Loving County, Texas
| Loving County, Texas | |
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Loving County Courthouse in Mentone
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 Location in the U.S. state of Texas |
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 Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1931 |
| Named for | Oliver Loving |
| Seat | Mentone |
| Largest community | Mentone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 677 sq mi (1,753 km2) |
| • Land | 669 sq mi (1,733 km2) |
| • Water | 7.8 sq mi (20 km2), 1.1% |
| Population (est.) | |
| • (2015) | 112 |
| • Density | 0.1/sq mi (0/km²) |
| Congressional district | 23rd |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www |
Loving County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. With a population of 82 as of the 2010 census, Loving County is the least populated county in the United States. Loving County has no incorporated communities; its county seat and only community is Mentone. The county was originally created in 1887, although after being disorganized, it was finally reorganized in 1931.
Part of the Haley Ranch, founded by the father of Texas historian J. Evetts Haley, is in Loving County, with another portion in neighboring Winkler County.
Prehistorically, the area had many springs with potable water that supported wildlife and nomadic hunters. Antonio de Espejo visited the area in 1853 and crossed the Pecos River. Having surveyed the area in 1854 for a railroad company, John Pope returned in 1855 to start a camp in northwestern Loving County and establish artesian wells in the area, but the venture was unsuccessful and was abandoned in 1861.
From 1837 to 1874, the area of modern Loving County was part of the Bexar land district. In 1874 it was separated from Bexar County, becoming a part of Tom Green County.
Loving County is named for Oliver Loving, a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who, along with Charles Goodnight, developed the Goodnight-Loving Trail. He was mortally wounded by members of the Comanche nation while on a cattle drive in 1867 in the vicinity of the county.
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