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Marfa, Texas

11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1895 and the latest in 1985. It stands in the Marfa census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79843. It lies near Mimms Draw. The Survey maps it on the Marfa quadrangle. 1,788 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 4,685 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Marfa within Presidio County

On record in Marfa

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 6 records

Population over time

2 figures

Marfa fell from 1,981 to 1,788 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20101,981
20201,788-193 (-10%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

5 surveys from 11 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

57 since 2007

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 57 fires within 5 miles of Marfa between 2007 and 2020, burning about 2,106 acres in total. 14 started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined17
Natural14
Equipment and vehicle use9
Smoking5
Debris and open burning5
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Recreation and ceremony1
Arson/incendiarism1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2010Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServicePHILADELPHIA ST. GRASS FIRE
16 August 2014Natural1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServicePAISANO CATTLE CO.
5 July 2020Natural1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceGAGE RANCH
31 July 2012Railroad operations and maintenanceunder an acreTexas A & M Forest Service3.5 MILES E. HWY 90
3 July 2018Debris and open burningunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceORDENAR STREET FIRE
27 July 2011Natural1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceMARFA WEST 7 MILES
25 July 2009Debris and open burningunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceCULBERSON RESIDENCE
24 July 2012Naturalunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceTY MITCHELL W. MARFA

