102118
1971-01-15, scale 1:102118. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-15, scale 1:102118
1971-01-15, scale 1:102118. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-15, scale 1:102118
1971-01-15, scale 1:102118. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-15, scale 1:102118
1971-01-15, scale 1:102118. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-04-15, scale 1:115275
1972-04-15, scale 1:115275. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-04-15, scale 1:115275
1972-04-15, scale 1:115275. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-04-15, scale 1:115275
1972-04-15, scale 1:115275. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-04-15, scale 1:115391
1972-04-15, scale 1:115391. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-21, scale 1:47286
1973-03-21, scale 1:47286. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-21, scale 1:47286
1973-03-21, scale 1:47286. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-21, scale 1:47286
1973-03-21, scale 1:47286. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-21, scale 1:47286
1973-03-21, scale 1:47286. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-19, scale 1:29000
1974-02-19, scale 1:29000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-19, scale 1:29000
1974-02-19, scale 1:29000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-19, scale 1:29000
1974-02-19, scale 1:29000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-19, scale 1:29000
1974-02-19, scale 1:29000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

2 stations

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, as the federal records hold them.

The 1950 census, district by district

7 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.

  • 159-1Stanton city, comprising parts of Justice Precincts 1 and 2: Stanton city - That part in Justice Precinct 1
  • 159-2Stanton city - That part in Justice Precinct 2
  • 159-3Justice Precinct 1 - That part outside Stanton city (Remainder of Justice Precinct 1 is in Stanton city)
  • 159-4Justice Precinct 2 - That part outside Stanton city (Remainder of Justice Precinct 2 is in Stanton city)
  • 159-5Justice Precinct 3
  • 159-6Justice Precinct 4: Justice Precinct 4 That part east of Sulphur Springs Creek
  • 159-7Justice Precinct 4 - That part west of Sulphur Springs Creek

Wildfire, 2005 to 2019

115 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 115 of them, burning about 28,046 acres. 6 started naturally and 2 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined43
Equipment and vehicle use36
Debris and open burning12
Power generation/transmission/distribution7
Smoking7
Natural6
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Arson/incendiarism2

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
2 March 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceNORTH FIRE
21 April 2011Equipment and vehicle use3,500 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHOLLCUM FIRE
1 June 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,895 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMABEE FIRE
20 June 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,500 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHWY 349
3 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,240 acresTexas A & M Forest ServicePOWERS
23 June 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,750 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceDYNAMITE FIRE
24 March 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,553 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceBIG SMOKE
1 March 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,450 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceNAIL

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

Storms, 1957 to 2025

60 of 306 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 306 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 2 injuries and about $1,258,570 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail157
Thunderstorm Wind78
Tornado37
Flash Flood31
Funnel Cloud2
Heavy Rain1

