Geography of Zavala County
Small towns and open country define Zavala County. Its 9,037 residents are spread across 1,299 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the South Texas region at about 28.87° N, 99.76° W and is 32nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Zavala County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Antonio (about 86 miles away in a straight line) and Laredo (about 95 miles).
South Texas covers the brush country, the Rio Grande Valley and the ranchlands south of San Antonio. Its culture is strongly shaped by its Tejano heritage and its ties to Mexico, and its economy blends citrus and vegetable farming, ranching, trade and energy.
For a broader view of how Zavala County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
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
County government for Zavala County is based in Crystal City. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. For many residents, a trip to Crystal City combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Zavala County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Zavala County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
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.