Tom Green 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 120,003 at the 2020 census and covers 1,541 square miles (3,990 km2) centred near 31°25′N 100°28′W.
San Angelo is the county seat, and its main postal code is 76901. The county has one incorporated city, three census-designated places, and several smaller unincorporated communities; Tom Green County does not use civil townships. It sits in the Central time zone, and its FIPS code is 48451.
Towns & Villages in Tom Green County
Twelve named places are recognized in Tom Green County: one incorporated city (San Angelo, the seat), three census-designated places (Carlsbad, Christoval, Grape Creek), and eight unincorporated communities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Angelo | City · seat | 99,893 | 76901–76906, 76908, 76909 |
| Grape Creek | CDP | — | 76901 |
| Carlsbad | CDP | — | 76934 |
| Christoval | CDP | — | 76935 |
| Knickerbocker | Unincorp. | — | 76939 |
| Mereta | Unincorp. | — | 76940 |
| Tankersley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vancourt | Unincorp. | — | 76955 |
| Veribest | Unincorp. | — | 76886 |
| Wall | Unincorp. | — | 76957 |
| Water Valley | Unincorp. | — | 76958 |
| Ben Ficklin | Ghost town | — | — |
Ben Ficklin was the original county seat until the 1882 Concho River flood destroyed it; the county government moved to San Angelo afterward. A handful of scattered rail sidings and crossings named in older gazetteers (Alvery Junction, Byrne, Harriet, Mullins Crossing, Orient, S N Junction, and the several “mile crossing” points) are not populated places and have been dropped from this list.
ZIP Codes
- 76901 — San Angelo (also serves Grape Creek)
- 76902 — San Angelo (PO Box)
- 76903 — San Angelo
- 76904 — San Angelo
- 76905 — San Angelo
- 76906 — San Angelo (PO Box)
- 76908 — Goodfellow Air Force Base
- 76909 — San Angelo (unique)
- 76934 — Carlsbad
- 76935 — Christoval
- 76939 — Knickerbocker (PO Box)
- 76940 — Mereta
- 76955 — Vancourt
- 76957 — Wall
- 76958 — Water Valley (PO Box)
- 76886 — Veribest (PO Box)
Tankersley has no ZIP code of its own and is served through nearby San Angelo addresses.
Geography
Tom Green County lies on the Edwards Plateau in west-central Texas, drained by the North, Middle, and South Concho Rivers, which meet at San Angelo. The land is a mix of rolling plateau and river-cut valley, used mostly for ranching. Of its 1,541 square miles, 1,522 are land and 19 are water.
It borders Sterling County to the northwest, Coke County to the north, Runnels County to the northeast, Concho County to the east, Menard County to the southeast, Schleicher County to the south, and Irion County and Reagan County to the west.
Demographics
Tom Green County had 120,003 residents at the 2020 census, giving it a density of about 79 people per square mile. San Angelo, the seat, accounts for roughly 83 percent of the county’s population; Grape Creek is the largest community outside the city limits. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting a mix of military, ranching, and service-sector households.
Economy & Local Life
San Angelo anchors the county economy as the trade and medical hub for a wide stretch of West Texas. Goodfellow Air Force Base, an intelligence-training installation, is one of the county’s largest employers, alongside Angelo State University (part of the Texas Tech University System) and Shannon Medical Center. Sheep and goat ranching remain significant outside the city, and San Angelo still holds livestock and wool auctions tied to the region’s ranching history.
History
Tom Green County was created from Bexar County territory on March 13, 1874, and formally organized in 1875. It is named for Thomas Green, a Texas Revolutionary War veteran and Confederate brigadier general. The original county seat, Ben Ficklin, was washed away in the August 1882 Concho River flood; county government relocated to the young settlement of San Angelo, which grew around nearby Fort Concho.
Getting There
US Highways 67, 87, and 277 and Texas Highways 163 and 208 converge on San Angelo, along with Loops 306 and 570.
- Christoval — 18 miles south of San Angelo
- Carlsbad — 12 miles east of San Angelo
- Water Valley — 18 miles north of San Angelo
- Wall — 14 miles east of San Angelo
San Angelo Regional Airport (Mathis Field) provides the county’s commercial air service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tom Green County, Texas?
It is on the Edwards Plateau in west-central Texas, centred near 31°25′N 100°28′W, roughly 90 miles south of Abilene.
What is the population of Tom Green County?
120,003 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Tom Green County?
1,541 square miles (3,990 km2), of which 19 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Tom Green County?
San Angelo is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Tom Green County?
One incorporated city, three census-designated places, and several smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Tom Green County?
San Angelo uses 76901 through 76909; outlying communities have their own codes, including 76934 (Carlsbad), 76935 (Christoval), and 76957 (Wall).
What military base is in Tom Green County?
Goodfellow Air Force Base, on San Angelo’s east side, is a major intelligence-training installation and one of the county’s largest employers.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.