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Presidio County

Storms near this place

51 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Marfa in 51 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 30 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 8 flash flood. The reports record 1 death. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2021Flash FloodMarfa1 killed, $20,000Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding in Marfa. Law enforcement officials announced the fatality of a gentleman who got his car swept away from flash flooding within the town of Marfa. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.
June 2005HailMarfa$100,000Hen egg size hail mixed with smaller hailstones to produce damage to roofs and vehicles in Marfa. This hail occurred during the second of two severe storms to impact the Marfa vicinity during the late evening and early morning hours of the 2nd and 3rd.
June 2005HailMarfa$50,000Large hail fell over Marfa again as a second severe storm affected the area shortly after midnight CST. Reports indicated that hail up to the size of half-dollars persisted for nearly twenty-five minutes. The long duration of one and a half inch diameter hail and occasionally larger stones, resulted in damage to numerous roofs and vehicles.
June 2005HailMarfa$25,000The first of two hail storms to affect the Marfa area struck at 23:00 CST. Large hail ranging in size from ping pong balls to golfballs fell along U.S. Highway 67 near the city. This initial storm is believed to be responsible for minor roof damage, however, a more significant hail storm impacted Marfa just an hour later and likely produced a majority of the damage.
June 2002Flash FloodMarfa$20,000A local radio station reported that two vehicles were stranded in high water which resulted from flash flooding on Highway 67.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindMarfa$15,000A tractor-trailer carrying cattle was overturned by severe thunderstorm winds on Highway 67/90 one mile east of the Marfa Lights Viewing Area. Reports did not indicate the status of the cattle.
October 2006Thunderstorm WindMarfa$10,000The Presidio County Sheriff's Office reported that the roof on a brand new mobile home was blown off.
July 1996Thunderstorm WindMarfa$10,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMarfa$5,000Sheet metal was blown off roofs in town and a 72 mph wind gust was recorded by the KMRF AWOS station at the airport.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindMarfa$300A thunderstorm moved across Presidio County and produced 50 to 60 mph wind gusts in Marfa. Four inch diameter tree limbs were knocked down as a result of these winds. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.
July 2025Flash FloodMarfa-Extremely heavy rain around Marfa and Fort Davis produced widespread street flooding. The time of occurrence is estimated by radar. No damage was reported.
March 2019Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A thunderstorm moved across Presidio County and produced a 60 mph wind gust in Marfa.
March 2019Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A thunderstorm moved across Presidio County and produced a 73 mph wind gust one mile east southeast of Marfa.
June 2013HailMarfa-A thunderstorm moved over Presidio County and produced nickel to golfball sized hail on FM 2810 seven miles west southwest of Marfa.
June 2013HailMarfa-A thunderstorm moved over Presidio County and produced pingpong ball sized hail on Pinto Canyon Road eight miles west southwest of Marfa.
May 2007HailMarfa-Golfball sized hail fell on U.S. Highway 90 for a duration of ten minutes.
May 2007HailMarfa-Tennis ball sized hail fell along Farm to Market Road 2810.
October 2006HailMarfa-A convenience store employee in Marfa reported penny to quarter sized hail and very strong winds.
October 2006HailMarfa-Sheriff's office reported penny sized hail in Marfa.
June 2005HailMarfa-Motorists traveling along U.S. Highway 90 reported nickel size hail just west of Paisano Pass in far northeastern Presidio County.
June 2005HailMarfa-Hail up to the size of nickels began to fall on the west side of Marfa at 13:06 CST. The hailstones increased in size during the next ten minutes, and local law enforcement officials reported dime to quarter size hail on the south side of the city between 13:10 and 13:20 CST. No damage was reported.
March 2004HailMarfa-A severe thunderstorm tracked southeast across northern Presidio County and resulted in large hail. Nickel size hail covered the ground along U.S. Highway 90 nineteen miles northwest of Marfa. Quarter size hail accumulated up to three inches deep over the highway just west of Marfa, and crews were required to clear the hail from the roadway. Dime to nickel size hail was also reported at a U.S. Border Patrol check point along U.S. Highway 67 south of Marfa. No damage reports were received.
June 2004HailMarfa-Hail was reported along a nine mile stretch of U.S. Highway 90.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A severe thunderstorm wind gust was measured by the Marfa AWOS.
July 2004Flash FloodMarfa-Officials reported flash flooding that briefly resulted in the closing of U.S. Highway 90 just west of Paisano Pass.
June 2003HailMarfa-Multiple reports of hail ranging from nickel to ping pong ball size were received from the Marfa vicinity as an isolated severe thunderstorm affected the area.
May 2003HailMarfa-Nickel size hail was reported by motorists and the U.S. Border Patrol near the check point station south of Marfa on Highway 67.
June 2003Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A severe thunderstorm wind gust of 70 MPH was measured at a federal government facility in northern Presidio County.
July 2002Flash FloodMarfa-The Texas Department of Transportation reported flooding of secondary roads south of Marfa including Farm to Market Road 169.
June 2002Flash FloodMarfa-Local officials reported that Highway 67 was closed due to high water.
May 1999Flash FloodMarfa-Torrential rains of 2 inches fell in 16 minutes at the Marfa Aerostat Site.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A 70 mph wind was reported at the Aerostat site west of Marfa.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A thunderstorm moving to the northeast through northwestern Presidio County formed a bow as it crossed U.S. Highway 90. A 62 knot gust was recorded at the Marfa Aerostat site. Power was lost at the site for about 5 hours.
February 1993Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A fast moving thunderstorm produced downburst winds of 55 to 65 mph across northern Presidio County. Winds gusted to 63 mph at the Loral Aerospace site and to 66 mph at the Marfa Municipal Airport. No damage resulted.
February 1993Thunderstorm WindMarfa-A fast moving thunderstorm produced downburst winds of 55 to 65 mph across northern Presidio County. Winds gusted to 63 mph at the Loral Aerospace site and to 66 mph at the Marfa Municipal Airport. No damage resulted.
May 2021HailMarfa-no account filed
May 2021HailMarfa-no account filed
June 2019HailMarfa-no account filed
May 2019HailMarfa-no account filed
May 2016HailMarfa-no account filed
June 2013HailMarfa-no account filed
August 2012HailMarfa-no account filed
May 2007HailMarfa-no account filed
August 2007HailMarfa-no account filed
April 2004HailMarfa-no account filed
April 2004HailMarfa-no account filed
June 2004HailMarfa-no account filed
October 2000HailMarfa-no account filed
May 1999HailMarfa-no account filed
May 1996HailMarfa-no account filed
September 1996Flash FloodMarfa-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Presidio County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Nopal5.1 miles14
Tinaja8.5 miles14
Ryan17.1 miles11
Quebec24.5 miles15
Plata29.8 miles12
Chaffin Place32.4 miles12
Pueblo Nuevo36.4 miles12
Shafter36.9 miles12

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on MarfaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q982507The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1340942. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

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.

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.