Runnels County is a county in Texas, United States, on the eastern edge of the Concho Valley in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 9,900 at the 2020 census and covers 1,057 square miles (2,740 km2), of which 1,051 square miles are land and 6.2 square miles are water, centred near 31°50′N 99°58′W.
Ballinger is the county seat, and its postal code is 76821. The county holds three incorporated cities, two census-designated places and a handful of unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Runnels County
Runnels County’s settlements split into three incorporated cities (Ballinger, Miles and Winters), two census-designated places (Rowena and Wingate) and several unincorporated communities scattered across the ranchland between them. The table below carries every place from the county’s settlement list.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballinger | City · seat | 3,619 | 76821 |
| Winters | City | 2,345 | 79567 |
| Miles | City | 875 | 76861 |
| Rowena | CDP | — | 76875 |
| Wingate | CDP | — | 79566 |
| Benoit | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bethel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blanton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crews | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Drasco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hatchel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maverick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olfen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pumphrey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Valley View | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilmeth | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 76821 — Ballinger (also serves the surrounding ranch country)
- 79567 — Winters
- 76861 — Miles
- 76875 — Rowena
- 79566 — Wingate
The smaller unincorporated communities — Benoit, Norton, Bethel, Blanton, Crews, Drasco, Hatchel, Marie, Maverick, Olfen, Pumphrey, Valley View and Wilmeth — use the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than one of their own.
Geography
Runnels County lies on rolling plains where the Hill Country grades into the Rolling Plains, drained by the Colorado and Concho rivers along its southern and eastern edges. Ranchland and cotton fields cover most of the county, with oak mottes along the creek bottoms.
The county borders Taylor County to the north, Coleman County to the east, Concho County to the south, Tom Green County to the southwest, Coke County to the west and Nolan County to the northwest.
Demographics
Runnels County had 9,900 residents at the 2020 census. Ballinger and Winters are the two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs well below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting its agricultural and oilfield economic base. Population density is roughly 9 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties in the Concho Valley.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — cotton, wheat and cattle ranching — anchors the county’s economy alongside oil and gas production. The MacMillan oil field, discovered in 1927, opened the county to petroleum development, and eighteen more fields were found by 1949. Ballinger’s historic downtown, built up after the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway arrived in 1886, still carries much of the county’s commercial activity.
History
Runnels County was created in 1858 and organized in 1880 with an initial population of 980. It is named for Hiram G. Runnels, a Mississippi-born lawyer and Texas legislator. Ballinger became the county seat and grew fastest after the railroad reached it in 1886, drawing trade away from earlier settlements along the Colorado River.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 67 and 83 cross the county, along with Texas Highways 153 and 158.
- San Angelo — 20 miles southwest
- Abilene — 40 miles northeast
- Brownwood — 55 miles east
- Sweetwater — 45 miles north
San Angelo Regional Airport, in neighboring Tom Green County, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Runnels County?
It is in west-central Texas, on the eastern edge of the Concho Valley, about 20 miles northeast of San Angelo.
What is the population of Runnels County?
9,900 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Runnels County?
1,057 square miles (2,740 km2), of which 1,051 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Runnels County?
Ballinger is the county seat.
How many towns are in Runnels County?
Three incorporated cities (Ballinger, Miles, Winters), two census-designated places (Rowena, Wingate) and thirteen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Runnels County?
76821 (Ballinger), 79567 (Winters), 76861 (Miles), 76875 (Rowena) and 79566 (Wingate).
Who is Runnels County named after?
Hiram G. Runnels, a Texas state legislator, though the man himself never lived in the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.