Who Owns the Most Land in Texas?

When people think of Texas, they often imagine wide-open spaces, sprawling ranches, and distant horizons fading into big blue skies. Land ownership has always played a huge role in the state’s identity, its economy, and the way its communities develop.

Knowing who owns large amounts of land can tell us a lot about Texas history, business interests, conservation efforts, and even the future of the region.

In Texas, both private individuals or families and public organizations—such as state or federal agencies—hold significant amounts of land. These owners shape how the land is used, how it’s managed, and sometimes even how it looks.

For example, some landowners focus on farming and ranching, while others focus on preserving natural landscapes or using the land for education or military activities. Some private owners keep their property mostly closed off from the public, while others share their resources in one way or another.

This article will look at six major landowners in Texas: three from the private sector and three from the public sector. We’ll explore who they are, how they got their land, what their mission is, and how their goals affect people living in and visiting the state. We’ll also touch on the basics of how real estate works in Texas, explaining why land ownership is such a big deal there.

A map showing a red pin in the state of Texas

A Brief Overview of Land in Texas

Texas is the second-largest state in the United States, behind only Alaska, with over 171 million acres of land. Because of its size and history as an independent republic before joining the United States, Texas has a unique pattern of land ownership.

Unlike many Western states, where a large part of the land is owned by the federal government, most land in Texas is privately owned—some estimate that more than 95% of the land in Texas is in private hands.

This tradition goes all the way back to when Texas was first settled by Spanish colonists, followed by Mexican and later Texan and American settlers, who divided much of the land into ranches and farms. Over time, families and companies either held onto large tracts of land, passed them down through generations, or sold them off in pieces.

Meanwhile, public entities—like the state’s General Land Office or the University of Texas System—also came to control vast swaths of land for specific purposes.

Three Largest Private Landowners in Texas

1. The King Ranch

History and Size:
When people think about Texas ranches, the first name that often comes to mind is the King Ranch. Covering about 825,000 acres—larger than the entire state of Rhode Island—the King Ranch is not just the biggest ranch in Texas, it’s one of the largest in the world. T

he ranch was founded in 1853 by Richard King, a riverboat captain who saw economic opportunities in the wild and untamed landscape of South Texas. Over generations, the King family grew their holdings, developed cattle ranching methods, and created a brand so iconic that the ranch’s Running W logo is recognized far and wide.

Mission and Goals:
The King Ranch has always been about agriculture, primarily focused on raising cattle and horses. Over time, it has expanded its interests to wildlife management, hunting, farming, and even tourism. The ranch’s mission includes maintaining a strong business, but also preserving a certain way of life and protecting the natural resources of the land.

Sustainable land management is important to the owners: they invest in practices that keep the soil healthy, manage water wisely, and protect native plant and animal species.

Effect on the Public:
While the King Ranch is privately owned and not fully open to the public, it still influences life in Texas. The ranch helps preserve a part of Texas heritage—keeping alive the traditions of cattle drives, horsemanship, and careful stewardship of the land. It also creates jobs in ranching, agriculture, and tourism.

Visitors can book guided tours to learn about the history and ecology of the place. In this way, the King Ranch serves as an educational and cultural resource. By promoting responsible land use and conservation, it indirectly benefits Texans and visitors by ensuring that large sections of the natural landscape remain intact and healthy.

2. The O’Connor Ranch (O’Connor Family)

History and Size:
The O’Connor Family is one of the oldest and largest private landowning families in Texas. They own hundreds of thousands of acres—estimates often range around 500,000 to 580,000 acres—located mainly along the Gulf Coast region.

The O’Connors built their fortune in cattle ranching, oil, and other forms of agriculture over several generations. Like the King family, they have a long history in Texas, dating back to the mid-to-late 1800s when the family first acquired land grants and started raising livestock.

Mission and Goals:
The O’Connor family’s primary mission has historically been tied to ranching and resource development. Cattle are a big part of their business, as is oil and gas extraction on their property. Over the years, they have diversified, ensuring their land can produce wealth in more than one way.

The family tends to be private about their internal goals, but it’s clear that maintaining a profitable and sustainable use of their lands while preserving family ownership and heritage is key.

