The road was designated on May 23, 1951 running from US 90 to the southwest for a distance of 6 miles ; FM 481 extended southwest 1.2 miles on December 17, 1952, 1.5 miles on September 5, 1973, southwest 3 miles on March 31, 1976, and southwest 3 more miles to the Uvade-Zavala County Line on June 30, 1976.