Stephens County is a county in Texas, United States, on the eastern edge of the Western Cross Timbers region. It had a population of 9,101 people at the 2020 census and covers 921 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 897 square miles are land and 25 square miles are water, centred near 32°44′N 98°50′W.
Breckenridge is the county seat, and its postal code is 76424. The county has one incorporated city and a scatter of unincorporated communities and rural post offices. Stephens County is in the Central time zone. Texas has no civil townships, so this county’s places are organized only by incorporation status.
Towns & Villages in Stephens County
Stephens County has one incorporated city, Breckenridge, and a group of small unincorporated communities scattered across the rural county. Several once had their own post offices or oil-boom-era stores; most today are little more than a crossroads or a cluster of homes. CDP = census-designated place; Unincorp. = unincorporated community with no current census population figure.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge | City · seat | 5,624 | 76424 |
| Caddo | Unincorp. | — | 76429 |
| Crystal Falls | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| Eolian | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| Frankell | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| Gunsight | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| Harpersville | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| Ivan | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| La Casa | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
| Necessity | Unincorp. | — | 76424 |
Breckenridge is the only place in the county large enough to appear separately in the census; every other community listed here has never had its own reported population figure and is treated by the Census Bureau as part of the surrounding rural county. Caddo, in the northeast corner of the county, is the only other place with its own ZIP code — the rest are served out of Breckenridge.
ZIP Codes
- 76424 — Breckenridge (also serves Crystal Falls, Eolian, Frankell, Gunsight, Harpersville, Ivan, La Casa and Necessity)
- 76429 — Caddo
Stephens County has just two ZIP codes; Breckenridge’s alone covers roughly 96% of the county’s population.
Geography
Stephens County sits in the Western Cross Timbers, a belt of rolling, oak-studded hills and prairie between the Texas Hill Country and the High Plains. Hubbard Creek Lake, built on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, covers a large part of the county’s water area and supplies Breckenridge and neighboring towns. The Clear Fork itself crosses the northern part of the county on its way toward the main Brazos River.
Stephens County borders Young County to the north, Palo Pinto County to the east, Eastland County to the south, Shackelford County to the west, and Throckmorton County to the northwest.
Demographics
Stephens County had 9,101 residents at the 2020 census, down from a peak of 16,560 in 1930 during the county’s oil boom. Breckenridge, the county seat, is by far the largest community; Caddo is the only other place with its own ZIP code. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting the decline of the local oil economy since its early-20th-century peak. Population density is roughly 10 people per square mile, among the lower densities in North Central Texas.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas has shaped Stephens County’s economy since the 1918 Breckenridge oil boom, which briefly made the town one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. Ranching and some dryland farming continue across the county’s rural stretches, and Hubbard Creek Lake draws recreational fishing and boating traffic from across North Central Texas. Breckenridge is home to Breckenridge Independent School District and serves as the county’s retail and medical hub.
History
Stephens County was created from Bosque and Young counties in 1858 and organized in 1876. It was originally named Buchanan County, after sitting U.S. President James Buchanan, but was renamed in 1861 for Alexander H. Stephens, vice president of the Confederate States of America. The county’s population grew rapidly after oil was discovered near Breckenridge in 1918, peaking at 16,560 residents in 1930 before a long decline as the boom-era wells played out.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 180 and 183 and Texas State Highway 67 all pass through Breckenridge, the county’s road hub.
- Abilene — 45 miles southwest
- Fort Worth — 90 miles east
- Mineral Wells — 40 miles east
- Cisco — 25 miles south
The nearest commercial air service is Abilene Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive southwest of Breckenridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Stephens County, Texas?
It is in North Central Texas, in the Western Cross Timbers between Abilene and Fort Worth, bordered by Young, Palo Pinto, Eastland, Shackelford and Throckmorton counties.
What is the population of Stephens County?
Stephens County had a population of 9,101 at the 2020 census.
How big is Stephens County?
It covers 921 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 897 square miles are land and 25 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Stephens County?
Breckenridge is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Stephens County?
One incorporated city, Breckenridge, plus about a dozen unincorporated communities such as Caddo, Crystal Falls and Harpersville.
What ZIP codes are in Stephens County?
76424 (Breckenridge) and 76429 (Caddo).
Where does Stephens County get its name?
It was originally Buchanan County, renamed in 1861 for Alexander H. Stephens, vice president of the Confederate States of America.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.