Crystal City built its identity on spinach farming and the Popeye statue

Spinach was first grown here in the winter of 1917-18. Artesian wells made large-scale farming possible. By the 1930s, Crystal City was the county seat and shipped large amounts of spinach.

The town put up a statue of Popeye in 1937. That was the year after the first annual spinach festival.

Most of the farm laborers at that time were Mexican and Mexican-American workers. The farming economy shaped who lived in the county and later shaped its politics.

Today Crystal City is the only incorporated city in Zavala County. It is still the county seat.