175px|right|thumb|Concho County marker
Concho County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,303. Its county seat is Paint Rock. The county was founded in 1858 and later organized in 1879. It is named for the Concho River.
History
In the 1800s, Paleo-Indians lived in the county and left behind archaeological remains of a burned-rock midden. Athabascan-speaking Indians associated with the pre-horse Plains culture live in this part of Texas. Later native inhabitants included Jumano, Tonkawa, Comanche and Lipan Apache.
In 1847, John O. Meusebach sent surveyors into the area. In 1849, Robert Simpson Neighbors led a small expedition through the area. The Eden community was established in 1882. In 1909, the community of Lowake was established.
Railroad development
Railroads came to the county first in 1910, with the Concho, San Saba and Llano Valley railroad being completed to Paint Rock. The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway was completed across the southeastern corner of the county in 1911, and the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe railroad finished a line to Eden in 1912.
In 1988, Concho County was the leading sheep-producing county in Texas.
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Highway 83
- 20px U.S. Highway 87
- 20px State Highway 153
- 20px State Highway 206
Adjacent counties
- Runnels County (north)
- Coleman County (northeast)
- McCulloch County (east)
- Menard County (south)
- Schleicher County (southwest)
- Tom Green County (west)