Marfa, Texas
City in the United States in Presidio County
About Marfa
Marfa is a city in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos in far West Texas, United States. Founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop, it lies between the Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park at an elevation of 4685 feet and is the county seat of Presidio County. The population of Marfa peaked in the 1930s and as of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 1,788.
Today, Marfa is a tourist destination and a major center for minimalist art. Major attractions include the Chinati Foundation, the Judd Foundation, Ballroom Marfa, Building 98, and the Marfa lights.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Marfa is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Marfa
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
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The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- cityofmarfa.com
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Population over time
From 1,981 in 2010 to 1,788 in 2020 (−9.7%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,788 |
| 2010 | 1,981 |
History
Marfa was founded in the early 1880s as a railroad water stop. The town was named "Marfa" (Russian for "Martha") at the suggestion of the wife of a railroad executive. Although some historians have hypothesized that the name came from a character in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov, Marfa was actually named after Marfa Strogoff, a character in Jules Verne's novel Michael Strogoff. According to Sterry Butcher of the Texas Monthly, a writer researched the Karamazov story and deemed it false, but did not receive any letters to the editor after he submitted the story to the newspaper, so "No one cared. The story we had suited Marfa just fine."
The city grew quickly during the 1920s.
The Marfa Army Air Field served as a training facility for several thousand pilots during World War II, including the American actor Robert Sterling, before closing in 1945. The base was also used as the training ground for many of the United States Army's chemical mortar battalions.
Marfa experienced economic issues after the war ended and after a drought impaired agricultural output. Artist Donald Judd arrived in 1973 and began buying properties to renovate, which resulted in bohemian interest in the community. In 2012, Vanity Fair described it as a "playground" for "art-world pioneers and pilgrims".
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.