Sierra Blanca, Texas
Sierra Blanca, Texas
Sierra Blanca is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Hudspeth County in far West Texas, United States. It sits along Interstate 10, about 33 miles west of Van Horn and 87 miles east of El Paso. The town gets its name from nearby Sierra Blanca Mountain, and “sierra blanca” means “white mountain.” The mountain visible from the highway is a well-known landmark.
Population and geography
- The area covers about 4.8 square miles; most of it is land. The town sits roughly 4,500 feet above sea level.
- As of the 2020 census, about 315 people lived in the Sierra Blanca CDP (census-designated place). In 2010 there were 553 people, and in 2000 there were 533.
- The nearby Sierra Blanca (White Mountain) rises to about 6,892 feet above sea level and dominates the landscape to the northwest.
History
- Sierra Blanca was founded in 1881 at the end of a southern transcontinental railroad line.
- It became a railroad junction for the Southern Pacific and the Texas and Pacific lines.
- Hudspeth County formed in 1917 from El Paso County. Sierra Blanca was named the county seat and is home to Texas’s only adobe courthouse.
Geography and climate
- The town is in Far West Texas, a mountainous and arid part of the state. Its altitude gives it a cooler climate than surrounding desert areas.
- Summers are hot with occasional strong winds and dust storms. The coolest month is December, and winters can bring very cold snaps.
- The area gets little precipitation overall, with about 11 inches of rain per year on average. Snow is rare. The town can experience flash floods during heavy rain.
Demographics
- In 2020, Sierra Blanca CDP had 315 residents, 114 households, and 84 families.
- The population is predominantly Hispanic or Latino, with other races making up smaller shares. In 2020, non-Hispanic Whites were about 29% of the population.
Education
- Sierra Blanca is served by the Sierra Blanca Independent School District. The district spends about $6,343 per student each year.
- About 11 students share a teacher on average.
- More than two-thirds of adults older than 25 have a high school diploma; a small share have a bachelor’s or graduate degree.
- Hudspeth County is in the El Paso Community College service area.
Transportation
- Sierra Blanca is on I-10, a major west–east route in Texas.
- It is about 33 miles west of Van Horn and 87 miles east of El Paso.
- Amtrak’s Sunset Limited passes through Sierra Blanca on Union Pacific tracks but does not stop there; the nearest stop is in El Paso.
Economy
- The cost of living in Sierra Blanca is about 20% lower than the U.S. average.
- The typical home value is around $54,600, with modest yearly appreciation.
- The town has limited shopping and services; in 2013 there were a few restaurants and a motel but no grocery store.
- The area has a history of unwanted development, including a sludge dump nearby from 1992–2001 and a proposed (but rejected) nuclear waste site in the late 1990s, due to safety concerns.
Notable events
- The Hudson Border Patrol checkpoint near Sierra Blanca has led to several high-profile arrests and incidents involving celebrities passing through the area.
Overall
Sierra Blanca is a small, high-desert community known for its location on I-10, its historic railroad role, and its mountain backdrop. It combines a quiet West Texas lifestyle with a notable history and an economy typical of rural borderlands.
This page was last edited on 27 January 2026, at 21:17 (CET).