Concho County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau northwest of San Angelo. It had a population of 3,303 at the 2020 census and covers 984 square miles (2,550 km2) of land centred near 31°20′N 99°52′W.
Paint Rock is the county seat, and its postal code is 76866. The county has two incorporated cities and three unincorporated communities, plus several former settlements that survive only as place names. Concho County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Concho County
Nine places appear on current maps and gazetteers, split between two incorporated cities and unincorporated communities; a handful of 19th- and early-20th-century settlements (Concho, Henderson Chapel, Lightner, Live Oak, Pasche) have no remaining population and are listed for reference only, marked Historic below.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eden | City | 1,398 | 76837 |
| Paint Rock | City · seat | 281 | 76866 |
| Eola | Unincorp. | — | 76937 |
| Millersview | Unincorp. | — | 76862 |
| Lowake | Unincorp. | — | 76855 |
| Concho | Historic | — | — |
| Henderson Chapel | Historic | — | — |
| Lightner | Historic | — | — |
| Live Oak | Historic | — | — |
| Pasche | Historic | — | — |
Eden is the county’s largest place by a wide margin; Paint Rock, the seat, is a small incorporated city on the Colorado River in the county’s northeast corner.
ZIP Codes
- 76837 — Eden
- 76866 — Paint Rock
- 76937 — Eola
- 76862 — Millersview
- 76855 — Lowake (PO Box delivery only)
Five ZIP codes cover the county; every incorporated and unincorporated place listed above has its own post office code.
Geography
Concho County lies on the Edwards Plateau in west-central Texas, a rolling landscape of ranchland cut by the Concho and Colorado rivers, for which the county and its seat are named. Land makes up 984 of the county’s 994 total square miles, with the remainder in rivers, stock tanks, and small lakes. US Highway 83 and US Highway 87 cross the county, along with State Highways 153 and 206.
Concho County borders Runnels County to the north, Coleman County to the northeast, McCulloch County to the east, Menard County to the south, Schleicher County to the southwest, and Tom Green County to the west.
Demographics
Concho County had 3,303 residents at the 2020 census, for a density of about 3.4 people per square mile — typical of the sparsely settled Edwards Plateau. Eden is the largest community, followed by Paint Rock. Median household income runs well below the Texas median of $75,780, consistent with the county’s ranching and agricultural economy. Population has held roughly steady for decades rather than growing, a pattern common across the rural Concho Valley as younger residents move to San Angelo or larger metro areas for work.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching and farming anchor the local economy — sheep, goats, cattle, and pecan production have long been mainstays, and the county led the state in sheep production by the late 1980s. Hunting leases for deer and turkey bring seasonal income to many landowners, especially in the fall lease season when out-of-county hunters lease pastures along the Concho and Colorado rivers. Eden’s economy centers on agricultural services and a state prison unit that supplies a meaningful share of local jobs; Paint Rock’s centers on county government, since it is the seat, along with a handful of small businesses along US 83.
History
Concho County was created in 1858 and organized in 1879, taking its name from the Concho River, itself named by early Spanish explorers for the freshwater mussel shells (conchas) found along its banks. Jumano, Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache bands used the area before U.S. Army campaigns, including Ranald Mackenzie’s 1874 operations, pushed the last Native groups out of the region. Cattle and sheep ranching took hold in the following decades, and railroads reached the county between 1910 and 1912, spurring the growth of Eden and other towns along the line. Paint Rock kept the county seat throughout, and its courthouse still anchors the small town today.
Getting There
US 83 and US 87 are the county’s main highways, linking Eden and Paint Rock to the wider region.
- San Angelo — 24 miles west
- Brownwood — 45 miles northeast
- Menard — 30 miles south
- Ballinger — 25 miles north
San Angelo Regional Airport, in neighboring Tom Green County, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Concho County?
It is in west-central Texas, on the Edwards Plateau northwest of San Angelo.
What is the population of Concho County?
3,303 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Concho County?
984 square miles of land, plus about 10 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Concho County?
Paint Rock.
How many towns are in Concho County?
Two incorporated cities (Eden and Paint Rock) and three unincorporated communities (Eola, Millersview, Lowake).
What ZIP codes are in Concho County?
76837, 76862, 76866, 76937, and 76855.
What is Concho County named after?
The Concho River, named by Spanish explorers for the freshwater mussel shells found along its banks.
What counties border Concho County?
Runnels to the north, Coleman to the northeast, McCulloch to the east, Menard to the south, Schleicher to the southwest, and Tom Green to the west.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.