Goliad County is a county in Texas, United States, along the San Antonio River in the coastal plain south of San Antonio. It had a population of 7,012 at the 2020 census and covers 859 square miles (2,220 km2) centred near 28°39′N 97°26′W.
Goliad is the county seat, and its postal code is 77963. The county has one incorporated city and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities, no civil townships, and sits in the Central time zone. Goliad County is part of the Victoria, Texas Combined Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Goliad County
Goliad County has one incorporated city and about a dozen small unincorporated communities scattered along the ranchland and river bottoms outside town. “CDP” denotes a Census Bureau-defined place with no city government; “Unincorp.” denotes a community, crossroads, or locale with no municipal government at all.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goliad | City · seat | — | 77963 |
| Angel City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Berclair | Unincorp. | — | 78107 |
| Charco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cologne | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fannin | Unincorp. | — | 77960 |
| Kilgore | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Melo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Melrose | Unincorp. | — | — |
| O’Donnell Place | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sarco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Schroeder | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scurlock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Weesatche | Unincorp. | — | 77993 |
| Weser | Unincorp. | — | — |
Goliad is the only incorporated place in the county; every other settlement listed is an unincorporated community, ranch crossroads, or rural locale with no city government of its own.
ZIP Codes
- 77963 — Goliad (the county’s primary ZIP, standard delivery)
- 77993 — Weesatche (PO Box only)
- 78107 — Berclair (PO Box only)
- 77960 — Fannin (PO Box only)
The remaining unincorporated communities — Angel City, Charco, Cologne, Kilgore, Melo, Melrose, O’Donnell Place, Riverdale, Sarco, Schroeder, Scurlock, and Weser — do not have their own post offices and are served by one of the four ZIPs above depending on location.
Geography
Goliad County lies in the coastal plain of South Texas, split by the San Antonio River, which runs south through the county past the town of Goliad on its way to the Guadalupe River and San Antonio Bay. The terrain is a mix of river-bottom timber and open ranchland, and cattle and hunting-lease operations cover most of the county outside the river corridor.
Goliad County borders DeWitt County to the north, Victoria County to the northeast, Refugio County to the southeast, Bee County to the southwest, and Karnes County to the northwest.
Demographics
Goliad County had 7,012 residents at the 2020 census, a density of roughly 8 people per square mile. Goliad, the county seat, and Weesatche are the county’s two largest named communities. The Texas median household income was $75,780 (2023 ACS); Goliad County, a small rural county with limited local wage-paying industry outside agriculture, oil and gas services, and government, typically runs below the state median.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching, hunting leases, and oil and gas field services are the backbone of the local economy, alongside county and school-district government employment based in Goliad. Goliad State Park and Historic Site, built around the restored Presidio La Bahía and Mission Espíritu Santo, draws visitors for the annual re-enactment of the 1836 Goliad Massacre each March, one of the county’s best-known local events.
History
Goliad County was established in 1836 and organized the following year, one of the original counties created after Texas independence. It is named for Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Mexican independence leader — “Goliad” is an anagram of “Hidalgo” minus the silent H. The county seat, Goliad, was already an established Spanish colonial settlement around Presidio La Bahía and Mission Espíritu Santo before the county was formed, and it was the site of the March 1836 Goliad Massacre, in which Mexican forces under General José de Urrea executed more than 300 captured Texian soldiers under Colonel James Fannin — the community of Fannin in the county carries his name. General Ignacio Zaragoza, who commanded Mexican forces at the 1862 Battle of Puebla commemorated on Cinco de Mayo, was born in Goliad County.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 183 and U.S. Highway 59 cross at Goliad, and State Highway 239 runs south toward Refugio. Approximate distances from Goliad:
- Victoria — 27 miles northeast
- Beeville — 25 miles southwest
- Cuero — 30 miles north
- Corpus Christi — 65 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Victoria Regional Airport; San Antonio International Airport, about 95 miles northwest, offers a much wider range of flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Goliad County?
It is in South Texas, along the San Antonio River between Victoria and Beeville, roughly 95 miles southeast of San Antonio.
What is the population of Goliad County?
7,012 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Goliad County?
859 square miles (2,220 km2), of which about 7.4 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Goliad County?
Goliad, the only incorporated city in the county.
How many towns are in Goliad County?
One incorporated city, Goliad, plus about a dozen unincorporated communities including Berclair, Charco, Fannin, and Weesatche.
What ZIP codes are in Goliad County?
77963 (Goliad), 77993 (Weesatche), 78107 (Berclair), and 77960 (Fannin).
What is Goliad County known for?
The 1836 Goliad Massacre at Presidio La Bahía, one of the deadliest single events of the Texas Revolution, re-enacted there every March.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.