Historical Markers in
Brazoria County, Texas

Abraham Darst Albert Sidney Johnston Aldridge-Smith Home Allen Place Ammon Underwood Angleton Independent School District Battle of Jones Creek Bell's Landing Bethel Presbyterian Church Birchfield - McCown House Brazoria Bridge Brazoria Townsite "Brit" Bailey Plantation Bryan Mound Byrd Lockhart Cedar Lake Salt Works Charlie Brown Columbia Columbia (First Capital of Texas) Columbia Rosenwald School Columbia United Methodist Church Confederate Cemetery Cummings-Smith House Damon Cemetery Don Carlos Barrett Dr. Branch Tanner Archer Dr. James Aeneas Phelps Dr. Sofie Deligath Herzog Durazno Plantation Eagle Island Plantation Edmund Calloway Darst Ellerslie Plantation Emily Margaret Brown Austin Bryan Perry First Baptist Church of Angleton First Methodist Church of Alvin First Missionary Baptist Church of Angleton First Presbyterian Church of Alvin First Presbyterian Church of Angleton First Presbyterian Church of Brazoria First United Methodist Church of Pearland Four Miles Southeast to the Original Town of Velasco Freeman W. Douglass Freeport National Bank (Freeport Sulphur Company Building) George Rounds Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Gulf Prairie Cemetery Gulf Prairie Cemetery Henry William Munson Hicks Dairy Farm Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Home of George B. McKinstry Hudgins Cemetery James & Selina Phillips House James Briton "Brit" Bailey James Franklin Perry John Adriance John S. D. Byrom Joseph H. Hawkins Josiah H. Bell Levi Jordan Plantation Liverpool Cemetery Liverpool Post Office M. L. Weems House Major Guy M. Bryan, C.S.A. Major James Peckham Caldwell Major Reuben R. Brown Mammoth Lake Masonic Oak McCroskey-Stringfellow House Mount Zion Cemetery Munson Cemetery Nathaniel C. Hazen Near Site of Dance Gun Shop Near Site of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas Old Brazoria Cemetery Old Brazoria County Courthouse Old City Cemetery Old Columbia Cemetery Old Oakland Plantation Old Quintana Old Settler's Cemetery Old Velasco, C. S. A. Peach Point Peach Point House Pearland and The Santa Fe Railroad Perkins Family Cemetery Phair Cemetery Phillips Family Cemetery Quintana Cemetery R. O'Hara Lanier School Robert J. Calder Robert L. and Julia Martin Hunter Samuel Damon Samuel Tubbs Angier, M.D. Sandy Point Cemetery Sandy Point Cemetery Schuster Home Sheriff Joe H. Snow Sinking Site of the Blockade Runner "Acadia" Site of Carry Nation's Hotel Site of Crosby's Landing Site of Jane Long's Tavern Site of "Orozimbo" Site of San Luis Site of The Home of Henry Smith Site of the Home of James Walker Fannin Site of the Home of John Austin Site of the Home of Josiah Hughes Bell Site of Town of Old Velasco St. John's Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M. Stringfellow Ranch Sweeny Cemetery Sweeny Home Sweeny Plantation Sweeny-Waddy Log Cabin Thaddus Constantine Bell The 1937 Pearland High School The Ammon Underwood House The Brazos Canal The Lively The Nash-Wright House Thomas Jefferson Callihan Thomas Jefferson Sweeny Titlum-Tatlum Tyler-Bryan-Weems House Varner-Hogg Home (The "Varner") Velasco Velasco Cemetery Velasco Lodge No. 757, A. F. & A. M. Velasco Methodist Church Vicinity of Oyster Creek and Chocolate Bayou W. H. Abrams Well No. 1 William Harris Wharton William Jarvis Cannan William Joel Bryan Zychlinski Park
The first domed stadium in the world, the Astrodome, was built in Houston in 1965 and hosted numerous sporting events and concerts over the years.
Brazoria County, located in southeastern Texas, has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various indigenous tribes, including the Karankawa and the Atakapan, who thrived along the Gulf Coast. European exploration of the region began in the 16th century, with Spanish explorers venturing into the area. However, it was not until the 1820s that significant permanent settlements were established.

In 1822, Stephen F. Austin brought the first American colonists to the region, leading to the establishment of the Austin Colony. The county was officially organized in 1832 and was named after the Brazos River, which borders the county to the north. The economy of Brazoria County in the early years was predominantly agricultural, with cotton becoming a major cash crop and sugar production gaining prominence. Slavery played a significant role in the county’s economy, with many enslaved people working on the plantations.

During the Texas Revolution in the 1830s, the area witnessed several historical events. Significantly, Velasco, a small community in Brazoria County, served as the site of the Battle of Velasco, where Texan rebels clashed with Mexican troops in June 1832. The county also provided numerous soldiers to the Texas Army, with several residents playing important roles in the fight for Texas independence.

In the following years, Brazoria County experienced growth and development, with several towns and communities emerging. In the late 19th century, railways expanded through the county, further boosting its economic prospects. The discovery of oil and gas reserves in the early 20th century brought even greater prosperity to the area. Today, Brazoria County continues to thrive economically, with a diverse economy that includes agriculture, petrochemicals, manufacturing, and tourism.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Brazoria County, Texas.

  • 1822 - Stephen Austin received the first land grant in the area that would become Brazoria County.
  • 1832 - Brazoria County was officially established as a municipality of Mexico.
  • 1836 - Texas gained independence from Mexico, and Brazoria County became part of the Republic of Texas.
  • 1837 - The county seat was moved from Velasco to Brazoria.
  • 1839 - The county seat was once again relocated, this time to Columbia.
  • 1842 - Brazoria County was split, and part of it became Fort Bend County under the Republic of Texas.
  • 1846 - Texas was admitted to the United States, and Brazoria County became a county in the state of Texas.
  • 1892 - The county seat was moved from Columbia to Angleton, where it remains today.
  • 1943 - Construction of the Dow Chemical Company plant began, making it a major employer and industry in the county.
  • 1961 - Brazosport College was established in Brazoria County.
  • 2019 - Brazoria County celebrates its rich history and continues to thrive as an important region in Texas.