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Bosque County, Texas

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Contents

Formed From

  • Bosque County was formed by the legislature and organized in Fall, 1854 from Milam District, McLennan County with Clfton as the county seat. It was named for the Bosque (woods) River.

Adjacent counties

Northwest
Erath County		 North
Somervell County		 Northeast
""Brazos River"
Johnson County
North arrow
West
Hamilton County		 West arrow Bosque County, Texas East arrow East
"Brazos River"
Hill County
South arrow
Southwest
 South
Coryell County		 Southeast
McLennan County

History/Timeline

Tonkawa, Waco and Tawakoni Indian tribes in area. Settlers from England and Norway arrived in 1850s.

Bosque County (/ˈbɒskiː/ BOSS-kee) is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the US state of Texas. As of Jul 1 2014 the estimated population was 17,780. Its county seat is Meridian, while Clifton is the largest city and the cultural/financial center of the county. The county is named for the Bosque River, which runs through the center of the county north to south. The Brazos River makes up the eastern border along with the Lake Whitney reservoir it feeds.

1721 Spanish explorer the Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo traveled to an East Texas mission from San Antonio de Bexar. Being an explorer, he wandered north off of the Old San Antonio Road, to explore.[1]
1722 De Aguayo camped near the Brazos River and another tributary. Near the tributary, were many trees. Explorers frequently named things, he named the tributary "Bosque," which is Spanish for "trees." While naming the county, settlers looked at the Bosque River and decided Bosque County was as good as any other name. [2]
1830 George Erath was hired to survey the land for colonization. Erath was not an explorer, but he also he liked to name things. While surveying the ninety-eighth meridian, he named 2 nearby tributaries the Meridian Creek and the Meridian Knobs. The county seat was thus named for one of these tributaries, as "Meridian".[2]
1850 Bosque County has a lot of Norwegian influence. Cleng Peerson immigrated to America, and settled kinsmen in 7 other states. Then Cleng Peerson reached Texas. In Texas Cleng Peerson urged other Norwegians in East Texas to go west, more central. [2]
1854 Cleng Peerson and friends (other Norwegians) were present for the land give-away the state offered settlers. They participated in the state's land give-away from the state and settled Clifton, Norse, and Cranfills Gap![2]
1854 - Bosque County was formed by the legislature. Fall, 1854, the first courthouse was built (a one-room log courthouse). The county elected county judge, Lowry Scrutchfield. Scrutchfield, had been an original settlers in the county. He even helped Erath lay out the town of Waco. Scrutchfield served as county judge 4 years. Indian attacks were occurring and Comanches were stealing livestock, etc as well as scalps. So Scrutchfield's time was also spent warding off Indian attacks. [2]


