Texas Porch
Mineral Rights Stories & local character

Oil and gas have been produced in Zavala County since 1937

Zavala County Home & Property

The Texas State Historical Association records that Zavala County had produced more than 46 million barrels of oil by 2004. Oil production here started in 1937. When you buy rural land, mineral rights may or may not be included — they can be owned separately from the surface.

The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) regulates oil and gas in the state. You can search RRC records to find active or plugged wells near any property in the county. This matters for understanding what activity may be on or near land you are considering.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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More stories and useful context near Zavala County

A balanced next shelf: local character first, with practical context close by.

Stories & local character

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

Crystal City earned the name Spinach Capital of the World in the 1930s. The county still has a Popeye statue from that era.

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Stories & local character

A WWII internment camp once held thousands in Crystal City

The U.S. government ran one of its largest WWII civilian internment camps in Crystal City from 1942 to 1948, holding Japanese, German, and other civilians.

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Practical

Two offices handle your property taxes in Zavala County

Zavala County has a separate appraisal district and a tax assessor-collector. They do different jobs, and you need to know which one to contact.

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Stories & local character

Zavala County was the center of a major Mexican American political movement in the 1960s and 70s

In 1963, Mexican Americans in Crystal City organized and won city council seats. That win, called the Crystal City Revolt, sparked a broader civil rights movement.

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Place pages in Zavala County

Crystal City

Nearby county shelves

Dimmit (7) Uvalde (11) Maverick (20) Frio (6) Medina (27) Kinney (6)