Effect on the Public:
The O’Connor holdings help support the local economies of the regions in which they own land. Ranch operations provide jobs, purchases of local goods, and tax revenue that benefits local counties and school districts. While the family does not operate as a public venue, the careful management of their land—keeping it largely rural and undeveloped—means that areas of Texas remain open space, offering benefits like wildlife habitats and natural watersheds.

Furthermore, their success over many generations shows how ranching, oil, and agriculture can shape the economic life of Texas communities, setting an example for other landowners.

3. The Waggoner Ranch (Owned by Stan Kroenke)

History and Size:
The Waggoner Ranch, historically owned by the Waggoner family, is one of the largest and oldest ranches under one fence in the United States. Founded in 1849, it covers about 535,000 acres in North Texas, near the Red River. This ranch was long held by descendants of Daniel Waggoner and became famous for its size, cattle, horses, and oil production. In 2016, the ranch was sold to billionaire Stan Kroenke, a businessman who also owns major sports franchises and vast landholdings elsewhere in the country.

Mission and Goals:
Under new ownership, the Waggoner Ranch continues to operate as a working ranch. Cattle, horses, and agriculture remain part of the mission, along with wildlife management. Since Stan Kroenke owns multiple ranches across the American West, it’s likely he has a broader vision of investing in land as a long-term asset, maintaining its agricultural productivity, and possibly enhancing its value over time.

Effect on the Public:
Like other large private ranches, the Waggoner Ranch affects local communities through jobs, economic activity, and land stewardship. Although not directly accessible to the general public, the ranch’s practices can influence how neighbors manage their lands and how regional ecosystems function. Private ranches like these help maintain some rural character in a rapidly growing state. They also serve as models for balancing modern business interests with traditional agriculture and land management practices.

Three Largest Public Landowners in Texas

1. The Texas General Land Office (GLO)

History and Size:
The Texas General Land Office is one of the oldest state agencies, established shortly after the Republic of Texas was formed. Today, the GLO manages approximately 13 million acres of state-owned lands.

This includes the Permanent School Fund lands, coastal areas, mineral rights, and other lands that help generate revenue for public education in Texas. Because the GLO was set up early on to manage the public domain, it still controls vast areas of land, especially in West Texas.

Mission and Goals:
The main mission of the GLO is to use state land and mineral resources to earn money for public schools in Texas. When the GLO leases land for oil and gas extraction, solar or wind farms, grazing, or other uses, the money earned goes into the Permanent School Fund.

This fund helps pay for textbooks, technology, and other educational resources in public schools. The GLO also works to preserve coastal lands, manage disaster recovery funds, and keep historic records related to Texas land.

Effect on the Public:
The GLO’s management of millions of acres ensures a steady flow of revenue into Texas’s public education system. This means that every Texan benefits indirectly through better-funded schools, which can improve quality of life and the state’s future workforce. The GLO also oversees certain coastal lands and works to protect them from erosion and environmental damage.

By managing public lands responsibly and openly, the GLO ensures that Texas citizens have a say in how these lands are used and can trust that the lands are contributing to a public good—education.

2. The University of Texas System (Permanent University Fund Lands)

History and Size:
The University of Texas (UT) System and the Texas A&M University System share what are known as the Permanent University Fund (PUF) lands. These lands total about 2.1 million acres, mostly located in the oil-rich regions of West Texas.

In the late 19th century, Texas set aside this land to fund its public universities, especially the University of Texas and later the Texas A&M systems. Over time, oil and gas development on these lands led to huge earnings that support higher education.

Mission and Goals:
The primary mission of holding these lands is to generate money for higher education. Royalties from oil and gas leases, as well as payments for grazing, wind energy, and other uses, flow into the Permanent University Fund.

The returns on this fund pay for new buildings, equipment, research, and sometimes even certain academic programs at UT and A&M System schools. The UT System’s Board of Regents, along with the UT/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO), invests the PUF money to ensure it grows and continues providing long-term benefits.

Effect on the Public:
Because the PUF lands help fund public higher education, the people of Texas benefit through better-equipped universities, more research opportunities, and stronger academic programs. When these universities produce well-educated graduates, perform groundbreaking research, or develop new technologies, the entire state gains.

Businesses find skilled workers, communities enjoy cultural events that campuses host, and the economy strengthens. Although most of the PUF lands are not open for general public recreation, their financial purpose is to improve public universities—thus improving education for Texans as a whole.