Bosque county and surrounding


http://www.bosquecounty.us/history-of-bosque-county/

Pre-1700's Tonkawa, Waco, and Tawakoni Indians lived and hunted Central Texas prior to any settlement by Europeans. Tonkawas had higher population and were peaceable. Stories say these Tonkawas never took a scalp. Settlers sometimes complained about theft.
Comanches lived here also, and raided travelers or settlers, stealing horses, property or taking scalps. When whites followed the Comanches, their guides were Tonkawas.√
1721 Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo, a Spaniard led the first exploring expedition and established missions. He traveled on the Old San Antonio Road to East Texas. One time he went off that road to the north.. This time he camped near the Brazos River and named that river the Bosque (Spanish for "woods") √
1825 Sterling C. Robertson received a land grant to colonize the Brazos River area. Not many homesteaders lived within Bosque county, however the grant did require travel through this area. This land was broken into districts by surveyors for the Republic of Texas and later the state of Texas, such as George B Erath.
1830s George B Earth named Meridian Creek and the Meridian Knobs since they were near the 98th meridian.
1841 The failed Texan-Santa Fe expedition came through this area. Some travelers decided to stay.
1847 Richard B Kimball, a New York banker received a land grant form the state near the Brazos River 14 miles south of the Paluxy River mouth. He and Jacob De Cordova developed the land and hoping to entice settlers to move to the new town, which they placed at the Brazos River near a shallow ford and named the town Kimball, Texas. It became a good place for settlers, cowboys to gather.. The railroad came through and missed Kimball, Texas, which was the killer fo the small town. Only a few people live there today.
1850, McLennan County was cut from Milam District. Universal Immigration Company of England bought 27,000 acres of land from Richard Kimball and laid out another town on the west bank of the Brazos. By the late 1850s, 30 families ( about 120 people arrived) They settled in Kopperl and Kimball near a massive rock formation named Solomon's Nose. The colony was named Kent. comprising approximately 120 people. They settled in an area between the present-day towns of Kopperl and Kimball under a massive rock formation called Solomon's Nose. They named their idealistic colony Kent.
Kent, Texas citizens had the problems Jamestown, Virginia had. The harsh winter created hardships and a high number of deaths. In the spring they bought cattle and seed corn. They did not fence the crop, so the cows ate all the corn. These colonists moved away or moved back to England.
1854 - Bosque County was created February 1854 from McLennan County. The county seat was picked, and Erath laid out Meridian in the center of the county on some land given by Dr. Josephus M. Steiner. Town lots were sold at auction.. A one story log cabin was the first courthouse.
1869 Courthouse #2 was a frame building, but burned in 1871. For 4 years county business was in a tent.√
1875 3rd Courthouse was built, a three-story structure of native stone., then was torn down 1886 for a newer better courthouse.√
1886-1890 4th Courthouse which was victorian Gothic style. It was reconstructed, restored 2005-07.√
1854 Norwegian immigrants began to move there as they felt the area was similar to that of Norway, such as Ole Canuteson and Cleng Peerson. The state of Texas offered 320 acres land to each family to settle here. The Norwegians accepted the offer. Some towns established by them are Clifton, Norse, and Cranfills Gap.√
Aug 7, 1854 was the first county election with a small turnout, but county officers were chosen.
Feb 23, 1861 - another election, the citizens voted for it 233 to 81. (the Norwegians voted against the secession and maintained their Union sentiments and did not join in the fighting).√
1861-65 Civil War records were skimpy. many county men served in the Second Frontier District, the Nineteenth Texas Infantry, and Company H of Col. T. C. Hawpe's regiment. A few of the members fought with the Army of Northern Virginia. Most of the soldiers guarded Bosque county against Indian attacks.√
Jn, 1865 many fought in battle of Dove Creek against the Kickapoos which occurred in Tom Green County, but 10 of Bosque County fighters were killed there. Mostly the Civil War slowed and halted development. Norwegians stopped immigrating.√
map of Bosque county within Texas
1870-1890 Progress began again. Reconstruction saw even an increase in the African American population. Lawlessness, such as killing freedmen occurred. The Austin Daily State Journal reported Bosque County averaged 2 killings/week. Bosque county White people blamed the Republican government. Santa Fe and Texas Central Railroads arrived.By 1900 there were 11 manufacturing businesses, by 1920 and 1970 the number was (21).
1930's, 40's, 50's saw wheat crops fail due to lack of rain, or spring floods, summer droughts, and insects. The soil was exhausted and eroding.
County residents were Democrats from 1876-1932 and again for Franklin Roosevelt.
1933 and the dry years of 1940's and 50's forced farmers to abandon the farms. The Downward trend in population continued until industrial growth began... The Civilian Conservation Corps opened Camp Clifton on the Bosque river. The corps beautified the city parks, constructed low-water dams, educated the farmers, issued the cash to the farmers for destroyed cotton and wheat. "Blue Eagles. appeared in store windows.
1947 forward. agriculture dropped as major economy, and manufacturing increased.. During the mid-twentieth century, agricultural production and some livestock production also decreased. Fortunately for the county, when agriculture dropped off, manufacturing picked up the slack. Manufacturing establishments steadily increased in number and value every census year after 1947. After 1970, employment opportunities increased due to industrial growth in lumber, stone products, limestone, and, most significantly, apparel and textiles.
1980s, Bosque County grew in population and economy. Residents of Clifton the largest town had "Operation Comeback" and grew by 40% in population and 100% in businesses.. The town renovated its old buildings, opened modern homes for senior citizens, began Goodall-Witcher Hospital, and opened a 150 employee garment factory, a oilfield tool manufacturing plant and a 100-employee lime plant.√√√√√√√


Land Grants

Settlement of the area began in 1825 when Sterling C. Robertson obtained a grant from the Mexican government in order to colonize the area along the Brazos River. Very few of the homesteaders chose to live within the current boundaries of Bosque County; however, the grant did prompt travel through the area. The land granted was later transformed into districts, one being the Milam District.

