Freestone County is a county in Texas, United States, in the east-central part of the state, roughly midway between Dallas and Houston. It had a population of 19,435 at the 2020 census and covers 892 square miles (2,310 km2) centred near 31°42′N 96°09′W.
Fairfield is the county seat, and its postal code is 75840. The county has three incorporated cities and towns plus several unincorporated communities, no civil townships (Texas counties do not use the township system), and observes the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Freestone County
Freestone County has a handful of incorporated towns and a larger number of unincorporated communities and former settlements scattered across its farm and ranch land. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfield | City · seat | — | 75840 |
| Teague | City | — | 75860 |
| Wortham | Town | — | 76693 |
| Kirvin | Town | — | 75848 |
| Streetman | Town | — | 75859 |
| Oakwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Butler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dew | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Donie | Unincorp. | — | 75838 |
| Freestone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Avant Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bonnerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Concord | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cotton Gin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanely | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Luna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marshy Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Plum Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rhode Island | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saint Elmo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Simsboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stewards Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turlington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ward Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Winkler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Young | Unincorp. | — | — |
Oakwood sits mostly across the line in neighboring Leon County, with only a small edge inside Freestone. Streetman likewise has a small portion that crosses into Navarro County to the northwest. Both are listed here because their historic town center and post office fall in Freestone County.
ZIP Codes
- 75840 — Fairfield
- 75860 — Teague
- 75859 — Streetman
- 76693 — Wortham
- 75838 — Donie
- 75848 — Kirvin (PO Box delivery only)
Smaller unincorporated communities such as Butler, Dew, Freestone and the historic prairie settlements share a ZIP code with the nearest post-office town rather than having their own.
Geography
Freestone County lies in the Post Oak Savannah of east-central Texas, a belt of rolling, sandy-loam prairie and hardwood woodland between the Blackland Prairie to the west and the Piney Woods to the east. The Trinity River forms part of the county’s eastern edge, and Fairfield Lake and Richland Creek Reservoir (Lake Limestone) are the county’s main bodies of water. The county has a total area of 892 square miles, of which 878 square miles are land and 14 square miles are water.
Freestone County borders Henderson County to the north, Anderson County to the northeast, Leon County to the southeast, Limestone County to the southwest, and Navarro County to the northwest.
Demographics
Freestone County had 19,435 residents at the 2020 census. Its two largest communities are Teague and Fairfield, the county seat. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, typical of a rural county whose economy still leans on agriculture, ranching and energy. Population density works out to roughly 22 people per square mile, well below the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and cattle ranching anchor the county’s economy, alongside oil and gas production and a large state-park tourism draw at Fairfield Lake State Park (established 1976). The county was long defined by the Big Brown coal-fired power plant near Fairfield, one of the largest employers in the area until its closure in February 2018, a shutdown that reshaped the local job base. Fairfield and Teague both host small-town Main Street retail and county-government employment.
History
Freestone County was created in 1850 and organized the following year, carved from Limestone County. The name is a descriptive one, referring to the quality of the sandstone and soil found in the area rather than to any person. Teague grew rapidly in the early 1900s as a railroad division point on the Trinity and Brazos Valley Railway, at one point rivaling Fairfield in size and influence.
Getting There
Interstate 45 runs the length of the county on its way between Dallas and Houston, with US 79, US 84, US 287 and State Highways 14, 75, 164 and 179 crossing it.
- Corsicana — 30 miles north
- Waco — 45 miles west
- Palestine — 30 miles east
- Dallas — 90 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Waco Regional Airport; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the closest major hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Freestone County?
It is in east-central Texas, on Interstate 45 roughly midway between Dallas and Houston.
What is the population of Freestone County?
19,435 people, at the 2020 census.
How big is Freestone County?
892 square miles (2,310 km2), of which 878 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Freestone County?
Fairfield is the county seat.
How many towns are in Freestone County?
Three incorporated towns — Wortham, Kirvin and Streetman — plus the cities of Fairfield and Teague, alongside numerous unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Freestone County?
75840 (Fairfield), 75860 (Teague), 75859 (Streetman), 76693 (Wortham), 75838 (Donie) and 75848 (Kirvin).
What closed employer shaped the county’s recent economy?
The Big Brown coal-fired power plant near Fairfield, which closed in February 2018 after decades as one of the area’s largest employers.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.