Hamilton County is a county in Texas, United States, on the eastern edge of the Cross Timbers region where the Leon River crosses toward the Brazos. It had a population of 8,222 at the 2020 census and covers 836 square miles (2,170 km2) centred near 31°42′N 98°07′W.
Hamilton is the county seat, and its postal code is 76531. The county has two incorporated cities, one town, one census-designated place, and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities. Hamilton County observes Central time and carries FIPS code 48193.
Towns & Villages in Hamilton County
Hamilton County has 26 named places on record: two incorporated cities, one town, one CDP, and 22 unincorporated communities and crossroads. “CDP” marks a Census Bureau statistical place with no city government; “Unincorp.” marks a community with no municipal boundary at all.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | City · seat | 2,895 | 76531 |
| Hico | City | 1,335 | 76457 |
| Evant | Town | — | — |
| Carlton | CDP | — | 76436 |
| Aleman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ballard Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairview | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fairy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gentry’s Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Indian Gap | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jonesboro | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lanham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McGirk | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midway | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ohio | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Parsley Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pecan Wells | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pottsville | Unincorp. | — | 76565 |
| Schoolerville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shive | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Slab Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Springdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Springtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spurlin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sunshine | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vista | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whiteway | Unincorp. | — | — |
Evant sits on the Hamilton–Coryell county line, and part of its town limits extend into Coryell County. Cranfills Gap, just across the county line, lies mostly in Bosque County and is not counted here.
ZIP Codes
- 76531 — Hamilton
- 76457 — Hico
- 76436 — Carlton
- 76565 — Pottsville
Most of the county’s unincorporated communities have no post office of their own and use one of these four ZIPs, depending on which town lies closest.
Geography
Hamilton County lies where the Cross Timbers give way to the Grand Prairie, with rolling hills, cedar brakes, and cropland along the creek bottoms. The Leon River crosses the county on its way to join the Brazos, and several smaller creeks — Pecan, Bee House, and Shanghai among them — feed it from the surrounding uplands. The county borders Erath County to the north, Bosque County to the northeast, Coryell County to the southeast, Lampasas County to the south, Mills County to the southwest, and Comanche County to the northwest.
Demographics
Hamilton County had 8,222 residents at the 2020 census. Hamilton, the county seat, is the largest community at 2,895, followed by Hico at 1,335. The county’s median household income runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting its rural, agricultural economy. Population density is about 10 people per square mile, one of the lower figures among counties this close to the Interstate 35 corridor.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle ranching and hay production anchor the county’s economy, with pecan orchards along the Leon River bottoms a secondary crop. Hico has built a tourism trade around its restored downtown, the Billy the Kid Museum, and the grave of Brushy Bill Roberts, who spent his final years there claiming to be the outlaw. Hamilton serves as the county’s trade and government center, home to the county courthouse and Hamilton Independent School District.
History
The Texas legislature created Hamilton County in 1858 out of parts of Comanche, Bosque, and Lampasas Counties, and settlers organized it that same year. The county is named for James Hamilton Jr., a former South Carolina governor who helped raise loans for the Republic of Texas in its early, cash-poor years. Ranching and cotton farming drove the county’s growth through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Hico later became known nationally for Brushy Bill Roberts’s claim to be Billy the Kid, a story the town still markets today.
Getting There
U.S. Highways 84 and 281 cross at Hamilton, and State Highways 6, 22, 36, and 220 fan out from the county across central Texas.
- Stephenville — 30 miles north via US-281
- Gatesville — 25 miles southeast via SH-36
- Lampasas — 35 miles south via US-281
- Comanche — 25 miles northwest via SH-6/SH-36
The nearest commercial airport is Waco Regional Airport, about 65 miles east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hamilton County, Texas?
It sits in central Texas on the Leon River, between the Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie, roughly 65 miles northwest of Waco.
What is the population of Hamilton County?
8,222 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Hamilton County?
836 square miles (2,170 km2), almost all of it land.
What is the county seat of Hamilton County?
Hamilton is the county seat.
How many towns are in Hamilton County?
Two incorporated cities (Hamilton and Hico), one town (Evant), one CDP (Carlton), and about 22 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Hamilton County?
76531 (Hamilton), 76457 (Hico), 76436 (Carlton), and 76565 (Pottsville).
Why is Hico famous?
Brushy Bill Roberts, who claimed late in life to be the outlaw Billy the Kid, is buried in Hico, and the town runs a museum built around his story.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.