Government Offices

Bosque County has had four courthouses:1854, 1860, 1875, 1886[3]

1st Courthouse, 1854 One-room log courthouse was built.. Lowry Scrutchfield served as first county judge for 4 years.[3]

2nd Courthouse, 1860 Second courthouse was built in 1860 but was destroyed by fire in 1871. For 5 years, court was held off and on in a tent!!.(county was gathering resources and funds to build another building. [3]

1875 Courthouse

3rd Courthouse, 1875 A 2-story stone courthouse was erected in 1875. This seat of justice survived for 12 years. [3]

4th Courthouse, 1886 A fight occurred over the subject of a new courthouse between "Courthouse Party advocates" and the "Anti-Courthouse Party. New Courthouse advocates presented the deteriorating building with insufficient space. Anti-Courthouse wanted to stay with the Old Courthouse, (were tight with the money), felt the $60,000 to build it would break the county and raise their taxes. Even Commissioner Tom Pool began to fear for his life as he heard there was an ambush for voting for the new Courthouse. There were a mob gathered around the old courthouse with guns and anger. In the end no shots were fired when the courthouse was demolished.[3]

1886 Courthouse.

Anti-Courthouse Party commissioners A. J. Walton and E. J. W. Odgen would not allow their names on the cornerstone. Thus on the cornerstone only the names of County Judge R. G. Childress and commissioners Pool and John Goodman are to be found. By the time the new courthouse was complete even the 3 named pro courthouse men had been voted out of office.. This courthouse stands today.[3]

The Gothic tower and roofs were replaced with walls in 1935, as a result of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (WPA). That renovation also resulted in an addition to the west side of the courthouse.[3]

Geography

Land is very hilly broken by Brazos and Bosque Rivers. Limestone to alluvial soils. Cedar, oak, and mesquite trees are prevalent.

Location- Central Texas.
County Seat, 0 Meridian, Texas - lying in the center of the county at latitude 31°56' N and longitude 97°39' W.
Distance to DFW - 60 miles south of DFW, and 40 miles north of Waco.
Adjacent counties - Erath and Somervell counties to the north, Johnson and Hill counties to the east, McLennan and Coryell counties to the south, and Hamilton County to the west.
Type County agrarian area
Size -989 square miles.
District - part of the Grand Prairie subdivision of the North Central Plains
Soils -shallow to deep, well-drained soils underlain by limestone. Around the streams are deep, well-drained and moderately well-drained soils. Soil is the most important natural resource of the county since livestock, flora and fauna depend heavily upon it.
Other -Much sand, gravel, and limestone are mined in the county for construction.
Trees - alluvial soils of the riverbottoms support elm, cottonwood, river birch, sycamore, ash, pecan, and oak trees. Plains have cedar, oaks, and mesquite trees
Topography - Clusters of flat-topped hills, with low grassland areas. Prairie is covered with many grasses, such as Johnson grass.
Substrata - outcroppings of white limestone form tall, steep hills or cliffs. Throughout the plains areas, cedars, oaks, and mesquites are prevalent.

Mineral found in Bosque County is limestone.

