Menard County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 1,962 at the 2020 census and covers 902 square miles (2,340 km2) centred near 30°54′N 99°49′W.
Menard is the county seat and its postal code is 76859. The county has one incorporated city, one census-designated place, and a handful of unincorporated communities, but no organized townships. It observes Central Time.
Towns & Villages in Menard County
Menard County has six named places: one incorporated city (Menard, the seat), one census-designated place (Fort McKavett, built around a former U.S. Army post), and four unincorporated communities (Callan, Erna, Hext, and Saline). The abandoned townsite of Sunnyside is also on record but has no current population.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menard | City · seat | — | 76859 |
| Fort McKavett | CDP | — | 76841 |
| Hext | Unincorp. | — | 76848 |
| Callan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Erna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saline | Unincorp. | — | — |
An earlier version of this list also named Beyer Crossing, Fivemile Crossing, Fourmile Crossing, Tenmile Crossing, and Twentymile Crossing. These are low-water crossings on the San Saba and Llano rivers, not settlements, and are not carried into the table above.
ZIP Codes
- 76859 — Menard (also serves Callan, Erna, and Saline)
- 76841 — Fort McKavett
- 76848 — Hext
The county’s three ZIP codes cover all of its named places; the small unincorporated communities without their own post office use the Menard ZIP for mail.
Geography
Menard County sits on the Edwards Plateau, a limestone tableland cut by spring-fed rivers. The San Saba River crosses the county through the town of Menard, and the North and South forks of the Llano River rise in the county’s southern reaches. Terrain is a mix of rangeland, live-oak brush, and river-bottom pecan groves; the county holds 902 square miles of land and about 0.2 square miles of water.
Menard County borders Concho County to the north, McCulloch County to the northeast, Mason County to the east, Kimble County to the south, Schleicher County to the west, Sutton County to the southwest, and Tom Green County to the northwest. Ground rises gradually toward the county’s southern edge, where the Llano River watershed begins, in contrast to the lower San Saba valley through the county’s center.
Demographics
Menard County had 1,962 residents at the 2020 census, down from 2,242 in 2010, continuing a long decline from a mid-20th-century peak. Menard, the county seat, is by far the largest place, followed by the Fort McKavett CDP. About a third of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. Median age in the county is high, around 53 years, reflecting the rural, aging population typical of the Edwards Plateau. Household income runs well below the Texas median of $75,780; young adults leaving for larger cities is a long-running trend here. Population density is about 2.2 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching — cattle, sheep, and Angora goats — has anchored the county’s economy since the 19th century, alongside hunting leases for white-tailed deer and turkey that draw significant seasonal income to area landowners each autumn. Oil and gas production has contributed at times over the county’s history. Fort McKavett State Historic Site, the preserved remains of the 1852 U.S. Army fort, is the county’s best-known visitor destination, with more than a dozen restored stone-and-limestone buildings open to the public. Menard’s Main Street retains a small-town Hill Country character, with the county courthouse anchoring the town square.
History
Menard County was created from Bexar County in 1858 and organized in 1871. It is named for Michel Branamour Menard, the founder of Galveston, Texas. Fort McKavett, established by the U.S. Army in 1852 to protect the Texas frontier and San Antonio–El Paso mail route, garrisoned troops (including Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry) into the 1880s before it was abandoned; the site is now a state historic site interpreting frontier military life. Once the Army withdrew, a small farming and ranching community grew up around the abandoned post, taking the fort’s name and remaining a separate settlement from Menard to this day.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 83 and U.S. Highway 190 cross at Menard, the county’s main road junction.
- San Angelo — 45 miles north
- Junction — 25 miles south
- Mason — 30 miles east
- Eldorado — 30 miles southwest
The nearest commercial airport is San Angelo Regional Airport, north of the county via US 83.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Menard County, Texas?
It is on the Edwards Plateau in west-central Texas, about 45 miles south of San Angelo.
What is the population of Menard County?
1,962 residents at the 2020 census.
How big is Menard County?
902 square miles (2,340 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Menard County?
Menard is the county seat.
How many towns are in Menard County?
One incorporated city (Menard), one census-designated place (Fort McKavett), and four unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Menard County?
76859 (Menard), 76841 (Fort McKavett), and 76848 (Hext).
What is Fort McKavett?
A former U.S. Army frontier fort established in 1852, now preserved as Fort McKavett State Historic Site, with a small unincorporated community around it.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.