Gonzales County, Texas

Paleo-Indian hunter-gatherers were here thousands of years ago; the later Coahuiltecan, Tonkawa, and Karankawa migrated into the area in the 14th century, but lost much of their population by the 18th century due to new infectious diseases contracted by contact with European explorers. The historic Comanche and Waco tribes later migrated into the area and competed most with European American settlers of the 19th century.{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcg07|title=Gonzales County |first1=Baumgartner |last1=Dorcas Huff |last2=Vollentine |first2=Genevieve B.|date=June 15, 2010|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

Between 1519 and 1685, Hernando Cortez and Alonso Álvarez de Pineda claimed Texas for Spain. Beginning in 1685, France planted its flag on Texas soil, but departed after only five years,{{Cite web|url=http://www.lsjunction.com/facts/6flags.htm|title=A Texas Scrapbook: San Antonio's Military Plaza|website=www.lsjunction.com|access-date=July 24, 2018}} and Spain regained the territory.

Mexico, including Texas, won its independence from Spain in 1821. Citizens of the United States began to settle in Texas and were granted land and Mexican citizenship.

In 1825, Green DeWitt's petition for a land grant to establish a colony in Texas was approved by the Mexican government. Gonzales was established, named for Rafael Gonzales, governor of Coahuila y Tejas.

When Jean Louis Berlandier visited in 1828, he found settler cabins, a fort-like barricade, crop agriculture, and livestock, as well as nearby villages of Tonkawa and Karankawa. The Coahuila y Tejas government sent a six-pound cannon to Gonzales in 1831 for settlers' protection against Indian raids.

In 1835, the colony sent delegates to conventions (1832–1835) to discuss disagreements with Mexico. The Mexican government viewed the conventions as treason, so troops were sent to Gonzales in September 1832 to retrieve the cannon. On October 2, the Battle of Gonzales became the first shots fired in the Texas Revolution. The colonists put up armed resistance, with the cannon pointed at the Mexican troops, and above it a banner proclaimed, "Come and Take It". Commemoration of the event became the annual "Come and Take It Festival".[http://www.gonzalestexas.com/index.php/calender-of-events Gonzales C of C] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924075742/http://www.gonzalestexas.com/index.php/calender-of-events |date=September 24, 2010 }}{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qvg01|title=GONZALES "COME AND TAKE IT" CANNON|last=RICKS|first=LINDLEY, THOMAS|date=June 15, 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}} From October 13 – December 9, the Siege of Bexar became the first major campaign of the Texas Revolution.

Gonzales County was established in 1836.

:February 23 – Alamo messenger Launcelot Smithers carried to the people of Gonzales, the Colonel William Barret Travis letter stating the enemy is in sight and requesting men and provisions.

:February 24 – Captain Albert Martin delivered to Smithers in Gonzales the infamous "Victory or Death" Travis letter addressed "To the People of Texas and All Americans in the World" stating the direness of the situation. Smithers then took the letter to San Felipe,{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hls10|title=SAN FELIPE DE AUSTIN, TX|last=CHRISTOPHER|first=JACKSON, CHARLES|date=June 15, 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}} site of the provisional Texas government.

:February 27 – The Gonzales Alamo relief force of 32 men, led by Lieutenant George C. Kimble, departed to join the 130 fighters already at the Alamo.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/gonreliefframe.htm|title=Wayback Machine: The DeWitt Colony Alamo Defenders|date=December 2, 1998|website=Internet Archive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202210748/http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/gonreliefframe.htm|archive-date=December 2, 1998|url-status=dead|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

:March 1 – The Gonzales "Immortal 32" made their way inside the Alamo.

:March 2 – Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico established the Republic of Texas.

:March 6 – The Alamo fell.

:March 13–14 – Susanna Dickinson, the widow of the Alamo defender Almaron Dickinson, arrived in Gonzales with her daughter Angelina and Colonel Travis' slave Joe. Upon hearing the news of the Alamo, Sam Houston ordered the town of Gonzales torched to the ground, and established his headquarters under an oak tree in the county.{{Cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/177-Sam-Houston-Oak.htm|title=Sam Houston Oak, Texas historic tree near Gonzales.|website=www.texasescapes.com|access-date=July 24, 2018}}[http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5177004503 Texas Historical Markers, Sam Houston Oak] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928144339/http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5177004503 |date=September 28, 2011 }}

In 1838, Gonzales men founded the town of Walnut Springs (later Seguin) in the northwest section of the county.

