BROOKS COUNTY
Brooks County, situated on the Rio Grande Plain near the Gulf Coast, covers about 944 square miles. With nearly level to rolling topography, its elevation ranges from 46 to 400 feet. Brooks County averages about 26 inches of rain a year with a mean daytime high of 97 degrees in July and an average January low of 43. Its vegetation consists primarily of live oaks, mesquite, brush, weeds, cacti, and grasses. Its 2000 population of 7,976 is projected to grow to about 9,000 by 2020 (Texas State Demographer, mid-range assumptions). The county seat of Falfurrias on US Highway 281 is also the largest community in Brooks County with about 5,000 inhabitants.
The earliest know inhabitants were Coahuiltecan Indians. The Spanish and Mexican governments were slow to encourage colonists in the area. Between the Texas Revolution and the Mexican War this was part of the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers. Brooks County was created in 1911 from parts of Hidalgo, Starr, and Zapata Counties.
Agriculture was the only major industry until 1935 when oil was discovered in the county. Cattle raising remains the primary agricultural activity with a truck farming also of importance to the county.