Crockett County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau in the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 3,098 at the 2020 census and covers 2,807 square miles (7,270 km2) centred near 30°44′N 101°25′W.
Ozona is the county seat, and its postal code is 76943. The county has one census-designated place and a small number of unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and is one of only a handful of U.S. counties that border nine other counties.
Towns & Villages in Crockett County
Crockett County has no incorporated cities or towns. Ozona, the county seat, is the sole census-designated place and is home to nearly all of the county’s population; the rest of the county is unincorporated ranchland with a scattering of small named communities.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozona | CDP · seat | — | 76943 |
| Crockett Heights | Unincorp. | — | 76943 |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | 76943 |
Emerald, the county’s first town, was established in 1889 a few miles from present-day Ozona and is now a ghost town with no remaining population.
ZIP Codes
- 76943 — Ozona (also serves the rest of the county, including Crockett Heights and Midway)
Crockett County is served by a single ZIP code, since Ozona’s post office covers the entire county outside any other town.
Geography
Crockett County lies on the Edwards Plateau, a rugged tableland of limestone canyons, dry creeks and low mesas that drops toward the Pecos River valley on the county’s western edge. Live Oak Creek crosses the county and feeds a small canyon known as Gobbler Shelter, a rock overhang used by early inhabitants. Vegetation across the county is mostly grassland and scrub brush typical of the plateau’s ranching country. Crockett County borders nine counties: Upton County and Reagan County to the north, Irion County to the northeast, Schleicher County and Sutton County to the east, Val Verde County and Terrell County to the south, Pecos County to the west, and Crane County to the northwest.
Demographics
Crockett County had 3,098 residents at the 2020 census, giving it a density of about 1.1 people per square mile. Ozona is by far the largest community, with Crockett Heights and Midway the county’s next-largest named places. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the county’s small, ranching- and energy-dependent economy.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas production and sheep, goat and cattle ranching drive the county’s economy, as they have since the Permian Basin’s early 20th-century boom; an early oil well was drilled on the L.P. Powell ranch in 1925. Ozona serves as the county’s commercial and government center, anchored by the 1902 Crockett County Courthouse, designed by architect Oscar Ruffini, which still houses the county’s civil offices and courts. Beyond energy and livestock, most local jobs are tied to county and school-district government, ranch supply and services, and highway trade generated by Interstate 10 traffic passing through Ozona.
History
Crockett County was formed from Bexar County land on January 12, 1875, but was not organized as a functioning county government until 1891, sixteen years later, once enough settlers had arrived. It is named for Davy Crockett, the frontiersman and politician who died at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Fort Lancaster, established August 20, 1855, stood in the county to protect travelers and mail coaches on the San Antonio–El Paso Road and is preserved today as a Texas Historic Site. Emerald, founded in 1889, was the county’s first town; it declined over the following decades and is now a ghost town with no remaining population. Archaeological evidence at Gobbler Shelter shows the area was used by Tonkawa, Lipan Apache and Comanche peoples before Anglo-American settlement.
Getting There
Interstate 10 crosses the northern part of the county, and U.S. Route 190 and State Highways 137, 163 and 349 provide additional access.
- San Angelo — about 85 miles northeast
- Del Rio — about 90 miles south
- Midland — about 110 miles north
- San Antonio — about 200 miles east
San Angelo Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport, roughly 85 miles from Ozona.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Crockett County?
It is on the Edwards Plateau in the southwestern part of Texas, centred near 30°44′N 101°25′W.
What is the population of Crockett County?
3,098 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Crockett County?
2,807 square miles (7,270 km2), making it one of the larger counties in Texas by area.
What is the county seat of Crockett County?
Ozona is the county seat and the only census-designated place in the county.
How many towns are in Crockett County?
Crockett County has no incorporated towns; Ozona is its only census-designated place, alongside a few small unincorporated communities such as Crockett Heights and Midway.
What ZIP codes are in Crockett County?
The entire county is served by one ZIP code, 76943, based in Ozona.
Why is Crockett County named as it is?
It honors Davy Crockett, the frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.