Overview

Moore County is a county located in the northern Texas Panhandle. The county seat is Dumas, which serves as the primary center for government, commerce and services. According to the 2010 U.S. census, the county had a population of 21,904; totals since then have stayed in the low tens of thousands.

Geography and environment

The county lies on the High Plains, a broad, largely flat region of shortgrass prairie. Soils and semi-arid climate make the area suitable for dryland farming and ranching where irrigation is available. Like much of the High Plains, Moore County overlies portions of the Ogallala Aquifer, an important groundwater source for crops and livestock.

History and development

Moore County developed in the late 19th century as settlement pushed into the Panhandle. Towns grew around rail lines and later roadways, and agriculture and livestock production shaped settlement patterns. Over time energy production and food processing have supplemented the local economy, while Dumas evolved as the county's administrative and trade hub.

Economy and population

The local economy is dominated by farming and ranching—wheat, other small grains and livestock are common—alongside oil and natural gas activity where deposits occur. Food processing and related manufacturing provide year‑round employment in and near Dumas. Moore County is often considered part of the larger Amarillo economic and media region and shares regional services and markets.

Communities and infrastructure

  • Dumas — county seat and largest city.
  • Sunray — a smaller town with local businesses and schools.
  • Cactus — another rural community in the county.

Transportation is provided by regional highways and short-distance freight lines that connect local producers to broader markets. Public services are concentrated in Dumas, while smaller towns host schools, volunteer fire departments and community facilities.

Notable facts and distinctions

Moore County exemplifies the rural High Plains counties of Texas: broadly agricultural, energy-influenced, and dependent on groundwater for irrigation. Visitors seeking administrative or statistical information can consult state and county resources such as the county website or state profiles for details about services, elected officials and planning; for a general reference see Texas state resources or a county overview at local pages.