Borden County: A West Texas landscape defined by oil, agriculture, and total prohibition

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep in West Texas, Borden County remains one of the state's few entirely dry counties. Named for the inventor of condensed milk, this rural expanse of 906 square miles has evolved from a 19th-century frontier settlement into a significant petroleum producer, all while maintaining a population of just 631 residents.

Created in 1876 and organized in 1891, Borden County was named to honor Gail Borden Jr., a businessman and pioneer of condensed milk. The region was historically inhabited by the Shoshone and the Penateka band of Comanches before being settled by farmers and ranchers. A significant shift occurred in 1902 when the state opened public lands for settlement, triggering a land rush that brought many new residents to the area, many of whom focused on cotton cultivation.

The county's economic trajectory changed dramatically in 1949 with the discovery of oil. By 1991, the region had yielded more than 340,000,000 barrels of petroleum. Despite this industrial output, the county has remained sparsely populated. As of the 2020 census, the population stood at 631, with 100% of residents living in rural areas. The county seat, Gail, serves as the administrative heart, housing a courthouse constructed in 1939 that replaced an earlier 1890 structure.

Today, the county is characterized by its unique social and political landscape. It remains one of only three counties in Texas that are entirely dry, prohibiting the sale of alcohol. Politically, it is noted for its strong conservative leanings, ranking as the second-strongest county for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. With a total area of 906 square miles, only about 1% of the county is covered by water, emphasizing its arid West Texas geography. Education and community life are supported by the Borden County Independent School District and the local weekly newspaper, the Borden Star.

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