Land & Ranch · Texas · Far West Texas
Land & Ranch · County
Presidio County TX Real Estate, Land & Ranches for Sale
About Presidio County
Presidio County sits along the Rio Grande in the Far West Texas region, covering nearly 3,856 square miles of Chihuahuan Desert, volcanic mountain ranges, and fertile river bottomland. The county seat is Marfa, an internationally recognized art destination, and the border city of Presidio anchors the south. Whether you want to buy land in Presidio County TX for a working cattle operation, a recreational retreat near Big Bend, or a long-term investment in one of the state's most visually striking landscapes, Legacy Broker Group's Alpine Far West Texas office knows this country firsthand.
Legacy Broker Group listings in Presidio County
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The multiple listing information is provided by LERA MLS. Copyright ©2026 LERA MLS. All Rights Reserved. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate. This information should be independently verified if any person intends to engage in a transaction in reliance upon it. The information provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Based on information from Unlock MLS (alternatively, from ACTRIS) for the period through 10/02/2026. Neither the Board nor ACTRIS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. All data is provided “AS IS” and with all faults. Data maintained by the Board or ACTRIS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Information being provided is for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Some IDX listings have been excluded from this website.
Data last updated: 10/02/2026 04:27
The information being provided by Central Texas MLS is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that the data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Central Texas MLS.
Based on information from South Texas MLS, LLC as of 2026-10-02 04:27:04. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. South Texas MLS, LLC provides the MLS and all content therein “AS IS” and without any warranty, express or implied. MLS aggregate data is a copyright of Texas Association of REALTORS® (TAR) and that the reader may not reproduce or distribute the MLS aggregate data.
© 2026 Bryan-College Station Regional Multiple Listing Service. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS or Legacy Broker Group. Data last updated 09/23/2023 16:30.
Information contained on the computer print-outs of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) of the HOUSTON REALTORS® INFORMATION SERVICE (HRIS) is furnished by MLS Participants for dissemination to other MLS Participants, for their exclusive use, and should not be relied upon by Buyer/Tenant or any other person. There is no express or implied warranty by HAR or MLS as to the accuracy of such information, which should be independently verified by Buyer/Tenant or such other person. MLS does not verify the information and disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy.
Presidio County on the map
Each marker is a Legacy Broker Group listing in Presidio County — click for details; a sold one links to Significant Transactions.
Living in Presidio County
- Marfa ISD — PK–12 public school district serving Marfa; enrollment info, calendars, and athletics for the Shorthorns.
- Presidio ISD — Public school district serving the city of Presidio and surrounding communities; home of the Blue Devils.
- Chinati Foundation — Contemporary art museum founded by Donald Judd on 340 acres in Marfa with large-scale permanent installations.
- Marfa Public Library — Over 20,000 volumes, free Wi-Fi, a film screening program, and an award-winning Texana collection in downtown Marfa.
- Fort Leaton State Historic Site — Restored 1848 adobe trading post near Presidio; serves as the western visitor center for Big Bend Ranch State Park.
The vibe
Presidio County is defined by extremes. Elevations swing from about 2,518 feet along the Rio Grande to 7,728 feet in the Chinati Mountains, and rainfall averages only about twelve inches a year, arriving mostly in summer thunderstorms. The terrain shifts from open grassland plateaus where Highland Hereford cattle have grazed for generations to rugged desert canyons carved by seasonal creeks. Cottonwood-lined draws, distant volcanic peaks, and night skies dark enough for an International Dark Sky Park designation give the county a character unlike anywhere else in Texas.
Marfa anchors the cultural life. Founded in 1883 as a railroad water stop, it became a ranching hub, a World War II military post, and eventually a global center for contemporary art after minimalist sculptor Donald Judd established the Chinati Foundation on the grounds of the former Fort D.A. Russell. Galleries, independent restaurants, the historic Hotel Paisano, and the Presidio County Courthouse still line Marfa's walkable downtown. The city of Presidio, sixty miles south on U.S. 67, sits at La Junta de los Rios, the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Rio Conchos, a site believed to be the oldest continuously cultivated farmland in Texas. Between the two towns lie the small communities of Shafter, Ruidosa, and Valentine, each with its own quiet heritage of ranching, mining, or rail history.
The pace here is unhurried. Distances are long, cell service is thin in places, and the land itself is the main attraction. Ranch gates swing open onto tens of thousands of acres at a time, and neighbors may be measured in miles rather than feet. It is a place for people who value open ground, honest work, and room to breathe.
Market snapshot
As of September 2026, the land market in Presidio County remains one of the more affordable in Texas on a per-acre basis, though values have been trending upward along with the broader Far West Texas region. Listing data from Land.com shows a median asking price per acre of roughly $1,472 for all land types countywide, with around 100,000 acres and approximately $50 million in total listed inventory. Smaller recreational parcels of ten to thirty acres near Presidio or Valentine often list in the range of $500 to $1,000 per acre, while improved ranches with water, fencing, and working infrastructure command substantially higher prices. According to Texas Farm Credit, Far West Texas has seen some of the steepest percentage gains in the state, though the region's per-acre prices still sit well below the statewide average of about $5,158. LandWatch reports more than $113 million in combined land and ranch listings across the county. Inventory turns slowly here, which is typical of large-acreage ranch country. Buyers looking to buy ranch in Presidio County TX or buy farm in Presidio County TX should expect longer negotiation timelines and should work with a land broker Presidio County TX who understands water rights, agricultural exemptions, and access easements in this remote terrain.
