Atascosa County is a county in Texas, United States, part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area, south of San Antonio. It had a population of 48,981 at the 2020 census and covers 1,221 square miles (3,160 km2) centred near 28°53′N 98°32′W.
Jourdanton is the county seat and its postal code is 78026. The county has five incorporated cities, one incorporated town, one census-designated place, and more than a dozen smaller unincorporated communities. Atascosa County is in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Atascosa County
Atascosa County’s incorporated places sit along the Interstate 35 and US 281 corridors, while the older ranching communities are scattered across the surrounding brush country. In the table below, City and Town are incorporated municipalities, CDP is an unincorporated census-designated place, and Unincorp. is an unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jourdanton | City · seat | 4,229 | 78026 |
| Pleasanton | City | 10,391 | 78064 |
| Poteet | City | 3,528 | 78065 |
| Charlotte | City | 1,806 | 78011 |
| Lytle | City | — | 78052 |
| Christine | Town | 331 | 78012 |
| Leming | CDP | — | 78050 |
| Campbellton | Unincorp. | — | 78008 |
| Peggy | Unincorp. | — | 78062 |
| Amphion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Anchorage | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Black Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Coughran | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Davis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ditto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dobrowolski | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Espey | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fashing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hindes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Iuka | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kyote | Unincorp. | — | — |
| La Parita | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Las Gallinas | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McCoy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rossville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Verdi | Unincorp. | — | — |
Lytle straddles three counties — Atascosa, Medina, and Bexar — so its population figure is a combined total rather than an Atascosa-only count.
ZIP Codes
- 78026 — Jourdanton
- 78064 — Pleasanton
- 78065 — Poteet
- 78011 — Charlotte
- 78052 — Lytle
- 78012 — Christine
- 78050 — Leming (also serves nearby unincorporated communities)
- 78008 — Campbellton
- 78062 — Peggy
Smaller unincorporated places such as Amphion, Fashing, and Hindes have no ZIP code of their own and are served by the nearest listed post office town.
Geography
Atascosa County lies in the South Texas brush country, a gently rolling landscape of mesquite and prickly pear crossed by the Atascosa River, which gives the county its name. The county covers 1,221 square miles, of which 1.9 square miles is water. Interstate 35 crosses the county’s western edge near Lytle, Interstate 37 clips the eastern edge, and US Highway 281 runs north-south through Pleasanton and Jourdanton.
Atascosa County borders Bexar County to the north, Wilson County to the northeast, Karnes County to the east, Live Oak County to the southeast, McMullen County to the south, La Salle County to the southwest, Frio County to the west, and Medina County to the northwest.
Demographics
Atascosa County had 48,981 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 40 people per square mile. Pleasanton is the largest community, followed by Jourdanton. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the county’s agricultural and oil-field economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas production from the Eagle Ford Shale has been a major driver of the county’s economy since the early 2010s, alongside ranching, peanut and pecan farming, and hunting leases. Pleasanton calls itself the “Birthplace of the Cowboy” and hosts the annual Cowboy Homecoming celebration each August. Poteet is known for its Strawberry Festival, held every April since 1948.
History
Atascosa County was organized in 1856 from part of Bexar County. Its name comes from the Atascosa River, a Spanish word roughly meaning “boggy” or “marshy,” describing the river’s soft banks. Cattle ranching shaped the county’s early economy, and Pleasanton grew as a shipping point on cattle trails north out of South Texas in the late 1800s.
Getting There
- San Antonio — 30 miles north via Interstate 35 or US 281
- Poteet — 8 miles west of Jourdanton via Farm Road 476
- Lytle — 22 miles northwest via Interstate 35
- Three Rivers — 25 miles southeast via US 281 and Highway 72
The nearest commercial airport is San Antonio International Airport, about 35 miles north of Jourdanton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Atascosa County?
It is in South Texas, directly south of San Antonio, part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area.
What is the population of Atascosa County?
48,981 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Atascosa County?
1,221 square miles (3,160 km2), of which 1.9 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Atascosa County?
Jourdanton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Atascosa County?
Five incorporated cities, one incorporated town, one census-designated place, and about 20 smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Atascosa County?
Nine ZIP codes, including 78026 (Jourdanton), 78064 (Pleasanton), and 78065 (Poteet).
What is Atascosa County known for?
Its Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas activity, cattle ranching heritage, and Poteet’s annual Strawberry Festival.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.