Mason County

Mason County, Texas

Mason County, Texas

Scenery of Ranchland in Mason County, Texas. Photograph by William L. Farr.

Mason County is located in Central Texas, just south of the geographic center of the state. The county's center lies at approximately 30°45' north latitude and 99°11' west longitude, just over ninety-five miles northwest of Austin. The county covers an area of 935 square miles in the region commonly called the Hill Country; its elevation ranges from 1,300 to 2,200 feet. The western part of the county lies on the edge of the Edwards Plateau and is characterized by generally flat terrain surfaced by shallow, stony clays and loams. The eastern part of the county, in the Llano basin, is characterized by rolling to steep terrain surfaced by deeper sandy and clayey loams. The primary natural resources are derived from the limestone and granite formations underlying these areas and include quarried stone, crushed rock and gravel, sand, and lime. Mineral resources include granitic quartz, feldspar, iron, lead, manganese, and topaz, but none appears in significant amounts. The county flora comprises an assortment of grasses, scrub brush, creosote bush, and cacti, with open stands of various hardwoods, primarily live oak, mesquite, and Ashe juniper. Native pecan trees can be found along the banks of creeks and rivers. The county's abundant wildlife, particularly deer, wild turkey, dove, and quail, has made it a popular hunting and fishing area. The Llano River, which flows west to east through the center of the county, drains the majority of Mason County. Other rivers include the James River, which enters the Llano from the south, and the San Saba River, which crosses the extreme northwestern corner of the county. There are also a number of spring-fed creeks. The western edge of the county overlies the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) aquifer, and portions of the county overlie the Hickory Sandstone and Ellenburger-San Saba aquifers. Rainfall averages approximately 25 inches a year, temperatures range from an average high of 97° F in July to an average low of 37° in January, and the growing season lasts approximately 217 days.

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

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County Map of Texas

Mason County

Highlighted:
  • Mason County

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Mason County is classified as a County

Altitude Range

1180 ft – 2217 ft

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Mason County by the Numbers

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Population Counts

Mason County
Pop. Year Source
4,274 2019 United States Census Bureau

Civilian Labor Counts

Mason County
People Year Source
1,657 2019 Texas Workforce Commission

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Per Capita Income (USD) Year Source
$44,601 2019 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

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Property Values

Mason County
USD ($) Year Source
2,632,251,160 2019 State Property Tax Board

Retail Sales

Mason County
USD ($) Year Source
21,818,790 2019 State Comptroller of Public Accounts

Wages

Mason County
USD ($) Year Source
9,849,378 2019 Texas Workforce Commission

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Unemployment Percentage Year Source
6.0 2019 Texas Workforce Commission

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Rainfall (inches) Year Source
29.2 2019 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Min. (January Average, °F) Max. (July Average, °F) Year Source
32.1 92.3 2019 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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Land Area

Mason County
Area (square miles) Year Source
928.8 2019 United States Census Bureau

Total Area

Mason County
Area (square miles) Year Source
932.2 2019 United States Census Bureau