Colorado County, Texas

1890 Cornerstone Ceremony Abram Alley Log Cabin Alleyton Alleyton Cemetery Alleyton, C.S.A. Asa Townsend Bartels-Wirtz House Beason's (Beeson's) Crossing Ben Marshall Baker Benjamin Beason's Crossing of the Colorado River Brick Store House Brunson Building Caledonia Lodge No. 68, A. F. & A. M. Carriage Step on Prairie Street Charles William Tait Home City of Columbus Clear Creek Cemetery Colonel Joseph Worthington Elliott Wallace Colorado County Colorado County Courthouse Colorado County, City of Columbus Columbus Church of Christ Columbus Female Seminary Columbus Oak Columbus Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery Columbus State Bank Columbus Tap Railway Columbus' Old City Cemetery Confederate Memorial Museum Dick-Gillette House Dilue Rose and Ira Albert Harris House Dilue Rose Harris District Court Tree E. H. Henry Rosenwald School Eagle Lake Christian Church Early Site of Doctor Logue's Drugstore Ehrenwerth-Ramsey-Untermeyer Building Exum Philip Whitfield Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of the American Declaration of Independence First Producing Gas Well in Colorado County First United Methodist Church of Columbus Frelsburg Garwood George Glenn George W. Smith Glidden Glidden Baptist Church Hahn House Hancock-Heller Home Harrison-Hastedt House Hebrew Benevolence Society Cemetery Holman-Seifert Homestead Home of Texas Attorney General George McCormick Home of William Christian Papenberg Homesite of Fannie Baker Darden Hotel Dallas, 1912 Hunt-Cassell House Ilse-Rau House Jesse H. Johnson John Pettit Borden Joseph Jefferson Mansfield Joseph V. Frnka Kaiser Cemetery Keith-Traylor House Lakeside Sugar Refinery Maigne-Walther House Masonic Cemetery Mentz-Bernardo Community Methodism in Eagle Lake Mike Muckleroy Montgomery House Montgomery-Thatcher Cemetery Nada Nada Post Office Navigation of the Colorado River Oakland Oakland Normal School Old General Store Old Osage Old Stafford Opera House Old Water Tower Olive Branch Baptist Church & Rocky Chapel School Osage Community Cemetery Rice Culture in Colorado County Riesing Cemetery Robert Henry Harrison, M.D. Robson's Castle and Columbus, Texas, Meat and Ice Company Rosenfield Building Saint John's Episcopal Church Saint Michael's Catholic Church Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Simpson-Williamson House Site of J. Light Townsend Homestead Site of Provident City Site of Railway Hospital Site of the Camp Site of the Camp of Gen. Joaquin Ramirez y Sesma Stafford-Miller House Stage Lines Through Columbus Stein-Girndt House Strunk-Woolsey House Tait Compound Tate-Senftenberg-Brandon Home The Colorado County Citizen The Isgrig House The Rangers of Austin's Colony The Reverend Jacob Scherer Toliver-Cone House Town of Eagle Lake Town of Weimar Townsend-Koliba House Townsend-West House Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery Trinity Lutheran Church of Frelsburg Tumlinson Family Weimar Masonic Cemetery Weimar Masonic Lodge No. 423 Weimar Railroad Depot William B. DeWees William Demetris Lacey William Menefee William Shelby Delaney Youens-Hopkins House Zimmerscheidt-Leyendecker Cemetery

Colorado County, located in southeastern Texas, has a rich and varied history that stretches back to its establishment in 1836 as part of the Republic of Texas. The county was named after the Colorado River, which flows through it. The area was initially inhabited by various Native American groups, including the Karankawa and the Coahuiltecan tribes. The first European settlers arrived in the early 1820s, and by the 1830s, the region had become a hub for Anglo-American colonization.

During the Republic of Texas era, Colorado County saw rapid growth and development. The county seat, Columbus, was established in 1839 and quickly became a major commercial center. The town served as an important stop on the Old San Felipe Road, a major transportation route connecting East and Central Texas. The discovery of oil and gas in the region in the early 20th century further fueled the county's growth and economic prosperity.

Colorado County played an important role during the Civil War. Many residents of German descent who settled in the county were Union sympathizers, while others supported the Confederacy. The county witnessed several skirmishes and military actions, including the Battle of Columbus in 1862, when Confederate forces repelled a Union raid. After the war, the county slowly rebuilt its economy and infrastructure.

In the 20th century, Colorado County diversified its economy beyond agriculture. The discovery of oil and gas led to the development of a thriving energy industry, and manufacturing and services sectors also grew. Today, Colorado County is a mix of suburban and rural areas, with agriculture, oil and gas, and tourism forming the pillars of its economy. The county continues to preserve its historical sites and celebrate its diverse heritage, attracting visitors from across the state and beyond.
Brief timeline of the history of Colorado County, Texas:

  • 1821: The area that would become Colorado County, TX is included in Austin's Colony, established by the Mexican government.
  • 1835: The area plays a role in the Texas Revolution as volunteers from Colorado County participate in the Battle of Gonzales.
  • 1837: Colorado County is officially established as a county in the Republic of Texas.
  • 1838: Columbus is selected as the county seat.
  • 1846: Colorado County is incorporated into the state of Texas as it becomes part of the United States.
  • 1850s: The county experiences rapid growth as more settlers move into the area, establishing farms and ranches.
  • 1861: With the outbreak of the Civil War, many residents of Colorado County actively support the Confederacy.
  • 1870s: The county's economy starts to diversify with the discovery of oil, leading to the establishment of oil wells and refineries.
  • 1935: The Lower Colorado River Authority is established, and dams are constructed in the area for flood control and water supply.
  • 1970s: Colorado County experiences an agricultural decline as farming becomes less profitable.
  • 1997: The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts is opened in Austin, providing a cultural center for the region.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Colorado County, Texas.

Audiobooks about the history of Texas.