San Jacinto County is a county in Texas, United States, in the Piney Woods east of Lake Livingston. It had a population of 27,402 at the 2020 census and covers 628 square miles (1,630 km2) centred near 30°35′N 95°10′W.
Coldspring is the county seat; its postal code is 77331. The county has three incorporated cities, two census-designated places and more than two dozen named unincorporated communities and lake subdivisions. It sits in the Central time zone and was organised in 1870.
Towns & Villages in San Jacinto County
San Jacinto County’s settlements range from the three small incorporated towns along U.S. 190 and U.S. 59 to a scatter of unincorporated crossroads and lake-resort subdivisions built up around Lake Livingston and Lake Tejas. The list below marks incorporated cities, census-designated places (CDP), and unincorporated communities (Unincorp.); Texas has no civil townships, so that column is omitted.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coldspring | City · seat | — | 77331 |
| Point Blank | City | — | 77364 |
| Shepherd | City | — | 77371 |
| Cape Royale | CDP | — | 77331 |
| Oakhurst | CDP | — | 77359 |
| Pumpkin | Unincorp. | — | 77331 |
| Bear Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Camilla | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Darby Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Drews Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Evergreen | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lake Tejas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lake Water Wheel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Laurel Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Liberty Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Magnolia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maynard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Napier | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Waverly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Palmetto Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rose Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Snow Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Staley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stephen Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Strington | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Urbana | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waterwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waverly | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westcott | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Willow Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wolf Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old listing repeated Coldspring twice and split Point Blank into “Point Blank city” and “Pointblank” — both are merged into the single incorporated city of Point Blank here.
ZIP Codes
- 77331 — Coldspring (also serves Cape Royale and Pumpkin)
- 77364 — Point Blank
- 77371 — Shepherd
- 77359 — Oakhurst
Most of the county’s smaller lake subdivisions and rural communities share their nearest incorporated town’s ZIP code rather than carrying one of their own.
Geography
San Jacinto County lies in the Piney Woods of southeast Texas, its western edge fronting Lake Livingston, the reservoir formed by the Trinity River. The Sam Houston National Forest covers a large share of the county’s southern half, giving it a heavily wooded, sandy-soil terrain that shifts from bottomland along the lake to rolling pine ridges inland. It borders Trinity County to the north, Polk County to the east, Liberty County to the southeast, Montgomery County to the southwest, and Walker County to the west.
Demographics
The county’s population was 27,402 at the 2020 census. Shepherd and Coldspring are its two largest population centers along U.S. 59/I-69 and U.S. 190. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, consistent with its rural, forestry- and lake-tourism-based economy. Population density works out to roughly 48 people per square mile of land area.
Economy & Local Life
Timber and forestry remain central to the county’s economy, given the Sam Houston National Forest’s footprint within its borders, alongside ranching and small-scale agriculture. Lake Livingston draws seasonal and retirement residents to subdivisions such as Waterwood and Cape Royale, supporting a tourism and recreation sector of marinas, campgrounds and vacation rentals. Coldspring, the county seat, centers on its historic courthouse square and hosts a well-known annual crafts festival each fall.
History
San Jacinto County was organised in 1870 out of parts of Polk, Liberty, Montgomery and Walker counties. It takes its name from the Battle of San Jacinto, fought April 21, 1836, near present-day Houston, where Texan forces under Sam Houston defeated Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna and secured Texas’s independence from Mexico. Coldspring was named county seat at organisation and has held that role ever since, its restored 1887 courthouse still anchoring the town square.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 59/Interstate 69 crosses the county’s east side through Shepherd, U.S. 190 runs east-west through Coldspring, and State Highways 105, 150 and 156 connect the smaller communities. Approximate distances from Coldspring:
- Huntsville — 25 miles west
- Conroe — 35 miles south
- Livingston — 20 miles north
- Houston — 65 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is San Jacinto County?
It is in the Piney Woods of southeast Texas, bordering Lake Livingston on its western edge, about 65 miles north of Houston.
What is the population of San Jacinto County?
27,402 at the 2020 census.
How big is San Jacinto County?
628 square miles (1,630 km2), of which 569 square miles are land and 59 square miles are water.
What is the San Jacinto County seat?
Coldspring is the county seat.
How many towns are in San Jacinto County?
Three incorporated cities (Coldspring, Point Blank, Shepherd), two census-designated places, and more than two dozen unincorporated communities and lake subdivisions.
What ZIP codes are in San Jacinto County?
77331 (Coldspring), 77364 (Point Blank), 77371 (Shepherd) and 77359 (Oakhurst).
Why is San Jacinto County named that?
It is named for the Battle of San Jacinto, the 1836 fight that won Texas its independence from Mexico.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.