Mentone, Texas
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Mentone is an unincorporated area in Loving County, Texas, the least populous county in the United States. As the county's only community, it serves as the county seat and has an estimated population of 15. It is the least populated county seat in the United States. Mentone was founded in 1931, and was named for Mentone, France by a French surveyor. Its greatest population was reached in 1933, when the town reported 600 residents. The population has declined ever since, and in 2000 there were only 15 people, "more or less," according to National Geographic magazine. The total population of Loving County itself (as of 2000) is 67.
For such a small town, Mentone has an extremely colorful history. In February 2006, Mentone became the focus of a New York Times article detailing an alleged attempt by libertarians to "take over" the town and Loving County. According to the article, the Free Town Project planned to "remove oppressive Regulations...and stop enforcement of Laws prohibiting Victimless Acts among Consenting Adults, such as Dueling, Gambling, Incest, Price-Gouging, Cannibalism, and Drug Handling."
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