Knox County is a county in Texas, United States, on the rolling plains of the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 3,353 at the 2020 census and covers 855 square miles (2,215 km2) centred near 33°37′N 99°44′W.
Benjamin is the county seat, and its postal code is 79505. The county has four incorporated cities and towns and a handful of unincorporated communities, and it observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Knox County
Knox County has four incorporated places — one town holding the county seat, one town, and two cities — plus several unincorporated communities scattered across its ranch and farm country. Unincorporated places carry no city government of their own and are listed here as historical and mapped settlements.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin | Town · seat | — | 79505 |
| Munday | City | — | 76371 |
| Knox City | Town | — | 79529 |
| Goree | City | — | 76363 |
| Rhineland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Truscott | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vera | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gilliland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hefner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunset | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
Munday, in the county’s northeast corner, is the county’s largest city; Benjamin, its smallest incorporated place, holds the courthouse. Rhineland, Truscott, Vera, Gilliland, Hefner, Sunset, and Union Grove are unincorporated communities without their own post office ZIP — residents there use the nearest town’s mailing address.
ZIP Codes
- 79505 — Benjamin (county seat)
- 76371 — Munday
- 79529 — Knox City
- 76363 — Goree
These four post office ZIPs cover the whole county; Rhineland, Truscott, Vera, and the other unincorporated communities are served by whichever of the four towns lies nearest.
Geography
Knox County sits on the rolling plains of the Rolling Plains region of west-central Texas, drained by the Brazos River and its Wichita and Wanderer’s Creek tributaries. The land is a mix of cropland, mesquite rangeland, and river-bottom pasture, with 4.9 square miles of the county’s total area covered by water.
Knox County borders Haskell County to the south, and shares boundaries with Foard County to the north, Baylor County to the east, King County to the west, Stonewall County to the southwest, and Throckmorton County to the southeast.
Demographics
Knox County had 3,353 residents at the 2020 census, down from a peak of 9,625 in 1910 as the county’s agricultural economy mechanized and population drifted to larger Texas cities. Munday and Knox City are the two largest communities. Census figures show the county is 71.4% White and 33.7% Hispanic or Latino by ethnicity, with a Black population of 4.9%.
Median household income in Knox County runs below the Texas median of $75,780, typical of the state’s sparsely populated agricultural counties. With 855 square miles of land and water and roughly 3,300 residents, the county’s population density is under 4 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Cotton, wheat, and cattle ranching anchor Knox County’s economy, alongside oil and gas production from wells scattered across the county. Munday and Knox City serve as the county’s retail and school-district centers; Munday Independent School District and Knox City-O’Brien Consolidated Independent School District are the area’s largest local employers alongside county and municipal government. Grain elevators and cotton gins in Munday and Knox City still handle much of the harvest each fall, and irrigated farmland along the Brazos River bottom supports row-crop production that dryland ranching elsewhere in the county cannot.
History
Knox County was formed from Fannin, Bexar, and Young County territory in 1858 and was organized as a functioning county government in 1886, nearly three decades after its creation because the sparsely settled plains had too few residents to support a courthouse and elected officials any sooner. It is named for Henry Knox, a Continental Army general and the first U.S. Secretary of War. Benjamin was chosen as county seat at organization and has held that role ever since, one of relatively few Texas county seats never to change.
Getting There
U.S. Highways 82 and 277 and State Highways 6 and 222 cross Knox County, linking its towns to the wider Rolling Plains region.
- Wichita Falls — 65 miles northeast
- Abilene — 70 miles south
- Vernon — 40 miles north
- Haskell — 20 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Abilene Regional Airport, roughly 70 miles to the south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Knox County, Texas?
It is in the Rolling Plains region of west-central Texas, bordered by Foard, Baylor, Haskell, King, Stonewall, and Throckmorton counties.
What is the population of Knox County?
Knox County had 3,353 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Knox County?
The county covers 855 square miles (2,215 km2), including 4.9 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Knox County?
Benjamin is the county seat.
How many towns are in Knox County?
Four incorporated places — Benjamin, Munday, Knox City, and Goree — plus several unincorporated communities including Rhineland, Truscott, and Vera.
What ZIP codes are in Knox County?
79505 (Benjamin), 76371 (Munday), 79529 (Knox City), and 76363 (Goree).
Who is Knox County named after?
Henry Knox, a Continental Army general and the first U.S. Secretary of War.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.