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Calhoun County, Texas

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Formed From

Calhoun County was created and organized in 1846 from Jackson, Matagorda and Victoria counties with Port Lavaca as the county seat.It was named for John Caldwell Calhoun, U.S. Statesman.

Adjacent Counties

Northwest
Victoria County		 North
Jackson County		 Northeast
North arrow
West
"Guadalupe River"
Refugio County		 West arrow Calhoun County, Texas East arrow East
Matagorda County
"Gulf of Mexico"
South arrow
Southwest
Aransas County		 South
"Gulf of Mexico"		 Southeast

History/Timeline

Calhoun county coast
16,500-13,500 BCE the first inhabitants of Calhoun region were Paleo-Indians Hunter-gatherers, and later Comanche, Tonkawa, and Karankawa tribes.[1]
1685-1690 René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle had faulty geographic maps and was trying to find the Mississippi. He landed near Powderhorn Lake in Calhoun area. France planted its flag on Texas soil. He had settlers with him, one ship was lost, another went back, and La Salle left to find help, food, etc. The settlers died from malnutrition, poor health or were attacked by the Karankawa indians. Within 5 years they were gone.[1]
.
1689 This area-(explored by Spaniards, De León).
1825 Martín De León of Mexico establishes a ranch near the old La Salle fort.( where the Spanish had buried the remains of the La Salle settlement.[1]
1831 Linnville becomes the first Anglo settlement, established by Irish-born merchant, statesman, soldier John J. Linn.[1]
1838- Antebellum Calhoun Co. - The Federalist wars of Texas and northern Mexico as well as the French Blockade of Mexican ports in 1838 and 1839, stimulated trade and commerce with the Calhoun Co. residents. Goods and ammunition for South Texas and northern Mexico passed through Lavaca, Cox's Point, Linnville, and Texana via wagon train for overland distribution by wagon train..[1]
1840 Comanche Indians raid Linnville.[1]
1842-1847- Empresario Henri Castro contracts to bring Alsatian immigrants from France, who landed at Port Lavaca . They journeyed inland to settle in Castroville, Medina County.[1]
immigration
1845-46 -Thousands of German immigrants from ships from Germany land at Indianola. Indiana was not settled, just a swamp. The wagon teams due to move the many settlers inland had vanished as the Mexican American war was starting. They were offered better wages to work for the army. The settlers were stranded at port of disembarkation Indianaola on Matagorda Bay. They had to dig holes in the sand to protect themselves from sunburn, mosquitoes. [2][3]

[4] [5] SEE: Johann Adam Baecker

1846 Calhoun County is formed.[1]
1848 - Indian Point was the primary entry port for European immigrants and Americans landing here to migrate westward. The road westward, north to San Antonio, or to Chihuahua, Mexico was called the Cart Road (this was not a paved road). [6]

[7]

1852 Indianola becomes the first county seat. A ship line ("Morgan steamship") - Indianola between New York. There was slave trading at Indianola. This year slave trading peaked.[1]
1853 Indianola relocated to Matagorda bay and Powderhorn Bayou which made it easier for the Morgan ships to navigate the ocean to arrive there. A picture is shown of Indianola in 1860. [1]
1854 Polish begin to arrive in Indianaola.[1]
up to 1854 - United States Army quartermaster depots were located at Lavaca.[1]
1858 Half Moon Reef Lighthouse built - Matagorda Bay..[1]
1860 County population is 2,642, including 414 slaves.
Indianola, 1860.
1861 Calhoun County 276-18 votes for secession from the Union. Calhoun county contributes volunteer companies-to the Confederate cause. Fort Esperanza, on Matagorda Island is constructed by Confederate forces using slave labor. [1]
1862 Union gunboats bombard Port Lavaca.[1]
1865-1866 - Yellow fever epidemic reduced the population. [1]
Post 1865: The main problems following the civil war were not political. When the planners decided to relocate to the vicinity of Powderhorn Bayou, inreased the vulnerability of the town to rising waters and storm surges of hurricanes. The first elevation is higher by several feet than the last townsite. Thus during a hurricane, the bay waters would rise, as well as the ocean, flooding the poor road and leaving no way out for townspeople.[1]
1870 -Fletcher S. Stockdale had real property valued at $100,00[1]
1875 a Gulf storm caused heavy damage to Indianola then the tidal wave hit, 1886.[1]
1886 - Tidal wave hit Indianola and Hurricane destroys Indianola. All that is left of the courthouse is a crumbly foundation.[1]
1892 - Olivia is established (Lutheran community) , established by Swedes.
1909 - Port O’Connor established and Railroad ( St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway) terminus, Port O’Connor.
1920 Port Lavaca builds a seawall to add protection from hurricanes.[1]
1931 Lavaca Bay causeway is built[1]
1934-1935 Oil and natural gas discovered near Port Lavaca.[1]
1947 Alcoa opens at Point Comfort.[1]
1952 Union Carbide opens -Seadrift.[1]
1961 Category 5 Hurricane Carla hits between Port Lavaca and Port O’Connor.[1]

