Mills County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau along the Colorado River. It had a population of 4,456 at the 2020 census and covers 748 square miles (1,938 km2) of land, centred near 31°30′N 98°35′W.
Goldthwaite is the county seat, and its postal code is 76844. The county has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, and roughly two dozen smaller unincorporated communities. Mills County sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Mills County
Mills County has one incorporated city (Goldthwaite, the seat), one incorporated town (Mullin), and about twenty unincorporated communities and rural crossroads scattered across the county’s ranch country. Most of the unincorporated places are historic settlements, former post-office stops, or single-church-and-cemetery communities with no current population figures on record.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goldthwaite | City · seat | 1,738 | 76844 |
| Mullin | Town | 130 | 76864 |
| Priddy | Unincorp. | — | 76870 |
| Star | Unincorp. | — | 76880 |
| Big Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blanket Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bozar | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buffalo | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Caradan | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Castor | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Democrat | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Double Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Duke Crossing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Durenville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ebony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ratler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Regency | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scallorn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Villa | Unincorp. | — | — |
Regency is best known today for the Regency Suspension Bridge over the Colorado River, one of the last historic wire-suspension bridges still open to traffic in Texas. Priddy and Star each once had their own school district and post office before consolidating into Goldthwaite’s.
ZIP Codes
- 76844 — Goldthwaite (also serves most of central Mills County)
- 76864 — Mullin (also serves Center City and Duke Crossing)
- 76870 — Priddy (also serves Big Valley and Regency)
- 76880 — Star (PO Box delivery only)
The remaining unincorporated communities have no standalone ZIP code and use one of the four post-office towns above for mail delivery.
Geography
Mills County lies on the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau, where the rolling Hill Country terrain gives way to the Grand Prairie. The Colorado River crosses the northeastern part of the county, and the Pecan Bayou and San Saba tributaries drain the western half. Elevation ranges from about 1,200 to 1,750 feet, with mesquite and live-oak rangeland covering most of the county.
Mills County borders Brown County to the northwest, Comanche County to the north, Hamilton County to the northeast, Lampasas County to the southeast, and San Saba County to the southwest.
Demographics
Mills County had 4,456 residents at the 2020 census. Goldthwaite, with 1,738 people, and Mullin, with 130, are the county’s only incorporated places; nearly all other residents live in unincorporated ranch country or one of the small crossroads communities listed above. The county’s median household income runs well below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting an economy centred on ranching and agriculture rather than the state’s urban job centers. Population density is roughly 6 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties in this part of the state.
Economy & Local Life
Cattle and sheep ranching, along with pecan farming along the Colorado River bottomland, drive most of Mills County’s economy. Goldthwaite is home to the county’s schools, courthouse, and small-business district, and hosts an annual county fair and rodeo each fall. Hunting leases for white-tailed deer and turkey are a significant seasonal source of local income, drawing visitors from across Texas each fall and winter.
History
Mills County was created on March 15, 1887, from parts of Brown, Comanche, Hamilton, and Lampasas counties, and organized that September following an August 30 election. It is named for John T. Mills, a judge on the Republic of Texas Supreme Court. Williams Ranch, an early settlement in the area, served as a headquarters for travelers and ranchers on the West Texas frontier before the county’s formal organization. Goldthwaite was chosen as county seat and grew around the railroad that reached it in the 1880s.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 84 and U.S. Highway 183 cross at Goldthwaite, the county’s main transportation hub.
- Brownwood — 30 miles northwest
- Lampasas — 30 miles southeast
- San Saba — 25 miles southwest
- Hamilton — 25 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Abilene Regional Airport, about 85 miles northwest of Goldthwaite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mills County, Texas?
It is in central Texas on the Edwards Plateau, about 100 miles northwest of Austin, between Brownwood and Lampasas.
What is the population of Mills County?
Mills County had a population of 4,456 at the 2020 census.
How big is Mills County?
The county covers 748 square miles (1,938 km2) of land.
What is the county seat of Mills County?
Goldthwaite is the county seat.
How many towns are in Mills County?
Mills County has one incorporated city (Goldthwaite), one incorporated town (Mullin), and about twenty smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Mills County?
Mills County’s ZIP codes are 76844 (Goldthwaite), 76864 (Mullin), 76870 (Priddy), and 76880 (Star).
What is Mills County known for?
It is known for cattle and pecan ranching along the Colorado River and for the historic Regency Suspension Bridge, one of the last operating wire-suspension bridges in Texas.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.