Lots & Land in Cotulla, TX

Back

Cotulla is a city in La Salle County, Texas, and the seat of a sparsely populated county in the South Texas Brush Country, positioned on Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Laredo. The town traces its origins to the early 1880s, when Polish immigrant Joseph Cotulla, who had established a large ranching operation in the area, laid out the community as the International-Great Northern Railroad extended its line south. A special county election in 1883 made Cotulla the county seat, and the community incorporated in 1910. For much of its history, Cotulla functioned as the commercial and governmental center of a ranching county. Cotton, cattle, and rail commerce shaped its early economy, and oil discoveries beginning in the 1950s added an energy dimension that the Eagle Ford Shale play later amplified. Today the local economy rests on ranching, hunting leases, and oil and natural gas activity, with Cotulla serving as the hub for county services and the workforce tied to the surrounding oil fields. The town carries a notable piece of American political history: Lyndon B. Johnson taught at Cotulla's Welhausen School during the 1928-29 school year, working with Mexican-American students whose circumstances he later credited with shaping his views on civil rights and education. Downtown landmarks include the La Salle County Courthouse and the Brush Country Museum, which documents the region's Native American, Spanish, cattle, and oil heritage. Residentially, Cotulla combines older homes near its courthouse square with newer subdivision housing on the town's edges, set against a backdrop of working ranches and South Texas scrubland. It suits people connected to the area's ranching and energy industries, as well as those seeking a small-town, low-density setting with direct interstate access.

Population 3,718

County La Salle County

Active Listings 23

Browse by Listing Type

attach_moneyFor Sale editFor Rent

Browse by Property Type

homeHouses apartmentCondos & Apartments holiday_villageTownhouses & Duplexes crop_landscapeLots & Land parkFarms & Ranches

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Cotulla in?

Cotulla is the county seat of La Salle County, Texas. The county lies in the South Texas Brush Country between San Antonio and Laredo, and Cotulla serves as its largest community, commercial center, and seat of government.

What school district serves Cotulla?

Cotulla is served by the Cotulla Independent School District, which operates campuses from pre-kindergarten through high school and enrolls roughly 1,100 students. The district is part of Texas Education Agency Region 20, serving much of South Texas.

How far is Cotulla from San Antonio and Laredo?

Cotulla sits on Interstate 35 between the two cities, roughly 75 miles south of San Antonio and about 80 miles north of Laredo. The interstate gives the town direct highway access to both metropolitan areas and the border.

What is Cotulla known for?

Cotulla is known as a South Texas ranching and oil town and the seat of La Salle County. It is also remembered as the place where a young Lyndon B. Johnson taught school in 1928-29, an experience he later said shaped his commitment to civil rights and education.

What major industries support Cotulla's economy?

Ranching, hunting, and oil and natural gas production anchor the local economy. The Eagle Ford Shale energy play brought oil-field activity to the area, while large cattle ranches continue to shape the surrounding countryside and county character.

MARKET SNAPSHOT