Hudspeth

Formed January 1, 1917 (253^rd county)

Hudspeth County (3,476), Sierra Blanca* (553), Dell City (365)

The only courthouse for Hudspeth County was built in 1919.  It is north of Interstate Highway 10 at the Ranch Road 1111 exit.  It is the only adobe Mediterranean courthouse in Texas.  The architect was Buetell and Hardie.  The building was restored in 2004.  The county was organized on January 1, 1917 from El Paso County as the 253^rd county.  Hudspeth County was named for Claude Hudspeth, a Texas State Senator and member of the United States Congress.  The county seat is a geographical name for a local mountain peak.  Sierra Blanca means “White Mountain” in Spanish. 

Hudspeth County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Hudspeth, Culberson, and El Paso counties, One District Court Judge serves Hudspeth, Brewster, Culberson, Jeff Davis, and Presidio counties, and One County Court Judge serves Hudspeth County.  The county is located in the high desert in far western Texas.  New Mexico is on the northern border and the Rio Grande forms the southern border with Mexico.  The Rio Grande is the only permanent river in the county.  The county center is 46.9 miles Northwest of Sierra Blanca nearer Cornudas.  The county is surrounded clockwise by New Mexico and Culberson and Jeff Davis counties and Mexico and El Paso County. 

The area of the county is 4572 square miles.  It is 3 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 219 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 0.76 persons per square mile making it 247 out of 254 in the state.  Hudspeth County has 10.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 20 goes east to west from Culberson County to El Paso County.  United States Highway 62 transits from Culberson County to El Paso County.  United States Highway 180 is joined to United States Highway 62, Culberson County to El Paso County.  The county is rectangular on the west, north, and east.  The Rio Grande forms the southern border flowing from the west to the southeast.  Sierra Blanca is a small community in the southern quarter of the county.  Dell City is located on the northern border of the county.  Sierra Blanca is the county seat and Dell City is the largest city since it is the only incorporated city.  Sierra Blanca is 15.9% of the county population although it is unincorporated.  Dell City is 10.5% of the county population.  The county is pronounced HUDS-PETH.  The county seat is pronounced SEE-AIR-RA BLAN-KA.