Maps of Coleman County

Coleman County is located in the central part of Texas with longitude 99°25' west and latitude 31950' north running through the center of the county.  When first created in 1858, it contained 1,302 square miles, but through more accurate surveying, now contains 1,280 square miles, and extends about 44 miles from north to south and 29 miles from east to west, with the Colorado River being the southern boundary.  The highest elevation is in the northwest corner of the county at 2250 feet.  The county lies in the West Texas Rolling Prairie of the North Central Plains, which is an extension of the Great Western Lower Plains, one of the four major divisions of North America that meet in Texas.  The county has only two distinctive physiographic areas: the first is gently sloping uplands; the second is the dramatic mesa-like mountains scattered throughout the county.  About 60 million years ago the entire county was covered by geologic materials of the Cretaceous Age, but now most of it has been removed by erosion.  Only a few remnants remain as mesa-like mountains which rise above the surrounding area.

The Colorado River, southern boundary of Coleman County

Underlying materials of the Permian Age have been exposed throughout the county.  In the southeastern portion of the county geological materials of the Pennsylvanian Age have been exposed.  The Cretaceous and Permian dispositions and wind-deposited materials of the Recent Age make up the parent materials of the soils in the county.  Coleman County is in the transitional zone between the humid climate of east Texas and the semiarid climate of west and northwest Texas.  The average rainfall is 26.82 inches and precipitation is usually greatest from April through June.  The wettest year was 1935 with 45.28 inches and the driest, 1917 with 12.74 inches.  The average date of the first freeze is November 16 and for the last freeze is March 26.  The prevailing winds are southerly and on occasion become strong and persistent from the south or southwest.  The strongest winds are northerly and are associated with cold front passages.

The Santa Anna Mountain from the north

Topographical landmarks are the Santa Anna Mountains near Santa Anna, which guided Indians, trail drivers and early settlers with an elevation of 2000 feet and Bead Mountain between Valera and Talpa with an elevation of 2100 feet.  The northern part of the county is drained by the Jim Ned Creek, which has its source in Taylor County and empties into Pecan Bayou in Brown County, while the southern part is drained by the Elm, Grape, Bull, Wildcat, Home, Hay, Mukewater, Mustang, and Panther Creeks.  Other creeks in the county are Rough Creek, Cow Creek, Indian Creek, and Buffalo Branch.  The early settler found little timber anywhere in the area, except along the streams, were elm, pecan, and cottonwood trees were scattered.  Although mesquite timber now covers most of the land that is not in cultivation, the early settlers stated that there was no underbrush when they first saw the land, due perhaps to the fact that the Indians had previously set fire to grass in the fall so as to insure good grass for the next spring and thus attract the buffalo to the region.  Mesquite and buffalo grass were the principal grasses in the area and the first cattlemen found these to be especially good for cattle.  The plant life now is typical of Central Texas with wild flowers, shrubs, and cacti found throughout the area.

Typical roads of Coleman County in the 1920's

It is typical mesquite grass country, but other types such as buffalo, needle, grama, spear, and little and big bluestem grasses are found.   Mesquite timber covers most of the land that is not in cultivation, but such trees as post oak, live oak, and black jack are found in the eastern half of the county and scattered over the hills elsewhere.  Pecan trees are found along the streams.  In the early days, the Jim Ned country was a mere paradise for wild game, such as buffaloes, deer, bears, antelopes, and turkeys.   Deer and wild turkey are still plentiful today.  O'possums, raccoons, civit and ring-tailed cats, jack rabbits, and a few coyotes are found throughout the county, and the armadillo and the cotton-tail rabbit are common in the wooded areas.   Lakes, streams and surface tanks are stocked with game fish and afford considerable sport and food.  All varieties of catfish are found in the Colorado River.  The bobwhites and mourning dove are game birds found in the area, while songsters such as the mocking-bird, scissor-tailed fly catcher, wren, and cardinal are also found.  A wide variety of soils are found within the county with sandy and sandy clay in the east part; black waxy, chocolate and gray soils in the central and south; thin gray in the hill country; and sandy soil in the northwest.
Coleman County has always been well situated to the livestock industry.  A number of extensive ranches are found throughout the county, and stock farming has replaced cotton as the number one money crop.  Cotton production dropped from a peak of 42,619 bales in 1926 to 300-700 bales in the 1960's.  Grain sorghums, oats, wheat, and hybrid sudan grasses are grown extensively and some find a profitable market through livestock.  Hereford and Angus, as well as many cross-bred cattle are found in the county, and the Rambouillet sheep is the most popular breed of sheep.  The county ranks near the top in sheep raising counties of the state.  Hog raising is on the increase and the raising of turkeys and chickens for market as well as for egg production has become a good source of income.

The City of Coleman is the banking and commercial center of the county, while Santa Anna is the second largest town, being noted for its past production of glass sand found in the mountain there, which has been shipped to many states and foreign countries.  Brick and clay tile are manufactured at Coleman, as well as western clothing, boots, office supplies, plastic items (such as hummingbird feeders), and air conditioning parts.  Excellent quality meats are produced in Coleman and an outstanding Livestock Auction Commission provides an excellent market for the region.  The oil and gas industry ranks with ranching as one of the county's greatest industries.

Production has been widely scattered thereby benefiting land owners in all sections of the county. The drilling for oil has brought many suppliers and associated businesses to the county.  Lake Coleman, some sixteen miles north of Coleman on the Jim Ned Creek, was completed on May 10, 1966.  It is owned by the City of Coleman for a municipal water supply, which is now supplying water to many parts of the county.  Hords Creek Lake and Lake Scarborough still furnish some of the water to Coleman.  All three lakes serve as recreation centers to local folks as well as for the inhabitants of several bordering counties.

Coleman County's earliest citizens were confronted with problems typical of frontier counties of west Texas.  The county has developed into prosperous and peaceful communities with schools, churches, farms and ranches, which represented toil, sacrifice, and the devotion of pioneer men and women.