Montague County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Red River border with Oklahoma, in the north-central part of the state. It had a population of 19,965 at the 2020 census and covers 938 square miles (2,430 km2), of which 931 square miles are land and 7.4 square miles are water, centred near 33°40′N 97°44′W.
Montague is the county seat, and its postal code is 76251. The county has 3 incorporated cities, 3 census-designated places, and roughly a dozen smaller unincorporated communities. It observes Central time and carries no civil townships — Texas counties are not subdivided that way.
Towns & Villages in Montague County
Montague County has three incorporated cities — Bowie, Nocona, and Saint Jo — plus census-designated places (CDP) and a scattering of unincorporated crossroads communities. The table below carries over every settlement named in earlier records of this page; a few unverifiable place names from that list have been dropped and are noted at the end of this article.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowie | City | 5,384 | 76230 |
| Montague | City · seat | 314 | 76251 |
| Nocona | City | 3,198 | 76255 |
| Saint Jo | City | 1,006 | 76265 |
| Montague Hills | CDP | — | 76251 |
| Ringgold | CDP | — | 76261 |
| Sunset | CDP | — | 76270 |
| Belcherville | Unincorp. | — | 76251 |
| Bonita | Unincorp. | — | 76255 |
| Dye | Unincorp. | — | 76255 |
| Forestburg | Unincorp. | — | 76239 |
| Fruitland | Unincorp. | — | 76255 |
| Hardy | Unincorp. | — | 76251 |
| Illinois Bend | Unincorp. | — | 76251 |
| Mallard | Unincorp. | — | 76261 |
| New Harp | Unincorp. | — | 76255 |
| Nocona Hills | Unincorp. | — | 76255 |
| Spanish Fort | Unincorp. | — | 76251 |
| Stoneburg | Unincorp. | — | 76251 |
ZIP Codes
- 76230 — Bowie
- 76251 — Montague (also serves Belcherville, Hardy, Illinois Bend, Montague Hills, Spanish Fort, and Stoneburg)
- 76255 — Nocona (also serves Bonita, Dye, Fruitland, New Harp, and Nocona Hills)
- 76261 — Ringgold (also serves Mallard)
- 76265 — Saint Jo
- 76239 — Forestburg
- 76270 — Sunset
Smaller crossroads communities without their own post office generally use the ZIP of the nearest listed town.
Geography
Montague County sits on the West Cross Timbers, a belt of post oak and blackjack woodland giving way to rolling prairie toward its western edge. The Red River forms the county’s entire northern boundary with Oklahoma, and the West Fork Trinity River rises in the county’s southeastern corner. Farmers Creek and several smaller tributaries drain most of the interior toward the Trinity and Red River systems.
The county borders Jefferson County, Oklahoma and Love County, Oklahoma across the Red River to the north, Cooke County to the east, Wise County to the south, Jack County to the southwest, and Clay County to the west.
Demographics
Montague County had 19,965 residents at the 2020 census. Bowie is the largest city with roughly 5,400 people, followed by Nocona with about 3,200. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the county’s rural, agricultural economic base. Population density is about 21 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties within commuting distance of the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle ranching, hay, and some peanut and wheat farming — remains the backbone of the county’s rural economy, alongside oil and gas production from the Bend Arch. Bowie serves as the county’s retail and medical hub, with Bowie manufacturing and light-industrial employers drawing workers from across the county. Nocona is historically known for boot and leather-goods manufacturing, a trade that gave the town its long-running Nocona Boots brand. Lake Nocona and Lake Amon G. Carter, along with several smaller reservoirs, support recreational fishing and draw weekend visitors from the Metroplex.
History
Montague County was established by the Texas Legislature in 1857 and organized in 1858, named for Daniel Montague, a surveyor and Mexican–American War veteran who helped survey the area. In its early decades the county sat astride the Chisholm Trail, and cattle drives passed through en route to railheads in Kansas. Montague, the county seat, and Saint Jo both trace their growth to that cattle-trail era; Nocona and Bowie grew later as rail lines reached the county in the 1880s.
Getting There
- Denton — 45 miles southeast
- Wichita Falls — 40 miles west
- Gainesville — 20 miles east
- Fort Worth — 75 miles south
U.S. Routes 81/287 cross the county diagonally through Bowie, and U.S. Route 82 runs along the southern part of the county through Saint Jo; State Highways 59, 101, and 175 connect the smaller towns. The nearest commercial airport is Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, about 75 miles south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Montague County?
It is in north-central Texas, on the Red River border with Oklahoma, roughly 75 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
What is the population of Montague County?
It had a population of 19,965 at the 2020 census.
How big is Montague County?
It covers 938 square miles (2,430 km2), of which 7.4 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Montague County?
Montague is the county seat.
How many towns are in Montague County?
The county has three incorporated cities — Bowie, Nocona, and Saint Jo — plus three census-designated places and about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Montague County?
The county’s ZIP codes are 76230 (Bowie), 76251 (Montague), 76255 (Nocona), 76261 (Ringgold), 76265 (Saint Jo), 76239 (Forestburg), and 76270 (Sunset).
What is Montague County known for?
Its stretch of the historic Chisholm Trail and Nocona’s boot-making heritage.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.