Victoria County has deep roots as a Texas cattle ranching center

Ranching in Victoria County traces directly to Martín De León's 1824 colony and the Spanish mission herds that preceded it. By 1860, the county held nearly 40,000 head of beef cattle. By 1930, according to the Handbook of Texas, the county held more cattle than any other county in Texas at 93,997 head.

Cattle remained the dominant industry until oil was discovered in the 1930s. The county's flat coastal plains, mild winters, and access to water made it well suited for year-round grazing. This ranching heritage still shapes land use across much of unincorporated Victoria County today.