Selling in Presidio County?
Thinking of selling land or a ranch in Presidio County? A Legacy Broker Group Broker Price Opinion is free, and it starts with the market you are actually in.
Amenities
Presidio County is served by two independent school districts. Marfa ISD operates a single PK through 12 campus with a student-to-teacher ratio of about 8 to 1, and both Marfa ISD and Presidio ISD received B ratings of 87 out of 100 from the Texas Education Agency in the most recently released accountability cycle. Alpine ISD, about twenty-six miles east of Marfa, earned an A rating that same year and is home to Sul Ross State University, which offers continuing education and cultural programming that benefits the wider region.
Outdoor recreation is the county's greatest draw. Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas at over 300,000 acres, stretches along the Rio Grande within the county and offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, river rafting, and designated International Dark Sky stargazing. Fort Leaton State Historic Site, near Presidio, serves as one of the park's visitor centers. The Chinati Mountains State Natural Area, a 39,000-acre preserve managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife, is under development with limited access expected in 2026 and a full opening projected for 2032. The Marfa Lights Viewing Area sits nine miles east of town on U.S. 90 and draws visitors year-round. Chinati Hot Springs, in the remote community of Ruidosa, offers rustic mineral soaking along the river. Marfa is roughly sixty miles from Presidio, twenty-six miles from Alpine, and about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from El Paso via Interstate 10 and U.S. 90. The nearest commercial air service is at the Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport, with connecting flights available through Midland-Odessa or El Paso.
Presidio County FAQs
What should I know before I buy land in Presidio County TX?
Presidio County covers nearly 3,856 square miles of remote desert and mountain terrain. Water access, legal easements, and utility availability vary widely from parcel to parcel, so due diligence with a knowledgeable land broker is essential. Working with Legacy Broker Group's Alpine office ensures you have guidance on agricultural exemptions, mineral rights, and access roads.
How far is Marfa from Alpine and El Paso?
Marfa is about twenty-six miles west of Alpine along U.S. 90, and roughly 190 miles southeast of El Paso. The drive from El Paso takes approximately three to three-and-a-half hours via Interstate 10 and U.S. 90.
Should I buy a ranch in Presidio County TX for cattle?
The Marfa Plateau and its surrounding highland country support excellent grama grasses that have sustained the Highland Hereford cattle industry for well over a century. Large acreage ranches with working improvements do come to market, though inventory turns slowly and patience is part of the process.
What is the Chinati Foundation?
The Chinati Foundation is a contemporary art museum founded by minimalist sculptor Donald Judd on the grounds of the former Fort D.A. Russell in Marfa. It houses large-scale permanent installations, including one hundred milled aluminum works displayed in converted military buildings, and draws art visitors from around the world.
Are there schools in Presidio County?
Marfa ISD and Presidio ISD both serve the county and each received a B rating of 87 from the Texas Education Agency. Marfa ISD operates a single PK through 12 campus with a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately eight to one.
What outdoor recreation is available in Presidio County?
Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas, offers over 238 miles of multiuse trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, plus river rafting and fishing along the Rio Grande. The Chinati Mountains State Natural Area and Chinati Hot Springs add additional options for those who enjoy remote, rugged landscapes.
How much does land cost per acre in Presidio County?
Asking prices vary widely depending on size, water access, and improvements. Current listing data shows a median asking price of roughly $1,472 per acre countywide, though small recreational tracts can list for less and improved ranches can command considerably more.
What are the Marfa Lights?
The Marfa Lights are an unexplained phenomenon visible on clear nights from a free viewing area nine miles east of town on U.S. 90. Reports of mysterious glowing orbs over the Mitchell Flat area date back to the 1880s, and no scientific consensus on their origin has been reached.
Can I buy farm in Presidio County TX along the Rio Grande?
The river bottomland near Presidio at La Junta de los Rios has been continuously farmed for thousands of years. Irrigated parcels along the Rio Grande do occasionally come to market and can support crops, though water rights and international boundary considerations make an experienced farm broker Presidio County TX invaluable.
What is the population of Presidio County?
The 2025 Census Bureau estimate puts Presidio County at approximately 5,433 residents, making it one of the least densely populated counties in Texas at roughly two people per square mile. Marfa and the city of Presidio are the two primary communities.
How do I sell my ranch Presidio County TX?
Selling ranch land in this market requires specialized marketing that reaches the right buyer pool, accurate pricing based on comparable sales, and thorough documentation of water, minerals, and access. Legacy Broker Group's Alpine office serves as a ranch broker Presidio County TX with the regional knowledge to position your property effectively.
Market and community sections reviewed 2026-09-20.