Government Offices

1846 1st County Seat -Port Lavaca became county seat with the formation of Calhoun County. It is 14 miles NW of Indianola via Hwy 316. NO Image. [8]
1857 2nd Calhoun County Courthouse Is in Indianola. This is just the foundation. According to Texas Escapes this "destroyed in the 1886 hurricane, part of the building's foundation can still be seen at low tide in Indianola." - Terry Jeanson,only an image of beach and foundation pieces.[8]
1887 Courthouse.
1887 3rd courthouse - is 2 story this photo hangs in the current courthouse.[8]
1911 Calhoun Courthouse
1911 4th Calhoun County Courthouse, Courtesy of TxDoT was built by the plans accepted by Commissioner's Court. photo hangs n Calhoun Co. Museum. It is 2 story, classical revival/Texas Renaissance style. It was demolished 1959 for new courthouse,Calhoun County Museum

[8]


1959 5th Courthouse, and renovated.
1959 5th Courthouse- is concrete, steel and aluminum. Most definitely modern.[8]

Geography

Location in Texas.

On Texas Gulf Coast - Calhoun county is named for John Caldwell Calhoun, who was 7th vice president of USA. It is located on the Gulf coast line, near Matagorda bay.

  • Soil facilitates ranching more than farming.

Airports Calhoun County Airport, northwest of Port Lav aca

Major Highways U.S. Highway 87 State Highway 35 State Highway 185

Local Resources

Industry/Crops:

  • Cattle, sorghum, rice, corn, pecans, and soybeans. (70& of the land was in farms and ranches. Farmers face and continue to face problems poor soil, irrigation, soil compaction, poor drainage, and shoreline erosion, Along with the devastating destruction of hurricanes.
Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Management Area, managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Protected areas
    • Matagorda Island Lighthouse, Matagorda Island, Port O'Connor

Demographics

Taxable property in Calhoun County grew between 1870 and 1912 from $1.5 million to almost $4 million

Cities

Schools


  • All of Calhoun County is served by the Calhoun County Independent School District.


  • Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic school, pre-K through grade 8, has also served the county since 1996.


  • Matagorda Island Lighthouse, Matagorda Island, Port O'Connor

Historical Census

1850 - 1,110
1860 - 2,642
1870 - 3,443
1880 - 1,739
1890 - 815
1900 - 2,395
1910 - 3,635
1920 - 4,700
1930 - 5,385
1940 - 5,911
1950 - 9,222
1960 - 16,592 7
1970 - 17,831
1980 - 19,574
1990 - 19,053
2000 - 20,647
2010 - 21,381
  • 1849, 1852, and 1853 Cholera


Notables

Indians

Found in this area include: 1) Clovis point projectiles are found in this area (examples of Paleo-American) 2) Shell middens - Mustang Lake, an arm of San Antonio Bay. 3) Karankawa Indians populated along shoreline and roamed the Coastal Plain until the middle of the nineteenth century, when they were notorious among white settlers. Subgroups of the Karankawas occupied Matagorda Bay and Matagorda Peninsula. 4) Fletching tools, scrapers, and spear and arrow points - Lavaca Bay and Six Mile Creek. 5) Tonkawa shelter sites - found at Cox's Creek, Keller's Creek, and the mouth of the Guadalupe River, Green Lake, Chocolate Bayou, and Linn's Bayou in Port Lavaca.


Cemeteries

Cit y of The Dead




During the civil War, Indianola was occupied by both the confederate as well as Union troops. According to this article: called Indianola Cemeteries, by Victoria County Genealogical Society:[9]

Calhoun county Indianola Cemeteries

The Confederate troop deaths were buried inside the Indianola Cemetery fence and Old Town Cemetery. The Black and white Federall (union) soldiers were buried outside the fence of the Hospital Cemetery in separate groups. There were 110 burials of Union soldiers. Post Civil War those bodies were moved to the Brownsville National Cemetery after the war.
1875 -When the 1875 hurricane hit Indianola, it uncovered the graves buried there. Many graves and bodies were swept to sea. The storm even swept away the fence, and created new landmarks.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc02
  2. ↑ "Die Auswanderung as dem Kreis, Limburg- Weilburg in den Kreis, Bastrop Co., Texas" (the Emigration from Limburg-Weilburg County to Bastrop Co., Texas" by Manfred Kunz: translated by Carol Marlo of St Louis, MO exerpt published in the St Louis Genealogical Quarterly I Vol XXXIV No.2 1991; I & 2
  3. ↑ Vol XXIV Genealogical and Historical Society of Caldwell County; Luling, Texas, Plum Creek Almanac, Vol 10
  4. ↑ http://www.texasescapes.com/WTBlock/Texas-German-Pilgrims-Death-March-to-Comal-County.htm
  5. ↑ Louis E. Brister, ADELSVEREIN, Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ufa01), accessed April 13, 2015. Uploaded on June 9, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  6. ↑ http://www.texasescapes.com/WTBlock/Texas-German-Pilgrims-Death-March-to-Comal-County.htm
  7. ↑ Louis E. Brister, ADELSVEREIN, Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ufa01), accessed April 13, 2015. Uploaded on June 9, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGulfCoastTowns/Port-Lavaca-Texas-Calhoun-County-Courthouse.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.calhouncountyhc.org/Indianola%20Cemeteries.pdf




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