Sutton County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau in the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 3,372 at the 2020 census and covers 1,454 square miles (3,770 km2) centred near 30°30′N 100°32′W.
Sonora is the county seat and its postal code is 76950. The county has one incorporated city and no other towns, villages, or census-designated places — among the most sparsely populated counties in Texas. Texas has no civil townships. Sutton County sits in the Central time zone, FIPS code 48435.
Towns & Villages in Sutton County
Sutton County has exactly one incorporated place. It is entirely rural outside Sonora, and the historic settlements of Fort Terrett and Owenville are ghost towns with no remaining population.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora | City · seat | — | 76950 |
ZIP Codes
- 76950 — Sonora (also serves the entire county, including the rural ranching land outside city limits)
A single ZIP code covers all of Sutton County; there is no second post office.
Geography
Sutton County lies on the Edwards Plateau, a limestone tableland cut by spring-fed draws that feed the Devils and North Llano rivers. The terrain is rolling to hilly rangeland used for sheep, goat, and cattle grazing, with almost no surface water beyond intermittent creeks and stock tanks. Elevations rise from roughly 2,000 feet along the eastern draws to over 2,400 feet on the divides in the west. The Caverns of Sonora, a limestone cave system on private ranchland southwest of the city, was opened to the public in 1960 and named a National Natural Landmark in 1965, and remains the county’s best-known natural feature. Vegetation is Edwards Plateau brushland — live oak, juniper, and mesquite over shortgrass range — typical of the Texas Hill Country’s western edge.
Sutton County borders Schleicher County to the north, Menard County to the northeast, Kimble County to the east, Edwards County to the south, Val Verde County to the southwest, and Crockett County to the west.
Demographics
Sutton County had 3,372 residents at the 2020 census, virtually all of them in or around Sonora, the only incorporated place. The county is 100 percent classified as rural. Median household income runs well below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting an economy still centered on livestock ranching rather than higher-wage sectors. Population density is under 3 people per square mile, among the lowest in the state.
Economy & Local Life
Ranching has driven Sutton County’s economy since settlement, with sheep and goat raising historically dominant — the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers’ Association organized here in 1915, and the Sonora Wool and Mohair Company opened in 1930. Mohair and wool from Sutton County ranches were once shipped nationally, and livestock auctions still anchor the local calendar. Oil and gas production on Edwards Plateau leases and tourism tied to the Caverns of Sonora supplement the ranching base, and hunting leases for white-tailed deer bring seasonal income to many ranch families. Sonora Independent School District and Sutton County government are the largest employers outside agriculture and energy.
History
Sutton County was created from Crockett County in 1887 and organized in 1890. It is named for John Schuyler Sutton, a Confederate Army officer. Fort Terrett, a U.S. Army post on the North Llano River, was established in 1852 to guard the western frontier route from raids and was abandoned within a few years, leaving only ruins that survive as a ghost-town site today. Owenville, an earlier ranching settlement, likewise faded once Sonora became the commercial center. Sonora was founded in 1885 as the county’s ranching hub and has remained its only incorporated town ever since — the county has never had a second chartered city, an unusual continuity even by West Texas standards.
Getting There
Interstate 10 crosses the county east–west through Sonora, and U.S. Highway 277 runs north–south through the same town.
- San Angelo — 75 miles north
- Del Rio — 95 miles south
- Junction — 55 miles east
- Ozona — 30 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is San Angelo Regional Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Sutton County?
It is in southwestern Texas, on the Edwards Plateau, about 75 miles south of San Angelo.
What is the population of Sutton County?
3,372 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Sutton County?
1,454 square miles (3,770 km2), almost entirely land.
What is the county seat of Sutton County?
Sonora, the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Sutton County?
Just one — Sonora. The rest of the county is unincorporated ranchland.
What ZIP codes are in Sutton County?
76950, covering Sonora and the entire county.
What is Sutton County known for?
The Caverns of Sonora, a National Natural Landmark limestone cave system, and its ranching heritage in sheep and mohair goats.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.