Political History Stories & local character
Zavala County was the center of a major Mexican American political movement in the 1960s and 70s
In 1963, a group of Mexican Americans ran for the Crystal City council. All five of their candidates won. The win was called the Crystal City Revolt. It was big news across Texas.
Most people in the county were Hispanic. But for years, Hispanic residents had been kept out of local government. That changed in 1963.
In 1970, the Raza Unida Party won local elections in Zavala County. People across the country took notice.
Historians see this as a key part of Texas civil rights history. By 1990, about 89 percent of the county's people were Hispanic.
Content last revised 2026-07-11