Mills County's economy runs on livestock, not crops

Mills County used to grow cotton. Over the twentieth century, farmers switched to livestock. Today farming brings in about $28 million a year. About 90 percent of that comes from beef cattle, sheep, goats, and hogs.

The county sits in the Hill Country. Cedar and live oak cover the rolling land. That kind of terrain is better for grazing than growing row crops.

If you are buying rural land here, expect nearby farms to run cattle and goats. Texas has a right-to-farm law. That law protects farm operations from certain nuisance complaints — meaning neighbors cannot easily sue a rancher for normal farm smells or noise. Know what is around you before you buy. The Texas Almanac and the TSHA Handbook both cover the county's farming history.