Menard

Menard County

Updated on: December 20, 2021
Coordinates
30 54' 0" N, 99 49' 12" W (30.9, -99.82)
State
Texas
Region
Central West
County Seat:
Menard
Year Organized:
1858
Total Square Miles:
902.267
902 square miles (2,340 km2) land
0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) water
Population:
2124 (2017)
Population: 2,123 est. (2016) 2,242 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
2
Menard County Website
http://co.menard.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Concho (N)
McCulloch (NE)
Mason (E)
Kimble (S)
Schleicher (W)
Sutton (SW)
Tom Green (NW)

Menard County Town List

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
2124
25 to 64 Years of Age:
44.51%
65 Years of Age and Older:
31.74%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$65.8 M
Labor Force:
841
Unemployment Rate:
4.00%

County Contact

PO BOX 1038
County Courthouse
Menard, TX

http://co.menard.tx.us/

Menard County is located in central Texas. It is 250 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico. The county is bordered by seven counties: Mason, Sutton, Kimble, Concho, Schleicher, Tom Green, and McCulloch.

The county seat, Menard, is 130 miles away from San Antonio and at the intersection of state highway 29 and U.S. Highway 83. The cost of living is 71.1 compared to the U.S. average of 100. The average cost of living factors in essential things like healthcare, housing, transportation, and utilities.

Menard County Topography and Climate

Menard County’s center is approximately 3 miles southwest of Menard with the following coordinates; 30° 51’ north longitude and 99°50’ west longitude. The county contains 902 miles of rolling terrain within the Edward Plateau. The county’s elevation is between 1,700 to 2,400 feet asl and has dark, alkaline, and loamy soils. The grounds support juniper, live oak, grasses, and mesquite vegetation.

The whole county is within the Colorado River Basin. The San Saba River is the primary drainage for Menard County, and it traverses the county from west to east. Menard county is home to wildlife like deer, javelina, turkey, squirrel, bobcat, coyote, beaver, badger, opossum, fox, skunk, and raccoon. It is also home to several birds, fish, and reptiles. The county mainly produces gas, oil, and dolomite.

The county’s climate is subtropical, experiencing an average temperature of 32 degrees in January and 97 degrees F in July. The growing season is 220 days yearly, and the rainfall average is 22 inches annually.

History of Menard County

Menard County has supported the human population for more than a thousand years. About 10,000 years ago, the population was mainly a hunting and gathering community. In the early 1830s, Rezin and James Bowie traveled to the San Saba valley searching for silver, but they were unsuccessful.

The Menard area was once in the Fisher-Miller Land Grant made by the Texas government in 1842. The area experienced a slow settlement till a few years after the annexation of Texas state to the U.S.

In 1952, the U.S. War Department set up Camp San Saba(Fort McKavett) to protect the settlers from Indian attacks. Menard County was rooted from Bexar County in 1858 and sourced its name from Michel Branamour Menard, founder of Galveston.

The Camp attracted a lot of settlers. When the state withdrew troops from the Camp, the population began reducing. Some settlers left, and there were no incoming settlers in the area. The remaining settlers tried to form their government by choosing leaders, but they could not. The failure led to the county being assimilated into Mason county.

The Camp was opened again in 1868 and attracted more settlements. The county officially got its officials through elections in 1871. Due to late organization, the county doesn’t have any record of the secession and gubernatorial vote in 1870.

In August 1752, a mine was started by five Spaniards. The pit mines were named Cueva in Spanish but later changed to Boyd’s shaft. The mine did not contain any ore of value.

Menard County Offices

Menard County Judge is Honorable Brandon Corbin. His office contacts are phone: 325-396-4789 or fax: 325-396-2047. You can also send an email to [email protected].

The Menard County Attorney is Luke Davis. The attorney’s contacts are phone: 325-396-0866 or fax: 325-396-2047 or email: [email protected].

The county clerk is Christy Eggleston, who you can contact the office through phone: 325-396-4682 or fax: 325-396-2047. To access the county tax assessor-collector office, visit Menard County’s official website.

The county’s constable is Lee Callan(Precinct 1 Constable). The constable’s office contact is phone: 325-396-4705. The Justice of The Peace for Menard County is Robert C. Hernandez. The office is open from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm with a break from noon to 1 pm and Fridays the office closes at 4 pm.

Living in Menard County

The cost of living in Menard County is 69 compared to the US average of 100. This average factors major necessities like health care, transport, miscellaneous, grocery, housing, transport, and median home cost.

The unemployment rate in Menard County is 5.7 compared to the U.S average of 6. The average household income is $40,568 while the US average is $57,652.

The crime rate runs from 1 to 100. Menard county’s violent crime stands at 17.3  and property crime 32.1. Menard County consists of approximately 60% of the married population. Also, the bigger population is made up of whites then hispanic races, and the rest of the races are not as prominent.

Menard County has 3 public schools. The total spending per student is $13,653. The teacher-student ratio is 1:10 and counsellor children ratio is 1:136. Menard County has 92 medical practitioners per 100,000 people. The health cost index is 78.6, water quality index 50, superfund index 100, and air quality index 79. The air quality index factors in pollutants from EPA and models the risks related to each pollutant.

Housing in Menard County

Menard County median home cost is $211,400. The home appreciation in the previous decade had maintained at 69%. Menard County real estate owners are on average 58 years old.

Menard County Politics

Menard County is a strongly conservative community. Since 2000, Menard County has voted Republican.

Menard County Attractions

Menard County has several attraction sites for everyone to enjoy. They include Historic Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Historic Menard County Courthouse, Menardville Museum Train Depot, Menardville Museum Train Depot, Presidio de San Saba.

Presidio de San Saba is a historical location that houses the ruins of the Spanish Fort. This site is along the San Saba River and approximately 2 miles west of Menard. Most of the area’s walls have been rebuilt. The fort has tables and restrooms for visitors, and it is open for touring all year round. The site also has a lot of parking space and is free to visit.