Kerr County, Texas

A. C. Schreiner, Jr. Home Apelt Armadillo Farm Barnett Chapel Methodist Church Beitel Lumberyard Brown Cemetery Cade House Camp Verde Barracks Camp Verde General Store and Post Office Camp Verde, C.S.A. Captain Charles Schreiner Captain Charles Schreiner Home Captain Joseph A. Tivy Center Point Cemetery Center Point Christian Church Center Point School Center Point United Methodist Church Christian Dietert Mill Cypress Creek Cemetery Cypress Creek Cemetery Divide School Doyle Colored School Early Settlers of Kerr County Education in Hunt First Baptist Church of Kerrville First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Kerrville First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville (sanctuary) First School House Gatlin Site Great Western Cattle Trail Gus F. Schreiner Home Guthrie Building H-E-B Henderson Cemetery (Two miles north) Hermann Sons Home for the Aged Hunt Hunt Japonica Cemetery Indian Sites on Cypress Creek James Kerr Kennedy-Petersen House Kerr County Kerrville Kerrville Daily Times Kerrville First United Methodist Church Kerrville Lodge No. 697, A.F. & A.M. Kerrville Mountain Sun Kerrville Telephone Company Mary Ann Kent Byas Chambers Morriss Masonic Building Mosty Brothers Nursery Mount Olive Baptist Church N.O. Reynolds Nichols Cemetery Notre Dame Catholic Church Notre Dame Catholic School Old Ingram Old Spanish Trail Order of the Eastern Star, Kerrville Chapter #24 Penateka Comanches Remount Station Rising Star Lodge No. 429, A.F. & A.M. Roggenbucke Homestead Saint Peter's Episcopal Church San Antonio & Aransas Pass Passenger Train Depot Schreiner College (Schreiner Institute) Schumacher Crossing on the Guadalupe River Scott and Josephine Carr Schreiner Site of Animal Health Discovery Site of Camp Verde Site of Reservation School Site of Sherman's Mill Site of Zanzenberg Starkey Cemetery Stoneleigh Ranch Sunset Cemetery Texas Lions Camp The Comparette Home The Cypress Creek School The Dowdy Tragedy of 1878 The Famous Door Café The Original Building of Tivy School The Pampell Opera House Turtle Creek School and Cemetery Wharton Cemetery Woolls Building Y.O. Ranch Zion Lutheran Church

Kerr County, located in the hill country of Texas, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Lipan Apache and Comanche, who utilized the region's abundant resources for hunting and gathering. European settlers began arriving in the early 19th century, primarily from Germany, and established the first permanent settlements.

In 1845, Texas became the 28th state of the United States, and Kerr County was officially formed in 1856. It was named after James Kerr, a major in the Texas Revolution and a member of the Republic of Texas Congress. The county's early economy was centered around agriculture, with ranching, farming, and timber production being the main industries.

During the Civil War, Kerr County, like many other parts of Texas, was divided in allegiance between the Union and the Confederacy. The area experienced occasional raids and skirmishes, but overall remained relatively peaceful during the conflict. After the war, the county began to recover and flourish economically, with the arrival of the railroad in 1887, which improved transportation and access to markets.

The 20th century brought further growth and development to Kerr County. The discovery of oil in the nearby counties stimulated the economy, and Kerrville, the county seat, became a regional hub for commerce and services. The establishment of Schreiner Institute, now Schreiner University, in 1923, brought higher education opportunities to the area. Today, Kerr County continues to attract residents and visitors with its natural beauty, historical landmarks, and vibrant community life.
Brief timeline of the history of Kerr County, Texas:

  • 1856 - Kerr County is officially established on January 26.
  • 1857 - The first county government is organized in October.
  • 1870 - The city of Kerrville is founded as a trade center for the surrounding area.
  • 1876 - Kerrville becomes the county seat of Kerr County.
  • 1888 - The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway reaches Kerrville, stimulating growth in the area.
  • 1890 - Kerrville is incorporated as a city.
  • 1930 - The Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church South establishes a permanent site for summer encampments in Kerrville, which later becomes the Mo-Ranch conference center.
  • 1962 - The Kerrville Folk Festival is first held, becoming one of the longest continuously running music festivals in the United States.
  • 1998 - The Kerrville-Schreiner State Park is opened to the public.

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