Van Zandt County is a county in Texas, United States, on the eastern edge of the Blackland Prairies where it meets the East Texas Piney Woods, about 60 miles east of Dallas. It had a population of 59,541 at the 2020 census and covers 860 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 843 square miles (2,180 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) is water, centred near 32°34′N 95°50′W.
Canton is the county seat, and its postal code is 75103. The county has seven incorporated cities, three census-designated places, and a dozen unincorporated communities. Texas has no civil townships. Van Zandt County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Van Zandt County
Van Zandt County has 22 named places on record: 7 incorporated cities, 3 census-designated places (CDPs), and 12 unincorporated communities. The table below carries every settlement confirmed against the county’s current municipal and community list; a handful of names from older lists (duplicate “Grand Saline” entry, “Clifton,” “Clower,” “Cana,” “Denman Crossroads,” “Four Mile Prairie,” “High,” “Holly Springs,” “Jackson,” “Jones,” “Lawrence Springs,” “Mars,” “Odom,” “Owlett Green,” “Pruitt,” “Roddy,” “Sand Flat,” “Scott,” “Small,” “Wallace,” “Watkins,” “Whitton,” “Wise”) could not be independently confirmed and are omitted — see notes.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canton | City · seat | 4,229 | 75103 |
| Wills Point | City | — | 75169 |
| Grand Saline | City | — | 75140 |
| Van | City | — | 75790 |
| Edgewood | City | — | 75117 |
| Edom | City | — | 75756 |
| Fruitvale | City | — | 75127 |
| Ben Wheeler | CDP | — | 75754 |
| Callender Lake | CDP | — | — |
| Myrtle Springs | CDP | — | — |
| Alsa | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Colfax | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Martin’s Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Phalba | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Primrose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Silver Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tundra | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Walton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wentworth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wise | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 75103 — Canton (also serves the surrounding county seat area)
- 75169 — Wills Point
- 75140 — Grand Saline
- 75790 — Van
- 75117 — Edgewood
- 75756 — Edom
- 75127 — Fruitvale
- 75754 — Ben Wheeler
The smaller unincorporated communities and CDPs draw mail service from the nearest incorporated city’s ZIP code rather than carrying one of their own.
Geography
Van Zandt County straddles the transition from the Blackland Prairies in the west to the post oak belt and East Texas Piney Woods in the east, a position that earns it the local nickname “Gateway to East Texas.” The Sabine River forms part of the county’s southern edge and the Neches River rises in its eastern portion; the terrain is gently rolling, with sandy soils giving way to blackland clay toward Kaufman County. Van Zandt County borders Rains County to the north, Wood County to the northeast, Smith County to the east, Henderson County to the south, Kaufman County to the west, and Hunt County to the northwest.
Demographics
Van Zandt County had 59,541 residents at the 2020 census. Canton, the county seat, is its largest incorporated place, followed by Wills Point. Median household income runs below the Texas median of $75,780 — the county is largely rural and exurban, with commuting ties to the Dallas-Fort Worth metro pulling some residents into higher-income brackets while the eastern half stays agricultural. Population density is roughly 71 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Canton is home to First Monday Trade Days, one of the largest recurring flea markets in the United States, held the Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of each month and drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. Beyond that draw, the county’s economy runs on agriculture (cattle, poultry, hay), light manufacturing, and retail and service jobs tied to the Interstate 20 corridor and commuting to Tyler and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Grand Saline’s salt dome has supported salt mining and processing for well over a century.
History
Van Zandt County was organized in 1848 and named for Isaac Van Zandt, a diplomat and member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas who died of yellow fever in 1847 before he could take office as governor. During the Civil War and again during Reconstruction, a bloc of Unionist residents in the county resisted secession and federal authority strongly enough that the area earned the nickname “the free state” among neighboring counties. Grand Saline grew up around one of the largest salt deposits in the country, discovered in the 19th century and still mined today.
Getting There
Interstate 20 crosses the county east-west and U.S. Highway 80 runs parallel to it, giving Canton and Wills Point direct access to Dallas. Texas highways 19 and 64 connect the smaller towns.
- Dallas — 60 miles west
- Tyler — 30 miles southeast
- Terrell — 25 miles west
- Mineola — 20 miles northeast
Van Zandt County Regional Airport in Wills Point and Canton-Hackney Airport serve general aviation; the nearest commercial airport is Dallas Fort Worth International, about 70 miles west.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Van Zandt County?
It is in northeast Texas, about 60 miles east of Dallas, along Interstate 20.
What is the population of Van Zandt County?
59,541 at the 2020 census.
How big is Van Zandt County?
860 square miles (2,200 km2), including 17 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Van Zandt County?
Canton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Van Zandt County?
Seven incorporated cities, three census-designated places, and about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Van Zandt County?
Canton’s postal code is 75103; other towns include Wills Point 75169, Grand Saline 75140, Van 75790, Edgewood 75117, Edom 75756 and Fruitvale 75127.
What is Van Zandt County known for?
Canton’s First Monday Trade Days, one of the country’s largest recurring flea markets, and Grand Saline’s long-running salt mining industry.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.