Brooks County is a county in Texas, United States, in the brush country of the South Texas Plains between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. It had a population of 7,076 at the 2020 census and covers 944 square miles (2,440 km2) centred near 27°02′N 98°13′W.
Falfurrias is the county seat, and its postal code is 78355. The county has one incorporated city, several unincorporated census-designated places, and a handful of rural crossroads communities. It observes Central time and has no civil townships.
Towns & Villages in Brooks County
Brooks County has one incorporated city (Falfurrias, the seat) and a small number of census-designated places and unincorporated communities scattered across the ranch country to the north, south and west of it. Texas counties do not have civil townships.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falfurrias | City · seat | — | 78355 |
| Encino | CDP | — | 78353 |
| Cantu Addition | CDP | — | 78355 |
| Airport Road Addition | CDP | — | 78355 |
| Flowella | CDP | — | 78355 |
| Rachal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hartland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| La India | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Noria Willie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tacubaya | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Alto Colorado | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Papalote del Norte | Unincorp. | — | — |
Several place names in the county carry the “Colonia” designation (Airport Road Addition Colonia, Cantu Addition Number 1 and 2 Colonia, Rush Addition Colonia, Victory Place Colonia) — these are informal, often unplatted subdivisions rather than separately governed communities, and are grouped here under their parent addition rather than listed as distinct places.
ZIP Codes
- 78355 — Falfurrias (also serves Cantu Addition, Airport Road Addition and Flowella)
- 78353 — Encino
The county’s smaller rural communities generally share Falfurrias’s 78355 ZIP rather than having their own.
Geography
Brooks County sits in the flat-to-gently-rolling brush country of the South Texas Plains, covered in mesquite, huisache and cactus rangeland used mostly for cattle ranching and oil and gas production. The county is almost entirely dry land, with only 0.3 square miles of surface water. It borders Jim Wells County to the north, Kleberg County to the northeast, Kenedy County to the east, Hidalgo County to the south, Starr County to the southwest, Jim Hogg County to the west, and Duval County to the northwest.
Demographics
Brooks County had 7,076 residents at the 2020 census, with Falfurrias the largest community by a wide margin and Encino a distant second. The county is heavily Latino (about 88% of residents) and is one of the lowest-income counties in Texas, well below the Texas median of $75,780. Population density works out to roughly 7.5 people per square mile, reflecting the county’s ranching-dominated land use.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching and oil and gas extraction have long anchored the local economy, but the county’s largest employer today is the U.S. Border Patrol’s Falfurrias immigration checkpoint on US 281, built in 1994 just outside the city and substantially expanded in 2019. Falfurrias is also known regionally for its dairy and creamery heritage, and for hunting leases on the surrounding brush-country ranches.
History
Brooks County was created from parts of Starr, Hidalgo and Zapata counties in 1911 and organized the same year, named for James Abijah Brooks, a former Texas Ranger captain who represented the area in the state legislature and championed the new county’s creation. Falfurrias was chosen as the seat. The county’s ranching economy and its location on the main highway corridor between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley have shaped its history, including its more recent role as a major checkpoint and, at times, a difficult crossing point for migrants moving north through the brush country.
Getting There
US Highway 281 runs the length of the county north–south and is its main travel corridor; State Highway 285 crosses it east–west through Falfurrias.
- Corpus Christi — 75 miles northeast
- Kingsville — 40 miles northeast
- McAllen — 75 miles south
- Alice — 35 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Corpus Christi International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Brooks County, Texas?
It is in the South Texas brush country, on US 281 between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley.
What is the population of Brooks County?
7,076 at the 2020 census.
How big is Brooks County?
944 square miles (2,440 km2), almost all of it land.
What is the county seat of Brooks County?
Falfurrias is the county seat.
How many towns are in Brooks County?
One incorporated city, Falfurrias, plus several census-designated places and unincorporated rural communities.
What ZIP codes are in Brooks County?
78355 (Falfurrias) and 78353 (Encino) are the county’s main ZIP codes.
Why is there a Border Patrol checkpoint in Brooks County?
The Falfurrias checkpoint on US 281, built in 1994 and expanded in 2019, sits on the primary highway route from the Rio Grande Valley north, and is the county’s largest single employer.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.