Atascosa

Formed January 1, 1856 (101^st county)

Atascosa County (44,911), Jourdanton (3,871), Pleasanton (8,934)

The Mission Revival courthouse was built in 1912 on the north side of Texas State Highway 97 and just east of Texas State Highway 16.  The corner towers and tiled roofs make it unique among the state’s courthouses.  Henry T. Phelps created the brown brick design.  The courthouse was renovated in 1976 and 2003.  A Justice Center was added in 2018.  Early county seats were located in Amphion (1856), Pleasanton (1858), and Jourdanton (1911).  The county was formed on January 1, 1856 from Bexar County and the 101^st county.  Atascosa County name is Spanish for an impediment to travel on such as mud, bog, sandbar, etc., and the nearby river was probably named first.  The county seat was named for Jourdan Campbell, a local land promoter. 

Atascosa County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  Two District Court Judges serve Atascosa, Frio, Karnes, La Salle, and Wilson counties and Two County Court Judges serve Atascosa County.  The county is located just south of San Antonio, Texas in south central Texas.  The county center is 1.8 miles Northeast of Jourdanton.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, Live Oak, McMullen, La Salle, Frio, and Medina counties. 

The area of the county is 1236 square miles.  It is 41 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 70 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 36.34 persons per square mile making it 92 out of 254 in the state.  Atascosa County has 44.9% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 35 cuts the very tip of the northwest corner from Bexar to Medina counties.  Interstate Highway 37 comes from Bexar County and goes to the southeast, Live Oak County.  United States Highway 281 also comes from Bexar County and joins Interstate Highway 37 into Live Oak County.  The county is shaped like a tall rectangle with its northeast corner cut off.  Jourdanton is slightly south of center.  Pleasanton is to the northeast of Jourdanton.  The county is pronounced AT-A-SKOE-SA.  Jourdanton is the county seat and Pleasanton is the largest city.  Jourdanton is 8.6% of the county population while Pleasanton is 19.9% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced JUR-DAN-TON.  This county is in the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.