Historical Markers in
Gonzales County, Texas

1834 Homesite of Capt. and Mrs. Almaron Dickinson 1835 Attack at Sandies Water Hole African American Education in Gonzales Albuquerque Amasa Turner Andrew Ponton Andrew Ponton Andrew Zumwalt Augustus H. Jones Battle of Gonzales Bennet Valentine Braches House Branecky School Brown House Bundick Cemetery Bunting Family Cemetery Campsite Marking Start of San Jacinto Campaign Captain Philip Coe Cemetery Square Central Square Charles Mason Charles T. Rather House Chenault House (DEMOLISHED) Church Square Community of Pilgrim Community of Wrightsboro David Burkett David L. Kokernot Dewville United Methodist Church Dikes Family Cemetery Dr. George Washington Barnett Dr. John Turner Tinsley Dr. Thomas Polk Duncan Ferry Ebenezer Cemetery Edward Dickinson Eli Mitchell Episcopal Church of the Messiah First Baptist Church of Gonzales First Baptist Church of Nixon First Baptist Church of Smiley First Gun Fired For Texas First Methodist Church of Gonzales First Shot of the Texas Revolution Fleming T. Wells Fort Waul Gates Cemetery Ghost Town of Dewville Gonzales Cannon Gonzales Cannon Burial Site Gonzales Cannon Dispute, Site of Gonzales City Cemetery Gonzales College Gonzales County Jail Gonzales Courthouse Gonzales Memorial Museum and Amphitheatre Gonzales-San Antonio Road Green Dewitt Cemetery Greenwood Cemetery Greenwood Cemetery Harwood Cemetery Harwood Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge Here was fired first gun for Texas Independence. Holmes Hospital Hopkinsville Lodge No. 183, A.F. & A.M. Hutson B. Littlefield Indian Fort, Site of J. W. and Nannie C. Bailey House Jail Square James D. Owens James Hodges, Sr. James W. Robinson Jesse Kencheloe Davis Jewish Cemetery John Fauth House Kennard House Kerr's Creek Kerr's Settlement King Cemetery Leander C. Cunningham Leesville Baptist Church Leesville School Market Square Masonic Cemetery Mathew Caldwell Maurin Quarry Military Plaza Miller's Store Mitchel Putnam Nixon Oak Forest Bridge Odd Fellows Cemetery Old Eighteen Old Smiley Lake and Townsite Ottine Cemetery Pilgrim Cemetery Pilgrim Presbyterian Church Plaza Rancho Reese Family Home (DEMOLISHED) Remschel House River Crossing Riverside School Route of Gen. Sam Houston to San Jacinto Route of Old Chisholm Trail Salt Flats of Pilgrim Lake Sam Houston Oak Sam Houston's Camp Sandies Chapel Cemetery Sandies-Dewville Community Santa Anna Mound Sarah Seely Dewitt Saturn Cemetery Site of Confederate Fort Site of Cost School Site of Hopkinsville Site of the First Shot of the Texas Revolution Smiley United Methodist Church Steen Cemetery The Eggleston House The Immortal 32 The Pilgrim Home The Presbyterian Church of Gonzales The Town of Waelder Theodore S. Lee Wells Home William A. Matthews William B. and Sue J. Houston House William B. Fleming Women of the Confederacy
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Gonzales County, Texas, has a rich history dating back to its settlement in the early 1820s. The area was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas until the Texas Revolution in 1836, when the Battle of Gonzales became a pivotal moment in the fight for independence. The battle, often referred to as the "Lexington of Texas," was fought due to a demand by Mexican authorities for the return of a cannon given to the settlers to protect against Native American raids. This refusal to comply with the orders of the Mexican government marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.

During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.

Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.

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

  • 1834 - Gonzales County established as a municipality of Mexico
  • 1835 - "Come and Take It" cannon skirmish occurs in Gonzales, marking the start of the Texas Revolution
  • 1836 - Texas gains independence from Mexico; Gonzales County becomes part of the Republic of Texas
  • 1846 - Texas becomes a state, and Gonzales County remains a political subdivision
  • 1861-1865 - Gonzales County residents participate in the American Civil War
  • 1878 - The Gonzales Inquirer, the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Texas, is established
  • 1887 - Gonzales County Courthouse is built
  • 1891 - The Harwood and Gonzales Railway connects Gonzales to the Texas railway network
  • 1905 - Oil is discovered in Gonzales County, leading to an economic boom
  • 1936 - The Gonzales Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, now the J.B. Wells Park, opens as a medical facility for polio patients
  • 1949 - The Gonzales Memorial Museum is established to preserve local history
  • 1967 - The Gonzales State School opens to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • 1988 - The Confederate Soldiers Monument is erected in the Gonzales Memorial Museum