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Physical Features: On grassy prairie south of San Antonio, drained by Atascosa River, tributaries; mesquites, other brush.

Economy: Coal plant, oil, commuters to San Antonio.

History: Coahuiltecan tribal area; later Apaches and Comanches. Families from Mexico established ranches in mid-1700s. Anglo-Americans arrived in 1840s. County created from Bexar District in 1856 and organized that same year. Atascosa means boggy in Spanish.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 33.9; Black, 1.2; Hispanic, 64.0; Asian, 0.6; Other, 1.3; Two or more races, 1.1.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 707; deaths, 408; marriages, 271; divorces, 61.

Recreation: Quail, deer hunting; museums; river park; theater group.

Minerals: Lignite, oil, gas.

Agriculture: Beef cattle, peanuts, vegetable farming. Some 25,000 acres irrigated. Market value $85 million.

JOURDANTON (4,276) county seat; coal mining; hospital; park, walking trail; chili cookoff in May, Czech Day in July.

PLEASANTON (10,657) farming, oil-field drilling, health services; cowboy homecoming in August, Longhorn museum; hospital.

Other towns include: Campbellton (350); Charlotte (1,812); Christine (413); Leming (1,085); Lytle (2,893) greenhouse, peanuts processed; Peggy (22); Poteet (3,520) government/services, library, strawberry festival in April.

A farm tractor in fields near Charlotte. Photo by Robert Plocheck.