Tiny Texas Towns: Just How Tiny Are They?
While I think all Texans like to believe everything is bigger in Texas, I not only believe it, I quote it on a daily basis. Like when I go through the drive-thru and order my sweet tea and they ask me "what size?" I always say "everything is bigger in Texas so give me the biggest you got!"
That said, everything is not bigger in Texas. Yes, I know that is hard to believe. Nonetheless, I just learned from the Only In Your State website that if you want to live in a small Texas town you're in luck. Texas has hundreds of tiny towns based on its population base. One said town boasts only six residents.
Before we get started let's look at how the census numbers have changed. From 2010 to 2021, Harris County reported a growth spurt of over 620,400 people. However, in Potter County, they had the biggest drop in population with over 4,700 fewer people.
Let's get started looking at the Tiniest Towns of Texas. Not all the numbers for the 2020-2021 census are available yet.
10 - Brundage has a population of 27 people total and it's the 10th tiniest town in Texas, located about 100 miles southwest of San Antonio in Dimmit County. It is mostly mesquite, cedar, and brushland. The town was founded in 1909 and quickly grew with the addition of the new post office and rail station in 1910. In 1925 the population dropped because of the drought, and by 1945 the post office was gone.
9 - Corral City has a whopping population of 27, and it's located just southwest of Denton. Corral City began as a mobile home park before it was incorporated in 1973. Today, the town consists of a convenience store and a lone liquor store. Corral City uses the services of nearby Argyle for fire, police, and court services. In 1980 the population was 85, it decreased to 46 in 1990, went back up to 89 in 2000, then back down in 2010 to an impressive 27 Texans.
8 - Laredo Ranchettes had a population of 22 Texans at the last count. Laredo Ranchettes is located in Webb County on the east side of Laredo, Texas. Laredo Ranchettes in 2000 had a population of 1,845 people. It's suspected that weather played a big role in the city's downsizing. The population dropped to 22 in 2010.
7 - Aguilares hollers Blackjack, with its population of 21. This tiny town is just east of Laredo. Aguilares is just past Laredo Ranchettes and is an unincorporated community with a population of 21 according to the 2010 census numbers. The town began as a ranching community in the 1870s. By 1910 the town grew to a population of 1,500. The population dropped to 300 and by 1990 the population was 10. However, in the year 2000, the population swelled to 37.
6 - Mustang is another Blackjack population of 21. It's just 60 miles southeast of Dallas on Interstate 45, was founded in 1858, and was named after Mustang Creek. By 1890 the population was 75. In 1951 the town had a store, a gas station, and an icehouse. By 2013, the only business still operating in Mustang is said to be a strip joint.
5 - Los Ybanez in Dawson County has only 19 people living there. Los Ybanez is in west Texas, 65 miles south of Lubbock. The tiny town was organized in 1978 and formally incorporated in 1983 as one of several Texas municipalities that were organized in order to legally sell alcohol. By 1985 the town had 300 people living there with the only business being a drive-thru liquor store with a miniature toy police car in front (see pic below).
4 - Mentone has a population of 19, and it's on the outskirts of Pecos, Texas. Mentone was created by oil prospectors in 1925. In 1933, Mentone had a population of 600 but by 1980 it had less than 100 people living in the town. Interestingly, Mentone is the county seat of Loving County, and the least populated county in the entire U.S.
3 - Quail also has a population total of 19 and is tied for third place as the tiniest town in Texas. Quail is located near the panhandle of Texas and was named because of the overabundance of quail in that area. In 1890, early settlers claimed their homesteads and by 1902 a post office was built. By 1930 the population was booming with 300 residents. Today, there are only a few homes and a church.
2 - Tulsita has a population of 14 residents and is the second smallest town in the Lone Star State. Tulsita is 90 miles north of Corpus Christi in Bee County. In 1958 Tulsita had 50 residents and four businesses. In 1968 the population dropped to 25. Today, the town has a handful of houses, and the rest is wide open land.
1 - Guerra is the tiniest town in the Lone Star State with a population of 6 people. The smallest town in Texas is located on Ranch Road 649, 90 miles northwest of McAllen, which is in Jim Hogg County. Early Mexican settlers initially called the town El Colorado because of the red cattle found in the area.
Guerra was established in the late 1800s. In 1906, the Guerra post office was built and was still in service as late as 1990. Guerra grew to 100 residents and 16 businesses in 1914. The population was six according to the 2010 census. Sources: Wikipedia, US Census 2010
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