Historical Marker
Mentone
Historical marker location:
US 285 at SH 302, Mentone, Texas
( Mentone is the seat of Loving County. In 1967 a marker for Mentone was placed on the Loving County Courthouse grounds, and this marker was also placed in Reeves County, at the intersection of US 285 and SH 302, about six miles southwest of Mentone. Marker reported missing Jul. 2015.)
Marker installed: 1967
Smallest County Seat in Texas Mentone (6 mi. east) Only town in Loving County -- last organized, most sparsely populated (both in total and per square mile) county in Texas. Established 1931 and named for an earlier town (10 miles north) which legend says was named by a French surveyor-prospector after his home on the Riviera. With population of 42, Mentone has no water system. (Water is hauled in.) Nor does it have a bank, doctor, hospital, newspaper, lawyer, civic club or cemetery. There are only two recorded graves in county. Some Indian skeletons, artifacts are found. Oil, farming, cattle country. (1967).