La Ward is located at 28°50′42″N 96°27′56″W / 28.84500°N 96.46556°W / 28.84500; -96.46556 (28.845036, –96.465659),[4] at the junction of State Highway 172 and FM 616 in southern Jackson County, 14 miles (23 km) south of Ganado and 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Edna, the county seat.

The nearest large city is Victoria, 40 miles (64 km) west of La Ward.

[5] The U.S. Census Bureau lists the total city area at 0.81 square miles (2.1 km2), all land.

[6] The community emerged on the coastal prairie in 1904 with the arrival of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway.

[7] It was named for Lafayette Ward, a local person who became a leader in introducing Hereford, Brahman, and Jersey cattle to Texas.

Public education in the city of La Ward is provided by the Industrial Independent School District.