Ever tried to drive across Texas? It’s basically an endurance sport. You start in the humid, piney woods of East Texas and, roughly ten hours later, you’re still staring at dirt and tumbleweeds in the West. It is massive. Because it’s so huge, the list of texas towns alphabetically is actually a wild journey through history, weird naming conventions, and more than 1,200 incorporated municipalities.
Some of these places are just dots on a map with a single blinking light. Others are exploding suburbs where the population doubles every five minutes. Honestly, if you’re looking for a specific town, you’ve gotta be careful—Texas has a habit of naming things in ways that’ll trip you up.
From Abilene to Zavalla: The A to Z of Texas
Let's get the big ones out of the way. If we’re talking strictly alphabetical, we start at Abilene. Most people think it’s just a college town or a stop on I-20. But it’s actually named after Abilene, Kansas. Cattlemen in 1881 wanted to evoke that famous Chisholm Trail energy, so they borrowed the name. Fast forward to today, and it’s the "Storybook Capital of America." No, really. They have dozens of bronze sculptures of Dr. Seuss and Mother Goose characters scattered around downtown.
On the flip side, the list usually ends with Zavalla. Not to be confused with Zavala County (different spelling, same namesake), this town in Angelina County is basically the gateway to Sam Rayburn Lake. It was named after Lorenzo de Zavala, the first Vice President of the Republic of Texas. It’s a quiet spot, but if you’re into bass fishing, it’s your Mecca.
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The Weird and the Wonderful in the Middle
You can’t talk about Texas towns without mentioning the ones that sound like a dare.
Take Cut and Shoot. That’s a real place. Legend says it got its name from a 1912 community dispute over a preacher and a dance hall. A young boy allegedly said he was going to "cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes," and the name stuck. Then there’s Dime Box. Back in the day, people would leave a dime in a box at a local sawmill to get their mail delivered. When the post office officially arrived, "Dime Box" became the name.
- Alice: Known as the birthplace of Tejano music.
- Blessing: Named because the founder was just really grateful to find water and good land.
- Earth: Literally named Earth. It was originally going to be "Fairlawn," but that was taken.
- Muleshoe: Home to the National Mule Memorial. Yes, a statue for mules.
Why the List of Texas Towns Alphabetically Keeps Growing
Texas is currently seeing some of the most aggressive growth in the United States. While the 2026 data shows that the "Big Three"—Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas—still hold the crown for size, it’s the mid-alphabet towns that are seeing the real shifts.
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Towns like Anna and Aubrey (both near the top of your alphabetical list) were sleepy farming communities maybe fifteen years ago. Now? They are booming suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. According to recent Texas Comptroller reports, the state has more than 1,200 incorporated cities. But if you count the unincorporated communities—the "blink-and-you-miss-it" spots—the number jumps to over 2,400.
The Problem with Names
Finding a town isn't always as easy as knowing your ABCs. Take the "S" section. You have San Angelo, San Antonio, San Benito, San Diego, San Felipe, San Juan, San Marcos, San Perlita, and San Saba. If you’re a delivery driver or a tourist relying on a vague memory, you're going to have a bad time.
Then you have the copycats. There is a Paris, Texas (with an Eiffel Tower wearing a cowboy hat). There’s an Athens, a Dublin, and an Italy. The early settlers were clearly feeling a bit homesick for Europe, or maybe they just had big ambitions.
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Behind the Names: Who Was Lorenzo de Zavala?
Most people see the end of the list of texas towns alphabetically and just see a name starting with Z. But Lorenzo de Zavala was a powerhouse. He was a Mexican politician who moved to Texas, signed the Declaration of Independence from Mexico, and helped draft the constitution. Most of the "Z" towns or counties in Texas trace back to him. It’s a reminder that the list isn't just a collection of words—it’s a map of who fought for the dirt you’re standing on.
Navigating the List: Practical Insights
If you are trying to use a list of texas towns alphabetically for research, travel, or business, keep these quirks in mind:
- Check the County: Many towns share names or have very similar ones (like Oak Ridge vs. Oak Ridge North). Always verify the county to ensure you're in the right part of the state.
- Incorporation Status: Not every "town" on a list is legally a town. Some are "Census Designated Places" (CDPs) or simply historical markers. If you're looking for local government services, stick to incorporated municipalities.
- The "The" Rule: Usually, towns like "The Woodlands" are listed under W, not T. This is standard, but some older Texas directories can be stubborn.
- Population Spikes: Don't trust 10-year-old population data. Towns in the Austin-San Antonio corridor are growing so fast that a town listed as "small" in 2020 might be a "mid-sized city" by 2026.
Texas is a lot of things, but boring isn't one of them. Whether you're starting at Abernathy or finishing at Zephyr, every name on that alphabetical list represents a piece of the puzzle that makes the Lone Star State what it is.
Next Steps for You:
If you're planning a road trip or doing demographic research, your next move should be to cross-reference your list with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) official county maps. These maps distinguish between incorporated cities and unincorporated communities, which is vital for understanding local jurisdictions. Additionally, check the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Handbook for the specific origin stories of the smaller towns that often don't make it into mainstream travel guides.