Altitude - 480 to 1,200 feet.
Rivers - Brazos River on eastern edge, Bosque River runs north to south through center
Creeks streams "well-watered" area. Mesquite, Grass, Hill, Duffan's, Fall, Honey, Meridian, Spring, Turkey, and Mill creeks. Near the northeast corner of the county lies the well-known Kimball's Bend in the Brazos River.
Lake - 1951 Lake Whitney was constructed on the Brazos River at the southeastern edge of Bosque County. This reservoir is used for recreation, flood control, and power generation.
Watersupply of water is adequate for domestic use, livestock, and irrigation.
Temperature - Summers -very hot in the summer and cool in the winter, with occasional cold surges that cause sharp drops in otherwise mild temperatures. In the winter, the average low temperature is 47° F. The lowest temperature on record, however, is -3°, recorded at Whitney Dam on February 2, 1951. During the summer, the average daily high temperature is 95°. A record 111° was recorded on July 26, 1954.
Rainfall - average 33 inches/year distributed throughout the county. 6.22 inches rain on Oct 19, 1971
Growing season - 243 days; the last freeze in late March and the first freeze late November.
Flooding - Near North Bosque River S corner , there is impermeable bedrock where floods occur.
Serious floods occasionally and widely extended. land cultivation is a problem
Government agencies manage to education agains flooding, land exhaustion or land erosion.

Lakes

  • Lake Whitney on Brazos River


Local Resources

Agriculture

  • Beef cattle
  • Forages
  • Small grains
  • Turkeys
  • Hunting leases

Minerals

  • Limestone
  • Gas
  • Oil

Protected areas

  • Meridian State Park

Demographics

The 2000 census showed 17,204 people with a population density of 17 people/sq mile (7/km²). Racial breakdown of this county was 90.75% White, 1.92% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.17% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 12.23% of the population were Hispanic.

Bosque county.

Of 6,726 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found there were about 2.5 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.

Since 2015, Bosque County has been represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican DeWayne Burns. The previous 10-year representative was the Republican Rob Orr of Burleson, Johnson County.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

Income of $40,763 as a median, suggests 12.7% were below the poverty line including 14.6.%age 65 and older.

Major Highway

  • State Highway 6
  • State Highway 22
  • State Highway 144
  • State Highway 174
  • State Highways 174, 144, 22, and 6 traverse the county, along with numerous county and farm-to-market roads; the public road system comprises 1,106 miles.

Railroads

  • 1951 Lake Whitney was constructed on the Brazos River at the southeastern edge of Bosque County. This reservoir is used for recreation, flood control, and power generation.

Cities

Towns

Events/Festivals

  • Lutefisk Dinner in December, Cranfills Gap
  • Norwegian Country Christmas, Clifton
  • National Championship Barbecue Cookoff in October, Meridian

Schools

Listed by Category


Historical Census

1860 -- 2,005 —
1870 --4,981 148.4%
1880 -- 11,217 125.2%
1890 --14,224 26.8%
1900 -- 17,390 22.3%
1910 -- 19,013 9.3%
1920 -- 18,032 −5.2%
1930 -- 15,750 −12.7%
1940 -- 15,761 0.1%
1950 -- 11,836 −24.9%
1960 -- 10,809 −8.7%
1970 -- 10,966 1.5%
1980 -- 13,401 22.2%
1990 -- 15,125 12.9%
2000 -- 17,204 13.7%
2010 -- 18,212 5.9%
Est. 2014 --17,780

Notables

  • Jacob De Cordova, land agent, Member, Texas House of Representatives, 1808–1868
  • Calvin M. Cureton, Texas Attorney General from 1919 to 1921, Texas Chief Justice 1921-1940.
  • James T. Draper, Jr., Texas Southern Baptist clergyman was a pastor in Iredell in Bosque County in the late 1950s.
  • James E. Ferguson 26th Governor of Texas.
  • Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson, James' wife and the 29th and 32nd Governor of Texas.
  • Earle Bradford Mayfield, Texas State Senator, United States Senator.
  • John Lomax, American musicologist and folklorist.


County Resources

Cemeteries


Sources

  1. ↑ name=legend>http://www.texasescapes.com/TRIPS/GreatAmericanLegendTour/BosqueCountyCourthouse/BosqueCountyCourthouse.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 http://www.texasescapes.com/TRIPS/GreatAmericanLegendTour/BosqueCountyCourthouse/BosqueCountyCourthouse.htm




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Bosque County Courthouse
Bosque County Courthouse
Bosque County Map
Bosque County Map
Location of Bosque County in State
Location of Bosque County in State
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