Two years later, Gonzales men joined the Battle of Plum Creek against Buffalo Hump and his Comanches.

Gonzales College was founded in 1850 by slave-owning planters, and was the first institution in Texas to confer bachelor of arts degrees on women. The Gonzales Inquirer begins publication in 1853.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gonzalesinquirer.com/|title=The Gonzales Inquirer|website=www.gonzalesinquirer.com|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}} By 1860, the county's population had grown to 8,059, including 3,168 slaves.

County citizens voted 802–80 in favor of secession from the Union in 1861.

On February 1, Texas seceded from the Union. On March 2, Texas joined the Confederate States of America.

The Sutton–Taylor feud of 1866–1876, which involved outlaw John Wesley Hardin, was reportedly the bloodiest and longest in Texas' history. Hardin's men were known to have stayed in the community of Pilgrim.{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/jcs03|title=SUTTON-TAYLOR FEUD|last=L.|first=SONNICHSEN, C.|date=June 15, 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-suttontaylor.html|title=The Sutton-Taylor Feud of DeWitt County, Texas – Legends of America|website=www.legendsofamerica.com|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

On March 30, 1870, the United States Congress readmitted Texas into the Union. The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was built through the eastern and northern part of the county in 1874; three years later, the Texas and New Orleans Railway came to the county. In 1881, the Gonzales Branch Railroad was chartered.{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/eqg14|title=GONZALES BRANCH RAILROAD|last=BECK|first=YOUNG, NANCY|date=June 15, 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}} In 1885, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway was built through the county.

John Wesley Hardin is released from prison in 1894, and returned to Gonzales, where he passed the bar examination and started practicing law.

In 1898, 23 county men served, with two casualties, during the Spanish–American War. Three served with the Rough Riders.

During World War I, 1,106 men from the county served. for World War II, about 3,000 men from Gonzales County served, with 79 casualties.

In 1935, Governor James V. Allred dedicated a monument in the community of Cost, commemorating the first shot of the Texas Revolution. The sculptor was Waldine A. Tauch.{{Cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsSouth/Cost-Texas.htm|title=Cost, Texas; First Shot of the Texas Revolution Monument.|website=www.texasescapes.com|access-date=July 24, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fta36|title=TAUCH, WALDINE AMANDA|last=KENDALL|first=CURLEE|date=June 15, 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}}

Palmetto State Park opened to the public in 1936.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/palmetto/|title=Palmetto State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department|website=www.tpwd.state.tx.us|language=en|access-date=July 24, 2018}} The Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation opened for the treatment of polio in 1939.{{Cite news|url=http://texashighways.com/eat/item/6097-gonzales-warm-springs-foundation|title=Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation - Texas Highways|access-date=July 24, 2018|language=en-gb}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|1070|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|3.2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.3%) are covered by water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 27, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

Directly connected to the {{jct|state=TX|US|183|I|10|SH|130}} corridor, the Gonzales County roads support average annual daily traffic rated at over 100,000 vehicles by the Texas Department of Transportation; due to its direct adjacency to Greater Austin and Greater San Antonio.{{cite web |author1=State of Texas |title=Transportation Planning Maps |url=https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/transportation-planning/maps.html |website=Transportation Planning/Programming |publisher=Texas Department of Transportation |access-date=November 9, 2020}}

Gonzales County and the Texas Department of Transportation provide bridges across the Guadalupe River and the San Marcos River.

• North {{jct|state=TX|FM|466|SH|80}} bridge; Belmont, extreme-west Gonzales County
• North {{jct|state=TX|FM|466}} / Gonzales County Road 143 bridge; Monthalia, west Gonzales County
• North {{jct|state=TX|SH|97|US|183}} bridge; City of Gonzales, Texas
• East US 90A / {{jct|state=TX|FM|2091}} bridge; San Marcos River, Ottine

{{div col}}

• {{jct|state=TX|I|10|US|90}}, Belmont-Ottine-Waelder (San Antonio—Houston)
• {{jct|state=TX|US|183|SH|80}}, Gonzales-to-Austin, Belmont-Leesville-Nixon
• 20px U.S. Highway 87, Nixon-Smiley to Floresville
• 20px State Highway 97, Waelder—City of Gonzales—Bebe-Leesville
• 20px State Highway 304, Gonzales-to-Bastrop
• 20px
  20px U.S. Highway 90 Alternate, Belmont—City of Gonzales (I-10 auxiliary)

