Formed January 22, 1858 (148th county)
Zapata County (13,888), Zapata* (5,089)
The Modern courthouse in Zapata City was built in 2004. It is at the corner of Hidalgo and 6th streets. The site is one block northeast of United States Highway 83. The current tan and red brick courthouse replaced an older version, which is now under water in the Falcon Reservoir of the Rio Grande. The architects were Morgan Spear and Associates. After the January 22, 1858 founding of the county, Carrizo was the first county seat followed by San Bartolo. Zapata became the county seat in 1901 but the city was relocated when the reservoir was formed. The county was originally part of Webb and Starr counties and the 148th county. Zapata County and City were named for Colonel Antonio Zapata, a local rancher and politician.
Zapata County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners. One District Court Judge serves Zapata and Webb counties and One County Court Judge serves Zapata County. The county is far South Texas along the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande is the western and southern borders of the county with Mexico across the river. The county center is 14.7 miles Northeast of Zapata. The county is surrounded clockwise by Webb, Jim Hogg, and Starr counties and Mexico.
The area of the county is 997 square miles. It is 73 out of 254 in the state. It ranks 143 out of 254 in population in the state. It has a density of 13.9 persons per square mile making it 154 out of 254 in the state. Zapata County has 0.0% of its population in its incorporated areas since there are no incorporated cities. United States Highway 83 crosses north to south from Webb County into Starr County. The county is a flat J shape. There are few communities in the county but Zapata, the largest, is near the center, north/south, but on the Rio Grande against the western border. Zapata is the county seat and the largest populated area. It is 36.6% of the county population. The county and county seat are pronounced ZA-PA-TA.
Zapata (unincorporated)
