San Saba County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 5,730 at the 2020 census and covers 1,138 square miles (2,950 km2) centred near 31°10′N 98°49′W.
San Saba is the county seat and its postal code is 76877. The county has 2 incorporated towns and about a dozen unincorporated communities, no civil townships (Texas counties do not use the township system), and runs on Central time.
Towns & Villages in San Saba County
San Saba County has 2 incorporated towns and a scatter of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads along the San Saba and Colorado rivers. The table below lists Town/City for the incorporated places and Unincorp. for the rest; population figures are the 2020 census count where the place is a recognized census entity, otherwise —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Saba | Town · seat | 3,117 | 76877 |
| Richland Springs | Town | 244 | 76871 |
| Cherokee | Unincorp. | — | 76832 |
| Bend | Unincorp. | — | 76824 |
| Algerita | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bowser | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chappel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| China Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elm Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harkeyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hicks Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| High Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Locker | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McMillan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pecan Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rough Creek Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Skeeterville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sloan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old list’s duplicate “Bend” entry has been merged into one row.
ZIP Codes
- 76877 — San Saba (post office town)
- 76871 — Richland Springs
- 76832 — Cherokee
- 76824 — Bend (PO Box only)
The other unincorporated communities and rural crossroads use the ZIP of their nearest post office town above.
Geography
San Saba County sits on the Edwards Plateau where it breaks into rolling hill country, cut by the San Saba River and the Colorado River, which forms part of the county’s eastern edge. Of the county’s 1,138 square miles, 1,135 square miles are land and 3.1 square miles (0.3%) are water. Pecan orchards line the river bottoms — San Saba has long billed itself the Pecan Capital of the World.
San Saba County borders Mills County to the north, Lampasas County to the east, Burnet County to the southeast, Llano County to the south, Mason County to the southwest, McCulloch County to the west, and Brown County to the northwest.
Demographics
San Saba County had 5,730 residents at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 5 people per square mile. San Saba, the county seat, and Richland Springs are the two largest communities, and together account for less than half the county’s population — most residents live on ranches and in unincorporated communities outside either town. Median household income in San Saba County runs below the Texas median of $75,780, consistent with the county’s ranching-and-farming economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the county economy: cattle and sheep ranching, pecan orchards, and hunting leases on the Edwards Plateau’s brushland are the main sources of income. San Saba’s pecan industry, dating to the 1870s, still supports local shellers and growers. Hunting for white-tailed deer and turkey brings seasonal visitors and lease income to area ranches. Six-man football is a major community draw in the fall, with Richland Springs High School fielding one of the state’s most successful six-man programs.
History
San Saba County was created in 1856 out of Bexar County and organized the same year, named for the San Saba River, which the Spanish had named for Saint Sabbas. The Spanish built the short-lived Presidio San Sabá and Santa Cruz de San Sabá mission nearby in 1757, abandoned after a Comanche attack the following year. The county seat, San Saba, was laid out in 1856 and grew as a river-crossing and ranching town; the Beveridge Bridge, built in 1896 over the San Saba River, is still in use.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 190 crosses the county east–west through San Saba, and State Highway 16 runs north–south. Farm Road 45 links San Saba to smaller communities.
- Brownwood — 30 miles northwest
- Llano — 30 miles south
- Lampasas — 35 miles east
- Austin — 100 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is Abilene Regional Airport, roughly 90 miles northwest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is San Saba County?
It is on the Edwards Plateau in west-central Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Austin.
What is the population of San Saba County?
5,730 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is San Saba County?
1,138 square miles (2,950 km2), of which 1,135 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of San Saba County?
San Saba is the county seat.
How many towns are in San Saba County?
Two incorporated towns, San Saba and Richland Springs, plus about 20 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in San Saba County?
76877 (San Saba), 76871 (Richland Springs), 76832 (Cherokee), and 76824 (Bend, PO Box only).
Why is San Saba County called the Pecan Capital of the World?
San Saba’s pecan orchards along the San Saba River have supplied growers and shellers since the 1870s, and the town has used the nickname since 1874.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.