Somervell County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau along the Paluxy and Brazos rivers. It had a population of 9,205 at the 2020 census and covers 192 square miles (500 km2) centred near 32°13′N 97°46′W.
Glen Rose is the county seat, and its postal code is 76043. The county has one incorporated city and a handful of small unincorporated communities. It sits in the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Somervell County
Somervell County has just one incorporated place — Glen Rose, the county seat — plus several small unincorporated communities scattered along its rural roads. Texas counties have no civil townships, so the table below omits that column.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Rose | City · seat | — | 76043 |
| Nemo | Unincorp. | — | 76043 |
| Rainbow | Unincorp. | — | 76043 |
| Glass | Unincorp. | — | 76043 |
| Georges Creek | Unincorp. | — | 76043 |
| Seven Knobs | Unincorp. | — | 76043 |
All of the county’s small unincorporated communities are served out of the Glen Rose post office, since Somervell is Texas’ second-smallest county by area and has no other post office town.
ZIP Codes
- 76043 — Glen Rose (also serves Nemo, Rainbow, Glass, Georges Creek and Seven Knobs)
Every address in the county is covered by the single Glen Rose ZIP code; none of the unincorporated communities has its own postal designation.
Geography
Somervell County sits on the Edwards Plateau where it meets the North Central Texas prairie, cut by the Paluxy River and the Brazos River. About 5.5 square miles (14 km2), or 2.9% of the county, is covered by water, mostly in the Brazos’s Squaw Creek Reservoir, built to cool the Comanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station. It is Texas’ second-smallest county by land area, larger only than Rockwall County.
Somervell County borders Hood County to the north, Johnson County to the east, Bosque County to the south, and Erath County to the west.
Demographics
The county’s 2020 population of 9,205 is concentrated in and around Glen Rose, its only incorporated city and largest community, with the unincorporated communities of Nemo and Rainbow the next-largest population clusters. Median household income in the county runs close to the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting a mix of ranching families and Comanche Peak plant employees. Population density is about 48 people per square mile, among the lowest in the Dallas–Fort Worth region.
Economy & Local Life
The Comanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station, one of only two nuclear plants in Texas, is the county’s largest employer and dominates its tax base. Tourism built around Dinosaur Valley State Park and the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center draws visitors to Glen Rose year-round, supporting a cluster of ranches-turned-attractions, restaurants and lodging. Cattle ranching and hay production remain part of the local economy outside the Glen Rose city limits. The county is part of the Granbury micropolitan statistical area.
History
Somervell County was organized in 1875 from part of Hood County, and Glen Rose was chosen as its seat. The county is named for Alexander Somervell, secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and leader of an 1842 expedition against Mexico. In 1908, dinosaur tracks discovered along the Paluxy riverbed near Glen Rose drew national scientific attention and later led to the creation of Dinosaur Valley State Park.
Getting There
U.S. Route 67 and Texas State Highway 144 are the county’s main highways.
- Granbury — 12 miles north
- Cleburne — 25 miles northeast
- Stephenville — 25 miles west
- Fort Worth — 55 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, about 65 miles northeast of Glen Rose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Somervell County?
Somervell County is in north-central Texas, on the Edwards Plateau southwest of Fort Worth.
What is the population of Somervell County?
Somervell County had a population of 9,205 at the 2020 census.
How big is Somervell County?
Somervell County covers 192 square miles (500 km2), making it Texas’ second-smallest county by area.
What is the county seat of Somervell County?
Glen Rose is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Somervell County?
Somervell County has one incorporated city, Glen Rose, and several unincorporated communities including Nemo, Rainbow, Glass, Georges Creek and Seven Knobs.
What ZIP codes are in Somervell County?
The entire county is covered by the 76043 ZIP code, based in Glen Rose.
What is Somervell County known for?
Somervell County is home to the Comanche Peak Nuclear Generating Station and Dinosaur Valley State Park, where Cretaceous-era dinosaur tracks were discovered in 1908.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.