The Balcones Escarpment Splits Medina County into Two Very Different Landscapes

The Balcones Escarpment is an ancient fault line that cuts through Medina County. North of it, the land rises into rocky Hill Country terrain with limestone soils and elevations up to about 2,000 feet. South of it, the land flattens into the Rio Grande Plains, with sandy loam and clay soils.

These two zones affect what you can grow, how water drains, what type of well you may need, and how your land looks. The escarpment also roughly follows US 90. Property buyers should understand which zone their land falls in, as soil type, aquifer access, and flood risk can differ significantly from one side to the other.