Market Overview for Zip Code 78622

There are 1 active listings in Zip Code 78622 with a median list price of $360K.

The average price per square foot is $269.

About Zip Code 78622

ZIP code 78622 covers the unincorporated community of Fentress in southwestern Caldwell County, a compact area of approximately four square miles with a population of about 340 residents (2020 Census ZCTA). Fentress sits on the San Marcos River at the junction of State Highway 80 and FM 20, about eight miles northwest of Luling and approximately 15 miles southeast of San Marcos.

The community was originally named Riverside and was renamed Fentress in 1892 after James Fentress, the community's first physician. A post office operated from the 1880s through the mid-twentieth century. The population peaked at 500 in 1929 before declining through the twentieth century.

Fentress sits in the Blackland Prairie region at the southern edge of Caldwell County, along the San Marcos River. The terrain is flat to gently rolling agricultural land, quite different from the Hill Country terrain to the west. The area is primarily agricultural, with cattle ranching and crop farming on the surrounding prairie. State Highway 80 connects Fentress to San Marcos and Luling, while FM 20 runs northwest toward the Caldwell County seat of Lockhart.

The community has a literary connection as the setting for Jacqueline Kelly's novel "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate," which received the 2010 Newbery Honor Award.

Living in Zip Code 78622

Fentress is a quiet, rural community with no commercial services. The nearest towns for groceries, retail, and dining are Luling (about eight miles southeast on SH-80), San Marcos (about 15 miles northwest), or Lockhart (about 15 miles northeast via FM 20). San Marcos provides access to Texas State University, a regional hospital, and I-35.

The area is served by Prairie Lea ISD. The Fentress school merged with Prairie Lea ISD in the 1940s. Prairie Lea is a small community about five miles southeast of Fentress. The district is one of the smallest in the region.

The drive to downtown Austin is approximately 45 miles via SH-80 to I-35, typically taking about 50 minutes. San Marcos is the nearest city on I-35, about 15 miles northwest. Most residents are engaged in agriculture or commute to San Marcos, Lockhart, or the Austin metro area. Real estate in the area consists primarily of agricultural acreage and rural homesteads on the Blackland Prairie.

Things to Do in Zip Code 78622

• San Marcos River: The San Marcos River flows through the Fentress area, offering fishing and kayaking. The river is spring-fed and maintains relatively constant temperatures year-round.
• Lockhart BBQ Trail: The Caldwell County seat of Lockhart, about 15 miles northeast, is known for its barbecue restaurants and was designated the Barbecue Capital of Texas by the state legislature.