 loving county is a county in the u.s. state of texas. as of the 2010 census, the population was 82, making it the least populous county in the united states. owing partly to its small and dispersed population, it also has the highest median per capita and household income of any county in texas. loving county has no incorporated communities; its county seat and only community is mentone. 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. ==history== ===exploration and incorporation=== prehistorically, the area had many springs with potable water that supported wildlife and nomadic hunters. antonio de espejo visited the area in 1583 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
1931_establishments_in_Texas Loving_County,_Texas States_and_territories_established_in_1931 Texas_counties