Mentone in Loving County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Mentone
Smallest County Seat in Texas
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 25, 2012
1. Mentone Marker
Only town in Loving County — last organized, most sparsely populated (both in total and per square mile) county in Texas.
Established 1931 and named for an earlier town (10 miles north) which legend says was named by a French surveyor-prospector after his home on the Riviera.
With population of 42, Mentone has no water system. (Water is hauled in.) Nor does it have a bank, doctor, hospital, newspaper, lawyer, civic club, or cemetery.
There are only two recorded graves in county; some Indian skeletons, artifacts are found.
Oil, farming, cattle country.
Erected 1967 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 3338.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.
Location. 31° 42.367′ N, 103° 35.922′ W. Marker is in Mentone, Texas, in Loving County. Marker is at the intersection of Bell Street (State Highway 302) and Pecos Street (County Road 300), on the right when traveling west on Bell Street. The marker is in the southwest corner of the courthouse plaza. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mentone TX 79754, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Loving County (within shouting
this page online
Also see . . . Texas State Historical Association. The 1990 United States census reported a population of fifty in Mentone, which remains the county seat of the least populous county in the United States. The population dropped to fifteen in 2000. (Submitted on November 22, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.)
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 25, 2012
2. Mentone Marker
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, October 25, 2012
3. Mentone Post Office
The Post Office is across the street from the marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 756 times since then and 76 times this year. Last updated on July 12, 2022, by Joe Lotz of Denton, Texas. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 22, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
