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Physical Features: South Coastal Plains; level to rolling; sandy to dark soils; grassy with mesquite brush; Lake Corpus Christi.

Economy: Oil and gas production, agriculture, nature tourism.

History: Coahuiltecans, driven out by Lipan Apaches in 1775. Tomás Sánchez established settlement in 1754. Anglo-American settlement  began in 1878. County created 1911 from Nueces County; organized 1912; named for developer J.B. Wells Jr.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 19.63; Black, 0.61; Hispanic, 78.81; Asian, 0.40; Other, 0.55.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 674; deaths, 369; marriages, 233; divorces, 163.

Recreation: Hunting; fiestas; Tejano Roots hall of fame; South Texas museum.

Minerals: Oil, gas, caliche.

Agriculture: Cattle, sorghum, corn, cotton, dairies, goats, wheat, watermelons, sunflowers, peas, hay. Market value $61 million.

ALICE (19,104) county seat; oil-field service center, agribusiness, government/services; hospital; Bee County College extension; Fiesta Bandana (from original name of city) in May.

Other towns include: Alfred (91); Ben Bolt (1,600); Orange Grove (1,318); Pernitas Point (274, partly in Live Oak County); Premont (2,653) wildflower tour in spring; Rancho Alegre (1,704); Sandia (379).

Also, part [900] of San Diego (4,488).

The Jim Wells County Courthouse in Alice. Photo by Robert Plocheck.