Presidio County, TX Property Records

    Presidio County is the fourth largest county in Texas by land area, covering 3,856 square miles of the Trans-Pecos region. Its population at the 2020 U.S. Census was 6,131, with 2025 estimates placing it near 5,433 and declining at roughly 1.6% annually. The county seat is Marfa; the largest city is Presidio, on the Rio Grande at the Mexican border. The county was established in 1850 and named for Presidio del Norte, an 18th-century Spanish fort. It is approximately 77% Hispanic by population.

    Marfa median listing prices now approach $528,500, and recent sales have reached $445,000 for modest structures. Meanwhile, the city of Presidio on the border, and the broader county population, carry a median household income of approximately $29,014, one of the lowest in Texas.

    The result is a county where ACS-derived median property values of approximately $148,150 mask a market split between Marfa (expensive, externally driven) and everywhere else (very modest). The economy outside Marfa is ranching, border trade through the Presidio port of entry, and public employment. Silver was mined at Shafter from 1883 to 1942, producing over 32.6 million ounces before the mine closed permanently.

    Who Keeps the Official Land Records

    The Presidio County Clerk maintains all official land records in Presidio County. The office is located at the Presidio County Courthouse in Marfa, Texas.

    What County Property Records Include

    The County Clerk maintains all instruments affecting the ownership and encumbrance of real property. Recorded documents include:

    • Deeds: Warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, special warranty deeds, trustee deeds, and correction deeds.

    • Deeds of Trust: The primary mortgage instrument in Texas conveys a security interest to a trustee on behalf of a lender.

    • Releases and Reconveyances: Discharge instruments releasing liens or deeds of trust once obligations are satisfied.

    • Oil and Gas Leases: Mineral leases, assignments, ratifications, and releases.

    • Easements and Rights-of-Way: Pipeline easements, utility easements, and access rights.

    • Mechanic's and Materialman's Liens: Filed under Chapter 53, Texas Property Code.

    • Powers of Attorney: Including durable and real-property-specific instruments.

    • Assignments: Including assignments of leases, rents, and mineral interests.

    • Lis Pendens: Notices of pending litigation affecting title.

    • Subdivision Plats: Plat maps of subdivisions within the county.

    How to Access Presidio County Property Records

    Online Access

    Search texasfile and select Presidio County. TexasFile coverage includes deeds, oil and gas leases, mineral deeds, liens, rights-of-way, plat maps, and probates.

    In Person

    Visit the Presidio County Courthouse at 320 N. Highland Ave., Marfa, TX 79843. The office is closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. daily and closes at 4:00 p.m. Plan visits to arrive before 11:30 a.m. or after 1:00 p.m.

    By Phone

    Call (432) 729-4812 during business hours.

    By Mail or Fax:

    Mail requests to P.O. Box 789, Marfa, TX 79843. Fax: (432) 729-4313. Include instrument details, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

    What's Not at the County Clerk's Office

    • Property Appraisal: Presidio County Appraisal District, P.O. Box 879, East Texas Street, Marfa, TX 79843-0879. Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • Property Taxes: Presidio County Tax Assessor-Collector. Contact through the courthouse at (432) 729-4812.

    • Texas RRC: RRC for any oil and gas activity.

    • Texas General Land Office: For any state-land or public-domain boundary questions in this historically complex region.

    Step-by-Step: How to Pull a Deed Online

    To research a property deed using online resources:

    • Search TexasFile: Go to texasfile and select the county. Search by grantor/grantee name, document type, and date range.

    • Identify the instrument: Note the volume and page number or instrument number and recording date.

    • Retrieve a copy: Download images if available. If not, contact the County Clerk at (432) 729-4812 or mail a request to P.O. Box 789, Marfa, TX 79843 with instrument details and applicable fee.

    • Verify appraisal data: Cross-reference the parcel at the county appraisal district for assessed value, ownership, and exemption status.

    • Check mineral interests: For properties with oil and gas activity, search the Texas RRC for well locations and production data.

    • Confirm tax status: Verify current tax payment history with the County Tax Assessor-Collector.

    Cities & Towns in Presidio County

    • Marfa: County seat. The population is approximately 1,735. Home of the Chinati Foundation (Donald Judd's permanent installation), Ballroom Marfa, the Hotel Saint George, and a concentration of galleries and arts organizations. Marfa's housing market is disconnected from the county's underlying income base and is driven by out-of-state buyers.

    • Presidio: Largest city by population, approximately 4,000. Located on the Rio Grande at the International Bridge crossing to Ojinaga, Mexico. The Presidio Ojinaga Port of Entry is a significant border trade crossing. The economy is based on border commerce and public employment.

    • Fort Davis: A very small community in the Davis Mountains, population approximately 900. Home of Fort Davis National Historic Site and McDonald Observatory. Now in Jeff Davis County, but historically part of Presidio County.

    • Marfa Lights and Chinati Hot Springs: Notable landmarks within the county's vast unincorporated area.

    City/Town Resources for Assessments & Taxes

    • Presidio County Appraisal District: P.O. Box 879, East Texas Street, Marfa, TX 79843. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

    • Presidio County Tax Assessor-Collector: Contact through the courthouse at (432) 729-4812.