3. The Federal Government (National Parks, Military Bases, and Other Lands)

History and Size:
While Texas does not have as large a proportion of federal land as many Western states, the federal government still owns significant tracts. These include national parks—like Big Bend National Park, which covers about 801,000 acres—and national forests, wildlife refuges, and military bases.

One of the largest federal landholds is Fort Bliss in El Paso, which, combined with training areas, covers over one million acres. Other military installations, such as Fort Hood, and various protected lands also fall under federal ownership.

Mission and Goals:
Each federal landholding has its own mission. National parks aim to preserve natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of present and future generations. Military bases use large areas of land for training, testing, and protecting national security.

National forests and wildlife refuges work to maintain biodiversity, protect watersheds, and provide resources and recreation to the public.

Effect on the Public:
Federal lands in Texas provide a range of benefits. National parks and forests give people places to hike, camp, and enjoy nature. They preserve ecosystems and wildlife that might otherwise disappear. Military bases contribute to local and state economies by providing jobs, buying local goods, and supporting communities.

Protected federal lands also ensure long-term environmental health, which affects air and water quality for everyone. Though some federal lands have restricted public access, many are at least partly open to visitors and serve as important recreational and educational sites.

How Real Estate Works in Texas

Land ownership in Texas is influenced by several factors: the state’s history, property laws, economic opportunities, and cultural values. Here are a few key points to understand how real estate works in the Lone Star State:

Property Rights and Private Ownership:
Texas strongly respects private property rights. Landowners usually have a lot of freedom to decide what to do with their land, as long as they follow state and local laws. This has led to a tradition of large ranches, farms, and privately held estates. Over time, some of these properties have grown or stayed together, resulting in extremely large private holdings, like the King Ranch.
Mineral Rights:
In Texas, property ownership can include both surface rights and mineral rights. Mineral rights refer to the ownership of resources below the ground, like oil, natural gas, and minerals. Sometimes the surface rights and mineral rights are “split.” This means someone might own the land’s surface (able to farm or build a house) but not the minerals underneath. In a state known for oil and gas production, who owns the mineral rights can be a big deal. Many ranches and large landowners also profit from leasing their mineral rights to energy companies.
No Statewide Zoning:
Unlike some other states, Texas does not have a statewide zoning law. Instead, zoning decisions are often made by cities or counties. In rural areas, there may be very few zoning restrictions, giving landowners a lot of freedom in how they use their property. This flexibility can encourage development and economic growth but can also lead to conflicts when different uses of land clash, such as drilling rigs near suburban neighborhoods.
Agricultural and Wildlife Exemptions:
Land in Texas used for agriculture, timber, or wildlife management can receive property tax exemptions or reduced tax rates. This encourages landowners to keep using the land for productive or conservation purposes rather than selling it off for development. These tax breaks can influence how landowners manage their property—someone might maintain cattle pasture or set aside natural habitat for wildlife to keep their taxes low.
Growing Urbanization and Development Pressure:
Texas is growing quickly, with major cities like Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio expanding at rapid rates. As cities grow, real estate values go up, and there’s more pressure on large landowners to sell their land to developers. This can lead to the breaking up of large ranches into smaller parcels or subdivisions. On the other hand, some landowners choose to keep their lands intact and continue their traditional uses. Balancing growth with preservation is an ongoing challenge in Texas real estate.
Public vs. Private Land Use:
Since most of Texas is privately owned, public recreational areas can be rarer compared to some other states. Public lands—be they state parks, national parks, or forests—are treasured for camping, hiking, and birdwatching. When large public landowners like the Texas General Land Office or the University of Texas System hold lands, those lands often serve a specific public purpose—funding schools or universities, for example—rather than being open to all for recreation. Still, Texas does have some beautiful public areas, though they are smaller in size compared to the entire state’s land area.

Comparing the Missions and Effects on the Public

When looking at the three largest private landowners and the three largest public landowners, it’s clear they have different missions and ways they influence Texas life.