{{div col end}}

The majority of the county's arterial roads have had their names removed and replaced by "County Road" numbered designations.{{cite journal |title=Road Redesignations |journal=Gonzales County Commissioners' Minutes |date=1900s}} Very few major roads remain properly named on record for Gonzales County, especially outside incorporated areas, including:

• Capote Road ({{jct|state=TX|FM|466}}), Belmont-Leesville to Seguin
• Salt Lake Road (CR 266), North Ottine
• Harwood Road (CR 230), North Harwood to City-of-Gonzales
• Double Live Oak Lane{{cite web |title=The Live Oak of Double Live Oak Lane |url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm10NCF_The_Live_Oak_of_Double_Live_Oak_Lane_Fayette_County_TX_near_Waelder_TX |access-date=May 17, 2021}} ({{jct|state=TX|FM|1115}}), North Waelder

• Caldwell County (north)
• Fayette County (northeast)
• Lavaca County (east)
• Dewitt County (south)
• Karnes County (southwest)
• Wilson County (west)
• Guadalupe County (northwest)

{{Update|section|date=May 2021}}

{{US Census population

|1850= 1492

|1860= 8059

|1870= 8951

|1880= 14840

|1890= 18016

|1900= 28882

|1910= 28055

|1920= 28438

|1930= 28337

|1940= 26075

|1950= 21164

|1960= 17845

|1970= 16375

|1980= 16883

|1990= 17205

|2000= 18628

|2010= 19807

|2020= 19653

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850–2010{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 27, 2015}} 2010 2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 18,628 people, 6,782 households, and 4,876 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|17|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 8,194 housing units at an average density of {{convert|8|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 72.25% White, 8.39% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 16.48% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 39.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,782 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,368, and the median income for a family was $35,218. Males had a median income of $23,439 versus $17,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,269. About 13.80% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

{{PresHead|place=Gonzales County, Texas|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 24, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,981|1,729|59|Texas}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,627|1,948|73|Texas}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,587|1,571|191|Texas}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,216|1,777|64|Texas}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,076|2,167|44|Texas}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,291|1,709|22|Texas}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,092|1,877|100|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,687|2,110|385|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,502|2,006|1,049|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,983|2,897|36|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,962|2,196|14|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,931|2,896|95|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,789|3,219|18|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,707|1,164|5|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,476|1,930|983|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,190|3,348|7|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,554|2,730|7|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,767|2,260|10|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,249|2,563|3|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|666|2,612|321|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|841|2,804|342|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|722|3,008|2|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|352|2,674|7|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|337|3,384|7|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,112|1,319|0|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|463|2,499|328|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|748|1,299|437|Texas}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|649|1,675|57|Texas}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|318|1,327|182|Texas}}

• Gonzales (county seat)
• Nixon (small part in Wilson County)
• Smiley
• Waelder

• Bebe
• Belmont
• Leesville
• Ottine

{{colbegin}}

• Albuquerque
• Cheapside
• Cost
• Harwood
• Monthalia
• Pilgrim
• Thompsonville
• Wrightsboro

{{colend}}

School districts include:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48177_gonzales/DC20SD_C48177.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gonzales County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-11-29}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48177_gonzales/DC20SD_C48177_SD2MS.txt Text list]

• Cuero Independent School District
• Gonzales Independent School District
• Moulton Independent School District
• Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District
• Shiner Independent School District
• Waelder Independent School District
• Yoakum Independent School District

All of the county is in the service area of Victoria College.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.208. THE VICTORIA COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]

{{Portal|Texas}}

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Gonzales County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Gonzales County

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.co.gonzales.tx.us/ Gonzales County government's website]
• {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcg07|name=Gonzales County}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Gonzales County, Texas

|North =

|Northeast = Fayette County

|East = Lavaca County

|Southeast = DeWitt County

|South =

|Southwest = Wilson County and Karnes County

|West = Guadalupe County

|Northwest = Caldwell County

}}

{{Gonzales County, Texas}}

{{Texas counties}}

{{Texas}}

{{Authority control}}

{{coord|29.45|-97.49|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1837 establishments in the Republic of Texas

Category:Populated places established in 1837