Click to enlarge.	Map Legend.

Physical Features: Largest county, with area slightly less than that of Connecticut plus Rhode Island; mountains, canyons, distinctive geology, plant life, animals.

Economy: Agriculture, tourism,  government/services, Sul Ross State University, mining.

History: Pueblo culture had begun when Spanish explored in the 1500s. Mescalero Apaches in Chisos Mountains; Comanches raided in area. Ranching developed in northern part in the 1880s, with Mexican agricultural communities along river. County created, organized, in 1887 from Presidio County; named for Henry P. Brewster, Republic secretary of war.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 49.8; Black, 1.7; Hispanic, 45.2; Asian, 1.7; Other, 1.9; Two or more races, 2.3.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 96; deaths, 81; marriages, 83; divorces, 0.

Recreation: Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River, Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area; ghost towns, scenic drives; hunting; museum; rockhound areas; cavalry post, Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center at Lajitas; cowboy poetry and Western art show in Feburary; Terlingua chili cookoff in November.

Minerals: Bentonite.

Agriculture: Beef cattle, meat goats, horses. Market value $16.3 million. Hunting leases important.

ALPINE (5,965) county seat; ranch trade center, tourism, varied manufacturing; Sul Ross State University; hospital.

Marathon (394) tourism, ranching center, Gage Hotel, Marathon Basin quilt show in October.

Also, Basin (30); Study Butte (244), and Terlingua (43).

Sul Ross State University sits on a hillside at Alpine. Photo by Robert Plocheck.