Geography of Zavala County
Zavala County sits at roughly 28.87° N and 99.76° W in the South Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,299 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Crystal City, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 9,037 residents across 1,299 square miles, Zavala County has a population density of about 7.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Crystal City
Crystal City serves as the seat of government for Zavala County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Zavala County was established in 1884 and was named for Lorenzo de Zavala (1788–1836), signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first Vice-President of the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Maverick County.
Zavala County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Zavala County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Zavala County, Texas located?+
Zavala County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.866° N, 99.761° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48507. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Zavala County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Zavala County in square miles?+
Zavala County covers approximately 1,299 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 32nd out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Zavala County, Texas?+
Zavala County has a population of approximately 9,037 residents. With 1,299 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 7.0 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Zavala County the 173rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Zavala County?+
Crystal City is the county seat of Zavala County, Texas, which was organized in 1884 and named for Lorenzo de Zavala (1788–1836), signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the first Vice-President of the Republic of Texas. Zavala County was originally carved out of Maverick County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Zavala County are located in Crystal City.
Which Texas counties border Zavala County?+
Zavala County shares borders with Dimmit, Maverick, Uvalde, and Frio counties. These 4 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Zavala County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Zavala County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Zavala County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Zavala County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Zavala County is 48507, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 507. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.