    County-Specific Nuances

    • Extreme Marfa price bifurcation county median values are misleading: The county's ACS-derived median home value of approximately $148,150 reflects a population-weighted average that includes both Marfa (median listing ~$528,500) and Presidio and the broader county (median values far lower). Researchers pricing properties must distinguish which market sub-area they are analyzing. County-level statistics do not describe either market accurately.

    • Split-day office hours closed from noon to 1:00 p.m. and after 4:00 p.m.: The Presidio County Clerk operates a split-day schedule. In-person researchers must arrive before 11:30 a.m. or between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to allow adequate time. Plan travel accordingly; Marfa is approximately 60 miles from the nearest large town.

    • Chinati Foundation and Judd Foundation deed conditions: Properties in and around Marfa may be subject to deed restrictions or easements associated with the Judd Foundation, Chinati Foundation, or related arts organizations. Research all recorded instruments affecting any Marfa parcel before concluding on use restrictions.

    • Large-acreage ranch transactions are primary: Most of Presidio County's 3,856 square miles is ranch land. Ranch transactions are typically large-acreage conveyances with complex mineral estate histories. Any rural parcel research requires both a surface title search and a complete mineral instrument search.

    • Presidio port of entry border proximity affects some parcels: Properties near the Presidio–Ojinaga International Bridge may be subject to federal inspection zone regulations and CBP operational easements. Verify through relevant federal agencies for properties within the border zone.

    • Texas uses a County Clerk, not a Recorder of Deeds: The County Clerk is the statutory custodian of all recorded land instruments under the Texas Local Government Code.

    • Texas uses deeds of trust, not traditional mortgages: Search for "deed of trust" rather than "mortgage" when examining encumbrances.

    • Severed mineral estates are common: A deed to the surface does not convey mineral rights unless explicitly stated. Mineral ownership must be traced through a separate chain of instruments.

    • Texas homestead rights: Both spouses must sign a deed or deed of trust conveying or encumbering the homestead, even if the title is in only one spouse's name.

    • Community property state: Property acquired during marriage is generally owned equally by both spouses.

    • Agricultural land exemptions: Land qualifying for ag appraisal is valued on productive capacity rather than market value. Assessed values may be substantially lower than market value.

    Typical Contents of a Presidio County Property Record

    • Deeds:

      • Grantor and grantee names;

      • Full legal description;

      • Consideration

      • Warranty covenants

      • Acknowledgment

      • Recording volume and page.

    • Deeds of Trust:

      • Borrower.

      • Lender, and trustee names.

      • Loan amount.

      • Legal description.

      • Power of sale clause.

    • Ranch Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names

      • Description of leased premises (often large acreage in survey/abstract format)

      • Term

      • Grazing rights

      • Annual payment.

    • Conservation Easements and Arts-Related Deed Conditions:

      • For Marfa area properties,

      • Review all recorded instruments for deed conditions or easements tied to arts organizations.

    • Oil and Gas Leases:

      • Lessor and lessee names

      • Leased premises

      • Primary term.

      • Royalty rate.

      • Bonus consideration.

    • Releases:

      • Reference to the original deed of trust

      • Statement of satisfaction.

      • Lender signature.

    Recording Changes to Property Titles

    All instruments affecting real property must be recorded with the County Clerk in person, by mail, or through an approved e-recording service.

    • Acknowledgment: Must be acknowledged before a notary public; dated on or after execution.

    • Legal Description: Complete legal description referencing the appropriate survey, abstract number, and block/lot designations.

    • Legibility: 8.5 x 11 inches, clearly printed, with a 3-inch top margin on the first page.

    • Grantor/Grantee Names: All parties identified by full legal name.

    Practical Research Flow (Checklist)

    • Identify the parcel: Obtain the legal description from the deed, tax records, or the county appraisal district.

    • Search the grantor/grantee index: Use TexasFile or the County Clerk's in-office index.

    • Retrieve deed documents: Trace all deeds in the chain of title. Review for legal description accuracy, warranty covenants, and reservations.

    • Search for encumbrances: Search for deeds of trust, mechanic's liens, lis pendens, and other recorded encumbrances.

    • Review oil and gas instruments: Search mineral-related instruments, including leases, assignments, ratifications, and pooling agreements. Determine whether the mineral estate has been severed.

    • Check Texas RRC records: Visit RRC for active wells, operators, and production data.

    • Verify appraisal and tax status: Confirm assessed value, exemption status, and tax payment history.

    • Confirm homestead status: Determine whether the property carries a homestead exemption.

    • Review plat records: For subdivided properties, confirm plat recording.

    • Obtain certified copies: $5.00 first page, $1.00 per additional page.

    Appendix A - Municipalities in Presidio County, TX

    Presidio County has 3 incorporated cities and several unincorporated municipalities, including the following.

    • Cities: Marfa, Presidio, and Redford.

    • Unincorporated Communities and Census-Designated Places: Adobes, Borrachio, Candelaria, Casa Piedra, Chaffin Place, Chinati, Haciendito, Indio, La Junta, Las Lulas, Las Pampas Colonia, Loma Pelona, Nopal, Ochoa, Papalote Colorado, Papalote Escondido, Papalote Llano, Papalote Seco, Plata, Polvo, Porvenir, Pueblo Nuevo, Quebec, Ruidosa, Ryan, Shafter, and Tinaja.

    These communities do not have independent governments. They exist only for mailing or statistical purposes. (Wikipedia).

    Appendix B - Key Contacts & Portals