Robertson County is a county in Texas, United States, part of the College Station–Bryan metropolitan area in the east-central part of the state. It had a population of 16,757 at the 2020 census and covers 865 square miles (2,240 km2), of which 856 square miles (2,220 km2) are land, centred near 31°02′N 96°31′W.
Franklin is the county seat, and its postal code is 77856. The county has four incorporated cities — Hearne, Franklin, Calvert and Bremond — plus roughly two dozen unincorporated communities. Robertson County has no civil townships. It observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Robertson County
Robertson County’s populated places split between four incorporated cities and a long list of small unincorporated communities and former rail stops scattered across its farm and ranch land. Hearne, in the county’s north, is the largest city; Franklin, near the geographic center, is the seat. Communities marked “Unincorp.” have no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearne | City | — | 77859 |
| Franklin | City · seat | — | 77856 |
| Calvert | City | — | 77837 |
| Bremond | City | — | 76629 |
| Mumford | Unincorp. | — | 77867 |
| Wheelock | Unincorp. | — | 77882 |
| New Baden | Unincorp. | — | 77870 |
| Bald Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Benchley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Easterly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elliott | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tidwell Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valley Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hammond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Astin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Black Jack | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Calvert Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dunns Fort | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eaton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Goodland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Headsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hogg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marvin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nesbitt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nicholas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Owensville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Petteway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Port Sullivan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Round Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rye | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Salter | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Seale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Seger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sutton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tatsie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tatsie Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| White Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Willow Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
Port Sullivan and Calvert Junction were both Brazos River shipping and rail points in the 19th century, distinct from the present-day city of Calvert; both survive today only as place names on the map, not as active settlements.
ZIP Codes
- 77859 — Hearne
- 77856 — Franklin
- 76629 — Bremond
- 77837 — Calvert
- 77867 — Mumford (post office box service)
- 77882 — Wheelock (post office box service)
- 77870 — New Baden (post office box service)
The county’s smaller unincorporated communities have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest listed post office town.
Geography
Robertson County sits in the Post Oak Savannah of east-central Texas, a belt of sandy soils and scattered woodland between the Brazos and Navasota rivers. The Brazos River forms the county’s western edge; the Little Brazos River crosses its eastern half. Terrain is gently rolling, with the highest ground in the north near Bremond and lower bottomland along the Brazos in the west.
Robertson County borders Limestone County to the north, Leon County to the northeast, Brazos County to the southeast, Burleson County to the south, Milam County to the southwest, and Falls County to the northwest.
Demographics
Robertson County had 16,757 residents at the 2020 census. Hearne is its largest community, with Franklin, the county seat, the second-largest. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the area’s farm, ranch and prison-employment economy. Population density is about 20 people per square mile, one of the lower densities in this part of the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cattle ranching, hay and row crops — remains a mainstay across the county’s rural land. State correctional facilities near Bremond and Hearne (part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Huntsville-area prison network) are among the county’s largest employers. Franklin and Hearne, both on US 79, serve as the county’s retail and services centers, and many residents commute to jobs in Bryan-College Station to the southeast.
History
Robertson County was created from Milam County in 1837 and organized the following year, one of the original counties of the Republic of Texas. It was named for Sterling C. Robertson, an empresario who brought settlers to the area under a colonization contract and later signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. Calvert, founded on the Houston and Texas Central Railway in the 1860s, was for a time one of the largest cotton-shipping towns in Texas; its fortunes declined through the 20th century as rail traffic and the cotton economy contracted.
Getting There
US Highway 79 runs northeast–southwest through Franklin and Hearne; US 190 crosses the county’s south; State Highways 6, 7 and 14 also serve the county.
- Bryan — 25 miles southeast
- Waco — 45 miles northwest
- Bremond — 15 miles north of Franklin
- Calvert — 12 miles north of Hearne
The nearest commercial airport is Easterwood Airport in College Station, about 30 miles southeast of Franklin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Robertson County, Texas?
It is in east-central Texas, part of the College Station–Bryan metropolitan area, between the Brazos and Little Brazos rivers.
What is the population of Robertson County?
16,757 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Robertson County?
865 square miles (2,240 km2), of which 856 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Robertson County?
Franklin.
How many towns are in Robertson County?
Four incorporated cities — Hearne, Franklin, Calvert and Bremond — plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Robertson County?
77856 (Franklin), 77859 (Hearne), 76629 (Bremond), 77837 (Calvert), plus 77867 (Mumford), 77882 (Wheelock) and 77870 (New Baden).
What is Robertson County’s largest city?
Hearne, on US 79 in the county’s north.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.