Texas County is a county in Missouri, United States, in the south-central Ozarks. It had a population of 24,487 at the 2020 census and covers 1,177 square miles (3,050 km2) of land, centred near 37°19′N 91°58′W.
Houston is the county seat, and its postal code is 65483. Texas County has 5 cities, 2 incorporated villages, and dozens of unincorporated communities, organised into 17 townships. The county sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Texas County
Texas County’s settlements range from its five cities down to crossroads hamlets scattered across Missouri’s largest county by land area. City and village names below are incorporated; the rest are unincorporated communities (CDP or Unincorp.).
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | City · seat | 2,079 | 65483 |
| Cabool | City | — | 65689 |
| Licking | City | — | 65542 |
| Mountain Grove | City | — | — |
| Summersville | City | — | 65571 |
| Plato | Village | — | 65552 |
| Raymondville | Village | — | 65555 |
| Bucyrus | Unincorp. | — | 65444 |
| Success | Unincorp. | — | 65570 |
| Roby | Unincorp. | — | 65557 |
| Hartshorn | Unincorp. | — | 65479 |
| Elk Creek | Unincorp. | — | 65464 |
| Yukon | Unincorp. | — | 65589 |
| Eunice | Unincorp. | — | 65468 |
| Solo | Unincorp. | — | 65564 |
| Huggins | Unincorp. | — | 65484 |
| Cedar Bluff | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clear Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dunn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ellsworth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Evening Shade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grogan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Guild | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hazleton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hurst | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ladd | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mahan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maples | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midvale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nagle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nile | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Success | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oscar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Crest | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plum Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Prescott | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sargent | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sherrill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Slabtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tyrone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Upton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Venable | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Windy Curve | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Big Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fowler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Roubidoux | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kimble | Unincorp. | — | — |
Mountain Grove straddles the Texas–Wright county line, with the larger share of the city in Wright County; its ZIP code and full population are covered on that county’s page.
ZIP Codes
- 65483 — Houston
- 65689 — Cabool
- 65542 — Licking
- 65571 — Summersville
- 65552 — Plato
- 65555 — Raymondville
- 65444 — Bucyrus
- 65570 — Success
- 65557 — Roby
- 65479 — Hartshorn
- 65464 — Elk Creek
- 65589 — Yukon
- 65468 — Eunice
- 65564 — Solo
- 65484 — Huggins
Smaller communities such as Cedar Bluff, Dunn, Fowler and Windy Curve have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP.
Geography
Texas County lies in the Missouri Ozarks and is the largest county in the state by land area, at 1,177 square miles. The Big Piney River and Jacks Fork run through the county, and Texas County holds a substantial share of Mark Twain National Forest along with parts of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in its southeast. Terrain is rolling, forested plateau cut by spring-fed streams.
Texas County borders Pulaski County to the north, Phelps County to the northeast, Dent County to the east, Shannon County to the southeast, Howell County to the south, Douglas County to the southwest, Wright County to the west, and Laclede County to the northwest.
Demographics
Texas County had a population of 24,487 at the 2020 census, a density of about 20.8 people per square mile. Houston and Cabool are the county’s two largest communities. Median household income in Texas County trails the Missouri median of $68,545, typical of the rural Ozarks.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, timber and healthcare anchor the county economy. Cattle ranching and poultry production are widespread across the county’s pastureland, and Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston is a major regional employer. Tourism tied to Mark Twain National Forest and Ozark float streams brings seasonal visitors to the county’s eastern towns.
History
The Missouri General Assembly created the county in 1843 as Ashley County, named for William H. Ashley, Missouri’s first lieutenant governor. On February 14, 1845, lawmakers renamed it Texas County after the recently independent Republic of Texas. The 2010 census determined that the mean center of U.S. population fell within the county, near Plato — a distinction it has since lost as later counts shifted the centre elsewhere. On February 26, 2015, a mass shooting in the community of Tyrone killed seven people.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 60 and 63 cross the county, along with Missouri Routes 17, 32, 38 and 137.
- Springfield — 55 miles west
- Rolla — 45 miles northeast
- West Plains — 30 miles south
- Lebanon — 35 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Texas County, Missouri?
It is in south-central Missouri, in the Ozarks region roughly 55 miles east of Springfield.
What is the population of Texas County?
24,487 at the 2020 census.
How big is Texas County?
1,177 square miles (3,050 km2) of land, making it the largest county in Missouri by area.
What is the county seat of Texas County?
Houston is the county seat.
How many towns are in Texas County?
Five cities (Cabool, Houston, Licking, Mountain Grove and Summersville), two villages (Plato and Raymondville) and dozens of unincorporated communities across 17 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Texas County?
Fifteen ZIP codes serve the county, led by 65483 (Houston) and 65689 (Cabool).
Why is it called Texas County?
It was renamed in 1845, two years after its creation as Ashley County, in honor of the newly independent Republic of Texas.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Missouri.