Falls County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Brazos River in the Blackland Prairie region south of Waco. It had a population of 16,968 at the 2020 census and covers 774 square miles (2,005 km2) centred near 31°16′N 96°56′W.
Marlin is the county seat, and its postal code is 76661. The county has five incorporated cities and towns and more than a dozen unincorporated communities. Falls County sits in the Central time zone and carries FIPS code 48145.
Towns & Villages in Falls County
Falls County has five incorporated places — one city that also serves as the county seat, three smaller cities and towns, and one village — alongside a long list of unincorporated communities and rural crossroads. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlin | City · seat | — | 76661 |
| Rosebud | City | — | 76570 |
| Lott | City | — | 76656 |
| Bruceville-Eddy | City | — | 76630 |
| Golinda | Village | — | — |
| Alto Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Barclay | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beacon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blevins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blue Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cego | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chilton | Unincorp. | — | 76632 |
| Coymack | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dott | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Durango | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eloise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Guda | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Highbank | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Long Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McClanahan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mooreville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mustang | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Prairie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Otto | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Perry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Reagan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rocky Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Satin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stranger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunrise | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Terry Chapel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tomlinson Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Travis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Triangle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Westphalia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilderville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilson | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zipperlandville | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 76661 — Marlin (also serves several surrounding rural communities)
- 76570 — Rosebud
- 76656 — Lott
- 76630 — Bruceville-Eddy
- 76632 — Chilton
Golinda and most of the county’s unincorporated communities share a ZIP with the nearest post-office town rather than carrying their own code.
Geography
Falls County straddles the Brazos River, which cuts across the county from northwest to southeast and gave the county its name from a set of falls that shifted location after an 1866 flood; the modern falls sit inside Falls on the Brazos Park a few miles outside Marlin. The terrain is Blackland Prairie farmland in the east grading into rolling post-oak country toward the west, with most of the county’s land in row-crop agriculture and cattle pasture.
Falls County borders Limestone County to the northeast, Robertson County to the southeast, Milam County to the south, Bell County to the southwest, and McLennan County to the northwest. Live directory pages: Limestone County, Robertson County, Milam County, Bell County, and McLennan County.
Demographics
Falls County recorded 16,968 residents at the 2020 census, spread across a mostly rural county whose two largest towns are Marlin and Rosebud. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting its agricultural economy and smaller population base. Population density is about 22 people per square mile, well under the statewide average.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — Falls County ranks among the top corn-producing counties in Texas, and cattle ranching and cotton farming are also significant. Marlin is home to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s William P. Hobby Unit, one of the county’s larger employers alongside the county government, area school districts, and health services tied to Marlin’s history as a mineral-water spa town in the early 20th century.
History
Falls County was created from Milam and Limestone counties in 1850 and organized in 1854, taking its name from the falls on the Brazos River near the future townsite of Marlin. In the early 1900s Marlin became a nationally known health resort after hot mineral wells were discovered while drilling for water, drawing visitors who came to “take the waters” at bathhouses and hotels; that era faded by mid-century as travel patterns changed. Cotton growing and cattle ranching shaped the county’s early economy, and rail lines built through Marlin in the late 1800s made it a shipping point for the surrounding farm communities.
Getting There
State Highway 6 and State Highway 7 both pass through Marlin, connecting the county to Waco to the northwest and points south toward Cameron and Rockdale.
- Waco — about 25 miles northwest
- Temple — about 30 miles southwest
- Bryan/College Station — about 55 miles southeast
- Austin — about 100 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is Waco Regional Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Falls County, Texas?
It’s in east-central Texas on the Brazos River, about 25 miles southeast of Waco.
What is the population of Falls County?
16,968 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Falls County?
774 square miles (2,005 km2), of which about 8.4 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Falls County?
Marlin is the county seat.
How many towns are in Falls County?
Five incorporated places — Marlin, Rosebud, Lott, Bruceville-Eddy, and Golinda — plus more than 30 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Falls County?
The main ones are 76661 (Marlin), 76570 (Rosebud), 76656 (Lott), 76630 (Bruceville-Eddy), and 76632 (Chilton).
Why is it called Falls County?
For a 10-foot waterfall on the Brazos River that shifted location after an 1866 storm; the county was organized in 1854, before the flood.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.