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
May 1957Tornado (F3)not stated1 hurt, $2,500no account filed
May 1974Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurtno account filed
May 1991Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
August 1979Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
September 2003Thunderstorm WindTarzan$120,000The storm which produced the tornado quickly evolved from a classic supercell structure to a high precipition supercell as the occlusion process occured. This transition resulted in a broad swath of very strong and damaging southwest to west winds which crossed Highway 349. The most intense damage occurred along the stretch of Highway 349 from the intersection with 176 to about 6 miles south of that intersection. This damage correlated with a strong low level divergent pattern in radar velocity products, indicative of an intense downburst in the forward flank downdraft of the storm. These winds blew down numerous power poles (up to twenty-five) from the intersection of Highways 349 and 176, south to ten miles south of that intersection. One metal light pole, which was snapped at the base, was rated to withstand 80 MPH winds.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindStanton$75,000Multiple reports of 70 mph thunderstorm winds. Damage reported in Stanton included large trees uprooted, roofs lost on three structures, and a large barn was damaged.
September 2025Flash FloodTarzan$60,000A report was received from the public of flash flooding with cars stranded on State Hwy 176 east of Grady. Pictures of the flooding were shared on social media. The time of occurrence is partially estimated by radar. The cost of damages is also estimated.
May 1994Thunderstorm WindLenorah$50,000no account filed
November 1994Thunderstorm WindAckerly$50,000no account filed
November 1994Thunderstorm WindStanton$50,000no account filed
November 1994Thunderstorm WindStanton$50,000no account filed
June 2013Thunderstorm WindTarzan$45,000A thunderstorm moved over Martin County and produced strong winds ten miles northeast of Tarzan on a farm. Two old wooden barns were destroyed, and a 20 by 20 foot portable metal building was overturned. There was an estimate of about ten power poles down, and large tree limbs were broke. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
April 2009Tornado (EF1)Tarzan$40,000This tornado first did damage to 7 power poles about 4.5 miles southwest of Tarzan; this was confirmed by contacting the utility company in the area the following day. The estimated time of damage according to radar at this location was around 2020 CST. At 2032 CST, the tornado then tracked east northeastward and impacted a COOP observer's farm about 3 miles southeast of Tarzan, TX damaging multiple pieces of farm equipment, storage tanks and removing 3 roofs from multiple structures. It then continued on its same path snapping 3 power poles about a mile west of Lenorah, TX. The estimated time of damage according to radar was sometime around 2036 CST. This was the last known location of the tornado, although another tornado redeveloped with the same supercell about 20 minutes later. Please see the attached images.
March 2000Thunderstorm WindTarzan$40,000Thunderstorm outflow winds damaged farm equipment.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindThree Leagues$35,000Multiple powerlines were blown down along Farm to Market Road 2002.
May 2020Flash FloodStanton$20,000Heavy rain fell across Martin County and produced flash flooding in Stanton. There were four stalled cars. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2020Flash FloodStanton$10,000Heavy rain moved across Martin County and produced flash flooding near Stanton. There was water up to the steering wheel on a mini van on the service road at mile marker 158 on I-20. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 2015HailStanton$10,000A thunderstorm moved across Martin County and produced tennis ball sized hail in Stanton. The only damage that was reported during a damage survey was a few dents on the hood of some cars. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
April 2008HailAckerly$10,000Baseball sized hail fell at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 26 and Farm to Market Road 2002.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindStanton$10,000Law enforcement officials reported power lines blown down by damaging thunderstorm winds.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindStanton$10,000High winds knocked down power poles in Stanton
July 2016Thunderstorm WindStanton$7,000A thunderstorm moved across Martin County and produced wind damage in Stanton. There was a roof partially blown off of a home in Stanton. A large tree was also blown down. The time of damage was estimated from radar. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
April 2009Tornado (EF1)Lenorah$7,000A damage survey conducted across west central Martin County concluded that there was a tornado that tracked northeastward for approximately 7 miles, doing minor damage on the way. The first signs of damage were observed at a residence where a 10'X6'X6' wooden storage structure was blown to the east northeast about 60 feet. According to radar imagery, this was near 2055 PM CST. In addition, minor roof damage was done to the home by west winds and the family's trampoline was wrapped around a nearby tree in the backyard. The tornado then continued northeastward where it passed just to the north of two power poles that were snapped at the ground by damaging west winds sometime around 2112 PM CST. The closest estimate of the path taken by the tornado has been attached.
September 2015Thunderstorm WindStanton$5,000A thunderstorm moved across Martin County and produced wind damage in Stanton. There were broken tree limbs and damaged car ports in Stanton. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindLenorah$5,000A thunderstorm moved over Martin County and produced wind damage in Lenorah. Part of a roof was blown off of a house. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
May 1994HailStanton$5,000no account filed
May 1994Tornado (F0)Lenorah$5,000no account filed
May 1994HailStanton$5,000no account filed
November 1994Thunderstorm WindStanton$5,000no account filed
June 2016Thunderstorm WindStanton$4,000A thunderstorm moved across Martin County and produced an estimated 60 mph wind gust in Stanton. In southwest Stanton, playground equipment was turned over and a roof was removed from part of a house. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindTarzan$3,000A thunderstorm moved across Martin County and produced wind damage in Tarzan. There was roof damage to a metal outbuilding. The time was estimated by radar. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
March 2000HailFlower Grove$3,000Vehicles damaged.
March 1995Thunderstorm WindMartinsville$3,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down by high winds.,
May 1995Tornado (F1)not stated$3,000A farmer reported a tornado that damaged eight trees, as well as a metal grain bin and four sections of an irrigation system. Quarter-size hail accompanied this storm.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindStanton$2,500Utility poles were knocked down by microburst winds from a small single cell storm that was in a broken line of storms moving to the east.
May 1969Tornado (F0)not stated$2,500no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindTarzan$1,000Just as occurred in SW Dawson County, a long duration of wind occurred from this storm as it developed southward into Martin County. Many tree limbs were broken off and a small shed was damaged. A total of 2.25" of rain was recorded here.
October 2015Flash FloodThree Leagues$750Heavy rain fell across Martin County and produced flash flooding. There was a report from the Martin County Sheriff's Office of people stranded in high water on Highway 349 near the Martin and Dawson County line. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindLenorah$500A thunderstorm moved across Martin County and produced tree damage and estimated 60 mph winds. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
March 2020Flash FloodTarzan$500Heavy rain fell across Martin County and produced flash flooding. There was a lane closure on SH 349 due to high water in the passing lane. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 1994HailStanton$500no account filed
May 1994HailStanton$500no account filed
May 1993HailAckerly$500no account filed
May 2021HailThree Leagues$400A thunderstorm produced golf ball sized hail two miles east of Three Leagues. The wind driven hail broke south facing windows on a home. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
September 2014Flash FloodLenorah$300Heavy rain fell across Martin County and produced flash flooding. A truck driver reported that water was so high on State Highway 137 just north of Farm to Market Road 846 in Martin County that he was barely able to make it through the water. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
September 2014Flash FloodTarzan$300Heavy rain fell across Martin County and produced flash flooding near Tarzan. State Highway 176 was reported to be under water. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 1992Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
September 1981Tornado (F0)not stated$250no account filed
September 2017Flash FloodAckerly$200Heavy rain fell across Martin County and produced flash flooding. FM 26 between FM 2212 and FM 3263 in Martin County was closed due to high water. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
May 1983Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
May 1979Tornado (F0)not stated$30no account filed
May 1957Tornado (F2)not stated$30no account filed
May 2025HailStanton-Golf ball-size hail was reported in Stanton by the public. The time of occurrence was estimated by both the report and by radar.
June 2025HailStanton-A report was received from the public of half dollar-size hail in Stanton. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar.
June 2025HailTarzan-An off duty NWS employee reported hen egg-size hail. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar.
June 2025HailLenorah-A report was received from the public of approximately tennis ball-size hail. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar.
June 2025HailStanton Rdrunner Arp-A storm chaser reported golf ball-size hail in Stanton. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar.
June 2025HailStanton-Multiple pictures were received from social media of tennis ball-size hail in Stanton. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindTarzan-The West Texas Mesonet station 84 2WNW Tarzan/Martin County recorded a 67 mph wind gust.

Every populated place in the county

11

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.