South Mountain at a glance
- Population: roughly 409 people; 1,030th of 1,224 places in Texas (Census Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 406 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: an increase of about 0.7% since the 2020 count (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Texas places: 1,030th-largest of 1,224 (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023 estimate).
- Size percentile: ahead of around 16% of Texas places in population terms (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 31.4398, -97.6793 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities (within 120 miles): Gatesville, TX (4 mi); Oglesby, TX (10 mi); McGregor, TX (15 mi); Crawford, TX (15 mi); Valley Mills, TX (19 mi) (US Census Bureau populations).
- Nearest smaller towns: Cranfills Gap, TX (25 mi); Ross, TX (39 mi); Aquilla, TX (39 mi) — US Census Bureau populations.
What a personal loan costs in South Mountain
Unlike a revolving credit card, a personal loan is closed-end: the balance falls on a fixed schedule and the payment does not change.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A lender weighs your credit profile, income and debts when setting the rate, and a longer term lowers the payment at the cost of more interest overall.
Before you borrow, decide what the loan is for and whether the monthly payment fits a budget you can already meet without taking on new debt.
Texas lending rules that apply in South Mountain
Where a figure is not published by the state, the row points to the source instead of guessing.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | License required for non-depository lenders charging more than 10% interest; Chapter 342 governs consumer loans (Tex. Fin. Code § 342.051) Source says: Non-depository lenders who engage in making, transacting, or collecting loans with a rate of interest greater than 10% must be licensed by the OCCC. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) Source says: The OCCC licenses and regulates non-depository lenders in the state of Texas. | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 10% per year maximum; a greater rate is usurious unless otherwise provided by law (Tex. Fin. Code § 302.001) Source says: The maximum rate or amount of interest is 10 percent a year except as otherwise provided by law. | Texas Legislature (Texas Constitution and Statutes) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed credit access businesses (payday/title-loan brokers); the third-party lender itself is not licensed (Tex. Fin. Code ch. 393) Source says: the credit access business that serves as the broker is the licensee in this regulated industry | Texas Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner (OCCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in South Mountain
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in South Mountain:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Texas using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.