Terrell County is a county in Texas, United States, in the Trans-Pecos region along the Rio Grande. It had a population of 760 at the 2020 census and covers 2,358 square miles (6,110 km2) centred near 30°14′N 102°04′W, making it one of the least densely populated counties in the country.
Sanderson is the county seat, a census-designated place with no incorporated municipal government; its postal code is 79848. There are no incorporated cities or towns anywhere in the county — every settlement is unincorporated. The county sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Terrell County
Terrell County has no incorporated cities or towns. Its handful of named places are all unincorporated communities, ranchhouse clusters, or old railroad stops along the Southern Pacific line, most now sparsely populated or abandoned.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanderson | CDP | 760 | 79848 |
| Dryden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dryden Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Casa de Piedras | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Emerson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lozier | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Malvado | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mofeta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moser | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shaw | Unincorp. | — | — |
Sanderson is the CDP population figure and stands in for the whole county total, since 2020 census counts for Terrell County are effectively concentrated there. Dryden was once a shipping point for cattle ranchers along the railroad but is now largely abandoned. The rest are ranch-road place names rather than settlements with any current population count on record.
ZIP Codes
- 79848 — Sanderson (serves the entire county)
Every other named place in Terrell County uses the Sanderson post office; no other ZIP code is assigned within the county.
Geography
Terrell County lies in the rugged Trans-Pecos, a country of limestone canyons, dry washes and thin grass rangeland dropping toward the Rio Grande on its southern edge. The Pecos River forms part of the county’s eastern boundary before it joins the Rio Grande, and much of the terrain is too broken for anything but ranching. The county borders Pecos County to the north, Crockett County to the northeast, Val Verde County to the east, Brewster County to the southwest, and Coahuila, Mexico, across the Rio Grande to the south.
Elevations range from around 1,300 feet along the Rio Grande to over 4,000 feet on the higher mesas in the county’s northern reaches, giving the landscape a stepped, canyon-country character typical of the Trans-Pecos. Rainfall is sparse and unpredictable, and the county’s ranches are large by necessity — it takes many acres of this dry grassland to support a single animal unit.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 760 residents, the vast majority living in and around Sanderson. With 2,358 square miles of land, the county’s population density is well under one person per square mile — among the emptiest counties in Texas. Median household income data specific to Terrell County is not reliably available; for comparison, the Texas state median is $75,780.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching, particularly sheep and Angora goat wool production, has anchored the local economy since the county’s founding. Oil and gas work grew in importance after the 1957 discovery of the Brown-Bassett gas field, adding a second income stream to area ranch families. The county markets itself as the “Cactus Capital of Texas,” a designation adopted in 1999, reflecting the abundant native cactus species across its rangeland.
History
Terrell County was organized in 1905, carved out of Pecos County, and named for Alexander W. Terrell, a Texas state senator. Sanderson itself was originally called Strawbridge before being renamed for Joseph P. Sanderson, a railroad engineer connected with the Southern Pacific line that put the town on the map. The county’s remote canyon country later provided the setting for Cormac McCarthy’s novel No Country for Old Men and the Oscar-winning film adaptation.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 90 runs east-west through Sanderson, with U.S. 285 and State Highway 349 also crossing the county. Nearby anchor towns:
- Del Rio, Texas — about 75 miles east
- Fort Stockton, Texas — about 75 miles north
- Alpine, Texas — about 85 miles southwest
- Ozona, Texas — about 60 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Del Rio International Airport; there is no Amtrak passenger service through the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Terrell County, Texas?
It is in the Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas, along the Rio Grande border with Mexico.
What is the population of Terrell County?
760 residents, per the 2020 census — the seventh-least populous county in Texas.
How big is Terrell County?
2,358 square miles (6,110 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Terrell County?
Sanderson is the county seat.
How many towns are in Terrell County?
None are incorporated; Sanderson and a handful of small unincorporated communities are the only named places.
What ZIP codes are in Terrell County?
79848, covering Sanderson and the rest of the county.
Why is Terrell County called the “Cactus Capital of Texas”?
The county adopted the title in 1999 in recognition of its abundant native cactus species across the rangeland.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.