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Physical Features: Central county; hilly, draining to Llano and San Saba rivers and their tributaries; limestone, red soils; varied timber.

Economy: Sand plants, agriculture, tourism, hunting.

History: Lipan Apaches in area, driven south by Comanches around 1790. German settlers arrived in the mid-1840s, followed by Anglo-Americans. Mexican immigration increased after 1930. County created from Bexar and Gillespie counties in 1858, organized the same year; named for Mexican War victim U.S. Army Lt. G.T. Mason.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 72.7; Black, 1.0; Hispanic, 25.4; Asian, 0.3; Other, 1.1; Two or more races, 1.0.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 51; deaths, 44; marriages, 26; divorces, 18.

Recreation: Hunting, fishing; kayaking, rock crawling, camping; historic homes of stone; prehistoric Indian artifacts exhibit; Fort Mason, where Robert E. Lee served; bat cave; wildflower drives in spring, Roundup rodeo in July.

Minerals: Sand, topaz, granite.

Agriculture: Beef cattle, hay, meat goats. Market value $51.4 million. Hunting leases important.

MASON (2,172) county seat; agriculture, hunting, nature tourism; museums, historical district, homes, rock fences built by German settlers; wild game dinner in November.

Other towns include: Art (14), Fredonia (55), Pontotoc (125).

Bluebonnets at the church at Art. Photo by Joe Michael Feist.