Marfa, TX

About Marfa

• • Artist Donald Judd established the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, showcasing large-scale art installations.
• • Minimalism in art found a haven and significant expression within Marfa's unique landscape.
• • Its strategic location as a water stop on the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway sparked its growth.
• • The mysterious "Marfa Lights," unexplained nocturnal phenomena, have drawn curiosity for over a century.
• • The filming of the movie "Giant" in 1955 brought Hollywood glamour and economic activity.
• • It was named in 1883 by the wife of a railroad executive after a character in a novel, and incorporated in 1931.
• • The town's population is roughly 1,700, smaller than many high school graduating classes.
• • At 4,688 feet, the altitude offers stunning views and cooler temperatures than the surrounding desert.
• • Tourism and art-related businesses fuel the economy, attracting visitors worldwide.
• • A palpable sense of artistic freedom and serene isolation permeates the air.
• • No pro sports teams are based there; the closest is the El Paso Chihuahuas minor league baseball team.
• • Marfa High School Shorthorns won the 2021 Six-Man Division II State Championship.
• • The landscape features volcanic rock formations from the Cenozoic Era.
• • Capote Falls, one of Texas's highest waterfalls, is located about 25 miles away.
• • The town lies within the Rio Grande basin.
• • Pronghorn antelope can be found grazing in the grasslands surrounding the town.
• • The area is characterized by Chihuahuan Desert vegetation, including creosote bush and cacti.
• • Evidence suggests the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European contact.
• • The Presidio County Courthouse, a Romanesque Revival structure, was completed in 1886.
• • The Marfa Lights, unexplained orbs of light, have been observed southeast of town since the late 19th century.
• • U.S. Highway 90 passes through the town, connecting it to other parts of Texas.

Songs About Marfa