In
Angelina County, Zavalla is located north of
Beaumont between
Lufkin and
Jasper along Hwy 63 in the Angelina National Forest near the Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Zavalla is not to be confused with the Zavala, which lies just over the Jasper county line. Zavalla was established in 1900 on the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, which was owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad and extended from Rockland to Dallas.
The community was incorporated in 1975, when population growth associated with nearby reservoir prompted the organization of a city government. C.M. Cryer was the first mayor.
The population declined to 726 by 1980. In the mid-1980s Zavalla had two schools, several churches (predominantly Baptist and Pentecostal), and a number of businesses. In 1990 the population was 701.