Prior to land grants in 1826 and 1832, what is now Terry County belonged to Mexico. The Texas Revolution prevented settlement, however, so the area became a hunting ground for Comanche and other Indian tribes until the early 1870's when the heards of buffalo were depleted by buffalo hunters. In 1900, the area had six ranches and a population of 48. In 1901, sections of land were put up for sale, l
eading to the establishment of Terry County in 1904 with Brownfield as it government seat. Corn was the most important crop in Terry County's early days. When the railroad came in 1917, Terry County became known as the "Egypt of the West" and the "Corn Basket of Texas," as 300-400 carloads of corn shipped out annually. When corn borers destroyed the crop, farmers turned to cotton. Today, Terry County is a leader in cotton, peanut, grape and guar production. It is frequently one of the top ten cotton-producing counties in the stat of Texas, and eighty percent of the wine grapes grown in Texas come from Terry County. Terry County highways bring traffic east and west from Dallas to New Mexico and from points north of the Gulf of Mexico and Rio Grande area. There is also an airport and railway that are important in agriculture and oil transportation. Visitor come to see flocks of Sandhill Crane that call Terry County home each fall. Tourist can also enjoy the Terry County Quilt Trail and Texas Plains Trail Region's Quanah Parker Trail of Giant Arrows. Terry County, the first county in Texas to have a quilt trail, has the honor of being named a Trail Blazer for Governor Perry's state-wide Quilt Trail Initiative. Quanah Parker, the last Chief of the Comanche, is honored with Giant Arrows spawning a 52 county region where the Comanche people who, of all Native American, last lived free. Three Giant Arrows and one smaller on in Terry County are reminders of the nearly forgotten presence and history of these people in Terry County. Terry County -- a proven leader with a bright future.