Private Owners (King Ranch, O’Connor Family, Waggoner Ranch):
Their mission tends to center on maintaining a profitable ranching business, managing resources (like cattle, oil, or gas), and preserving family legacies. While they are not public charities, their activities still have public effects. They keep large parts of Texas land rural, preserving ecosystems and open spaces. Their operations add to local economies through jobs and tax revenue. They also maintain cultural traditions—ranching, horsemanship, and land stewardship—that Texans take pride in.
Public Owners (GLO, UT System, Federal Government):
Public owners manage land for the benefit of citizens. The GLO uses state lands to fund public schools, the UT System lands fund universities, and federal lands often preserve natural environments or support national defense. The public directly benefits from these missions: better-funded education leads to a stronger state in the long run, and protected natural areas offer recreation and environmental benefits. Even military lands, while often not accessible for public use, help strengthen national security and bring economic activity to the regions they occupy.

Challenges and Future Directions

The future of land ownership in Texas faces several challenges:

Population Growth and Development:
Texas continues to grow rapidly, adding millions of new residents over the past few decades. This puts pressure on large landowners, both public and private, to consider selling land for housing, industry, and infrastructure. Striking a balance between preserving open space and allowing for the state’s economic and population growth will be a major challenge.
Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship:
As weather patterns change, landowners must adapt to more frequent droughts, intense storms, and shifting ecological conditions. Private ranchers may need to adopt more sustainable grazing practices, and public land managers might focus more on restoring habitats that can withstand climate stress. Ensuring that Texas land remains productive and healthy will require careful planning and cooperation.
Energy Development and Mineral Rights:
Texas’s role as a top energy producer will continue to influence land use. Landowners, both public and private, must decide how much to lease land for oil, gas, and renewable energy projects. Balancing profit from minerals and wind or solar farms with the need to protect landscapes, wildlife, and quality of life is an ongoing debate.
Technological Advances and Land Management:
New technologies, like drones for surveying, smart fencing, and advanced water management systems, can help large landowners better understand and manage their vast properties. Public agencies can use technology to improve mapping, record-keeping, and habitat conservation. Technology might also make it easier to engage the public in land management decisions—through online forums, improved public data access, and remote environmental monitoring.

The Cultural Significance of Land Ownership in Texas

Land in Texas is more than an economic asset; it’s a source of identity and pride. The tradition of the “big ranch” is woven into the Texas spirit, symbolizing independence, self-reliance, and a connection to the land.

Families like the Kings and O’Connors represent a legacy passed down over many generations. The Waggoner Ranch, though recently sold, still stands for the idea that land can be both a family tradition and a valuable commodity.

On the public side, the GLO and the UT System lands show that Texas has long understood the value of setting aside land for shared social benefits—education, in particular.

By using land to fund schools and universities, Texas invests in its people, ensuring that each generation has the tools and knowledge to succeed.

Federal lands, though smaller in proportion, remind Texans that the land can serve many purposes at once—conservation, recreation, military readiness—and must be managed carefully for everyone’s benefit.

Maybe You Should Own Some Land in Texas

Land ownership is a huge part of what makes Texas, Texas. The state’s history and laws have created a pattern where both private and public landowners hold large tracts, each with its own goals and influence.

Private landowners like the King Ranch, the O’Connor family, and the Waggoner Ranch have shaped the Texas landscape and economy through ranching, oil, and careful stewardship. They help keep rural traditions alive, influence local economies, and preserve natural habitats—even if they are not always accessible to the general public.

Public landowners such as the Texas General Land Office, the University of Texas System with its Permanent University Fund lands, and the federal government play a crucial role in ensuring land also serves the greater good. Their landholdings fund schools and universities, protect wildlife, give people places to enjoy nature, and help maintain national security.

Thus, Texans benefit from these vast tracts of publicly managed land, sometimes in ways not immediately visible but critically important to the state’s future.

Underpinning all of this are Texas real estate principles—private property rights, mineral rights, tax exemptions, and the interplay between growth and preservation. As Texas continues to evolve, the tension between development and conservation, private rights and public good, and tradition and innovation will shape the next chapter in the story of land ownership in the Lone Star State.

Through it all, the land remains. The wide-open spaces that once drew settlers and ranchers still inspire people today.

Whether owned by a family that traces its roots back over a century or by a state agency working for the public good, Texas land is more than just acres on a map. It is a shared resource, a symbol of heritage, and a foundation for future generations.