Matagorda County, Texas

Albert Clinton Horton Ashby-Wilson Creek Community Bandstand Battle Island Bay City Library Bay City Methodist Church Bay City Post Office Bay City U.S.O. Building Bethel Baptist Church Bethlehem Christian Church Blessing Library Association Blessing State Bank Buckeye Cates-Price House Cedarvale Cemetery Christ Church Christ Episcopal Church City Hall and Fire Station, 1928 City of Matagorda Clemville Collegeport Collegeport Cemetery Confederate Defenses at the Mouth of Caney Creek Confederate Memorial (Matagorda) D. P. and Louise Moore House Daily Tribune and Matagorda County Tribune Dale-Rugeley-Sisk Home ca. 1830 Deming's Bridge Community Dr. Albert Moses Levy Dr. Henry Hofmann Loos Early Education in Matagorda Early Texas Freighting Eastview Cemetery Elliott's Ferry First Baptist Church of Bay City First Baptist Church of Palacios First Berean Missionary Baptist Church First Burials in Matagorda Cemetery, Benjamin Wightman and Esther Randall Wightman First Christian Church of Bay City First High School in Bay City First Presbyterian Church of Bay City First Presbyterian Church of Collegeport First Presbyterian Church of Palacios First United Methodist Church of Palacios Fisher-Sargent-Gottschalk House Gaines-Rugeley-LeTulle House General John Augustus Hulen Grimes Cemetery Grove Hill Missionary Baptist Church Hawkins Lake Home Hawley Cemetery Hensley - Gusman House Holman House Holy Cross Catholic Church Home of Horace Yeamans Hotel Blessing Ira Ingram Ira Ingram, First Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives John Duncan Kilbridge - Barkley House Lukefahr School Community Luther Hotel M. S. and Cora Alice Perry House Major George Morse Collinsworth Masonic Lodge #411 Matagorda Cemetery Matagorda Cemetery Matagorda County Matagorda County Matagorda Lodge No. 7, A.F. & A.M. Matagorda Methodist Church Matagorda, C.S.A. Memorial to all Veterans Midfield Cemetery Midfield Methodist Church Mother Zion Missionary Baptist Church Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church Old Bay City Bank Old Hawley Cemetery Old Matagorda Post Office Old Matagorda Post Office Palacios Cemetery Palacios Colored School Palacios Pavilions Palacios Preparatory School Philip H. Parker Post No. 2438, V.F.W. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Pilkington Slough Ranch Price-Farwell House Pybus-Koerber House R. J. Hill Building Richard Royster Royall Rugeley Building (Old City Bank) S. Rhoads Fisher Sacred Heart Catholic Church Saint Francis Catholic Church (Matagorda) Saint Mark's Episcopal Church (Bay City) Sargent Cemetery Sargent-Rugeley-Herreth House Selkirk Island Seth Ingram Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Sinclair David Gervais Site of Camp Hulen Site of Caney Post Office Site of Dream Colony of Jane McManus Site of Early Bay City School Site of Hilliard High School St. Francis Catholic St. John's Episcopal Church St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church St. Mark's Episcopal Church St. Peter's Baptist Church St. Peter's Catholic Church Texas Baptist Encampment Grounds The A. B. Pierce Home The Culver Home The F. Cornelius House The Matagorda Incident The Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1862 Van Vleck Independent School District Vine Grove Christian Church W.C. Williams Building William Walter "Pudge" Heffelfinger World War I and II Memorial Yeamans-Stallard House

Matagorda County, located in Texas along the Gulf Coast, has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Karankawa and Coahuiltecan peoples. It was first explored by Europeans in the late 17th century, with expeditions led by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and Alonso De León. These explorations laid the foundation for future colonization efforts.

In the 1820s, Anglo-American settlers began to arrive in Matagorda County, attracted by the fertile land and natural resources. The Mexican government granted land grants to individuals, and the population grew rapidly. The county played a significant role in the Texas Revolution, with the Battle of Matagorda taking place in 1832. The victory of Texan forces led to the expulsion of Mexican troops from the area.

The discovery of oil in the early 20th century brought a new wave of economic growth to Matagorda County. This led to the establishment of oil refineries and other industries, transforming the region's economy. However, the boom was followed by a period of decline due to the Great Depression and changes in the oil industry. The county experienced a resurgence in the late 20th century with the growth of tourism and recreational activities along the Gulf Coast.

Today, Matagorda County is known for its beautiful beaches and wetlands, attracting visitors from all over. It continues to be an important center for fishing, agriculture, and petrochemical industries. The county's history is preserved through museums and historical sites, providing a glimpse into its vibrant past.
Brief timeline of the history of Matagorda County, Texas:

  • 1825 - Stephen F. Austin established a colony around Matagorda Bay.
  • 1832 - Matagorda County was officially created and named after the Matagorda Bay.
  • 1834 - The town of Matagorda became the county seat.
  • 1836 - Texas gained independence from Mexico.
  • 1846 - Matagorda County became part of the state of Texas when it was admitted to the United States.
  • 1856 - The town of Bay City was established as a trade center.
  • 1875 - The county courthouse in Matagorda was destroyed by fire.
  • 1882 - Bay City became the new county seat.
  • 1942 - The Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge was established.
  • 1998 - Hurricane Frances caused significant damage to Matagorda County.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Matagorda County, Texas.