Runnels County

Runnels County, Texas

Runnels County, Texas

View of the Runnels County Courthouse in Ballinger, Texas. Photograph by Aualliso.
Runnels County, Texas

Runnels County, Texas

Map of Runnels County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Runnels County is in west central Texas. Ballinger, the county seat and largest town, is 225 miles west of Dallas and 200 miles northwest of Austin. The center of the county, just north of Ballinger, lies at 31°45' north latitude and 99°58' west longitude. Runnels County encompasses 1,060 square miles of broad, rolling prairie with a small section of the Edwards Plateau in the very southeastern corner of the county and is bounded on the north by Nolan and Taylor counties, on the east by Coleman County, on the south by Concho County, and on the west by Tom Green and Coke counties. The gently sloping land is broken in the northeastern section by a few very steep limestone hills, including the highest point in the county, Moro Mountain. In general, county elevation ranges from 1,650 to 2,350 feet above sea level. The Colorado River flows through the southern third of the county from northwest to southeast, passing out of the county at the mouth of the Concho River. A number of streams, including Mustang, Oak, Elm, and Valley creeks, rise in the northern part of the county and flow south into the Colorado. The main tributaries from the south, above the mouth of the Concho River, are Pony, Redbank, and Mule creeks. A large number of smaller, spring-fed streams help to provide a generally abundant water supply to the area. Three-quarters of the land in Runnels County is well adapted to cultivation. The soil, black waxy and sandy loam, is mostly shallow to moderately deep over limy earth, red beds, or limestone. Some soils are deep with loamy surface layers and clayey subsoils. The clay is an excellent source of material for the production of bricks, and the massive limestone deposits have provided building material to the surrounding towns. The vegetation of the county can best be described as a mesquite savanna. A small number of other trees, such as shin oak, cedar, and post oak, can be found. Along the numerous streams stands of willow, hackberry, walnut, and pecan are abundant. The grasslands are composed of buffalo grass, various gramas, purple triple-awn, and fox-tails. Under more moist conditions and in the stony outcroppings, little bluestem and other bunch grasses appear. Wildflowers flourish in great variety. Mineral resources include the brick-making clay and oil and gas deposits. Temperatures in this subtropical climate range from 34° to 96° F with generally dry winters and humid summers. The growing season is usually 228 days, with the last freeze around March 30 and the first freeze around November 13. The prevailing winds are from the south, but the strongest winds, generally accompanying cold fronts, are from the north. The average rainfall is twenty-two inches, two-thirds of which occurs from April through September.

The original inhabitants of Runnels County were probably the Jumano Indians, whom the early Spanish explorers encountered in the mid-1650s and traded with on a limited basis. In the 1680s the tribe had contact with the Juan Domínguez de Mendoza expedition. Although some controversy exists concerning its precise location, Domínguez de Mendoza established San Clemente Mission in the area of Runnels County in 1684. The temporary structure was abandoned after two months. At this time, the Jumanos were being forced out of the area by the Apaches, who were in turn attacked in the mid-1700s by the advancing Comanche Indians. For the next 100 years the Comanches reigned supreme over the area that was to become Runnels County. On October 28, 1852, companies A and K of the Eight United States Infantry established camp on Oak Creek, just beyond the present western boundary of the county. Shortly thereafter the camp was renamed Fort Chadbourne, in honor of Lt. Theodore H. Chadbourne, who was killed at the battle of Resaca de la Palma during the Mexican War. Between 1852 and 1861 Fort Chadbourne provided protection from the Indians for the few traders and stockmen who had settled in the county. The fort continued to be garrisoned by federal troops until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, when the troops were reassigned to more urgent duty. The fort was claimed by Confederate forces after the federal troops left, but they too had to abandon the fort as their presence in more strategic areas became necessary. Denied the protection of a manned fort, the small civilian population departed, and the area was practically deserted. The fort was regarrisoned in 1865 and finally abandoned by the federal government in 1867.

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Kathryn Pinkney | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Runnels County is classified as a County

Altitude Range

1915 ft – 2301 ft

Size

Land area does not include water surface area, whereas total area does

  • Land Area: 1,050.9 mi²
  • Total Area: 1,057.1 mi²

Temperature

January mean minimum: 31.2°F
July mean maximum: 94.4°F

Rainfall, 2019

24.0 inches

Population Count, 2019

10,264

Civilian Labor Count, 2019

4,351

Unemployment, 2019

5.9%

Property Values, 2019

$1,523,774,840 USD

Per-Capita Income, 2019

$39,816 USD

Retail Sales, 2019

$100,180,696 USD

Wages, 2019

$30,530,065 USD

Runnels County

Highlighted:
  • Runnels County
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Place Type Population (Year/Source) Currently Exists
Town 3,580 (2021) Yes
Lake Yes
Town
Town 10 (2009) Yes
Town 20 (2009) Yes
Town
Town
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Town 15 (2009) Yes
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Town
Town 30 (2009) Yes
Town 15 (2009) Yes
Town
Town
Town
Town 6 (2009) Yes
Town
Town
Lake Yes
Town 10 (2009) Yes
Town 35 (2009) Yes
Town
Town
Town 907 (2021) Yes
Town
Town
Town 50 (2009) Yes
Town
Lake Yes
Town 35 (2009) Yes
Town
Town
Town
Town 15 (2009) Yes
Town 197 (2021) Yes
Town
Town
Town
Town
Town
Town 10 (2009) Yes
Town
Town
Town 15 (2009) Yes
Town 113 (2021) Yes
Town 2,365 (2021) Yes

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