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Physical Features: Coastal Plains county; north rolling; sandy loam, black waxy soils; drains to Lavaca, Navidad rivers.

Economy: Varied manufacturing, oil and gas production, agribusinesses, tourism.

History: Coahuiltecan area; later a Comanche area until the 1850s. Anglo-Americans first settled in 1831. Germans and Czechs arrived 1880–1900. County created, organized, in 1846 from Colorado, Jackson, Gonzales, Victoria counties. Name is Spanish for cow, la vaca, from name of river.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 73.2; Black, 6.6; Hispanic, 19.2; Asian, 0.5; Other, 0.7; Two or more races, 1.4.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 231; deaths, 269; marriages, 109; divorces, 28.

Recreation: Deer, other hunting, fishing; wildflower trails, historic sites, churches; Hallettsville fiddlers frolics in April.

Minerals: Some oil, gas.

Agriculture: Cattle, forage, poultry, rice, corn, sorghum. Market value $50.5 million. Hunting leases.

HALLETTSVILLE (2,651) county seat; retail center; varied manufacturing; agribusiness; museum, library, hospital; domino, “42” tournaments; Kolache Fest in September.

Yoakum (5,973, partly in DeWitt County); cattle, leather, meat processing; hospital; museum; Tom Tom festival in June.

Shiner (2,131) Spoetzl brewery, varied manufacturing; museum; clinic; Half Moon Holidays in July.

Other towns include: Moulton (921) agribusiness, Town & Country Jamboree in July; Sublime (75); Sweet Home (360).

The Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner. Photo by Brownings (CC).