Calhoun County, Texas
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 20,647. Its county seat is Port Lavaca[1]. It is a part of the Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Calhoun County is named for John Caldwell Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States.
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History Timeline
- Paleo-Indians Hunter-gatherers, and later Comanche, Tonkawa, and Karankawa tribes, first inhabitants. [2]
- 1519-1685 Hernando Cortez and Alonso Álvarez de Pineda claim Texas for Spain.
- 1685-1690 René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle lands near Powderhorn Lake in Calhoun County. France plants its flag on Texas soil, but departs after only five years. [3]
- 1689 The future county is explored by Spaniards, including Alonso De León.
- 1821 Mexico claims its independence from Spain. Anglos from the north settle in Texas and claim Mexican citizenship.
- 1825 Martín De León of Mexico establishes a ranch near the old La Salle fort.
- 1829, September 15 - Mexican President Vicente Ramon Guerrero, himself an ex-slave of Spanish, African and Native American descent, emancipates all slaves within the Republic of Mexico: [4] [5]
1st - Slavery is abolished in the republic.
- 2nd - Consequently, those who have been until now considered slaves are free.
- 3rd - When the circumstances of the treasury may permit, the owners of the slaves will be indemnified in the mode that the laws may provide. And in order that every part of this decree may be fully complied with, let it be printed, published, and circulated.
- Given at the Federal Palace of Mexico, the 15th of September, 1829.
- Vicente Guerrero To José María Bocanegra
- 1831 Linnville becomes the first Anglo settlement, established by Irish-born merchant, statesman, soldier John J. Linn. [6][7]
- 1836
- March 2 - Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico establishes the Republic of Texas.
- March 6 - The Alamo falls.
- April 21-22 - Battle of San Jacinto, Antonio López de Santa Anna captured.
- May 14 - Santa Anna signs the Treaties of Velasco.
- April 21-22 - Battle of San Jacinto, Antonio López de Santa Anna captured.
- March 6 - The Alamo falls.
- 1840 Comanche Indians loot and sack Linnville. [8]
- 1842
- April 20 - Adelsverein [9] organized in Germany to promote emigration to Texas.
- 1842-1847 Empresario Henri Castro contracts to bring Alsatian immigrants from France, who use Port Lavaca as a holding site before moving on to settle Castroville in Medina County. [11]
- 1844, June 26 - Henry Francis Fisher sells interest in land grant to Adelsverein
- 1845
- Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels secures title to 1,265 acres of the Veramendi grant.
- February - Thousands of German immigrants are stranded at port of disembarkation Indianaola on Matagorda Bay. With no food or shelters, living in holes dug into the ground, an estimated 50% die from disease or starvation.
- Of the living, some stay to establish the future Indianola [12] and Seadrift. [13] [14] Others begin to walk to their destinations hundreds of miles away. [15]
- May - John O. Meusebach arrives in Galveston. [16]
- December 20 - Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sell their rights in the land grant to Adelsverein.
- December 29 - Texas Annexation by the United States
- December 20 - Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sell their rights in the land grant to Adelsverein.
- May - John O. Meusebach arrives in Galveston. [16]
- Of the living, some stay to establish the future Indianola [12] and Seadrift. [13] [14] Others begin to walk to their destinations hundreds of miles away. [15]
- February - Thousands of German immigrants are stranded at port of disembarkation Indianaola on Matagorda Bay. With no food or shelters, living in holes dug into the ground, an estimated 50% die from disease or starvation.
- 1846
- April 4 - Calhoun County is formed from parts of Victoria, Jackson, and Matagorda counties. It is named for then Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee John C. Calhoun. Lavaca was the first county seat.
- May 13 - The United States Congress officially declares war on Mexico.
- 1848, February 2 - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ends the Mexican-American War.
- 1852
- Indianola becomes the county seat.
- 1854 Poles begin to arrive in Indianaola.
- 1860 County population is 2,642, including 414 slaves
- 1861
- Calhoun County 276-18 votes for secession from the Union. Contributes volunteer companies-to the Confederate cause.
- February 1 - Texas secedes from the Union.
- March 2 - Texas joins the Confederate States of America.
- February 1 - Texas secedes from the Union.
- 1862 Union gunboats bombard Port Lavaca. [23]
- 1863, January 1 • The Emancipation Proclamation. [24]
- 1865
- April 9 • Robert E. Lee formally surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House.
- April 15 • President Abraham Lincoln dies of a head wound inflicted by assassin John Wilkes Booth.
- June 19 • Major General Gordon Granger arrives in Galveston to enforce the emancipation of all slaves. It is the first time African Americans in Texas know of the Emancipation. The date becomes celebrated annually in Texas as Juneteenth, and later as an official state holiday known as Emancipation Day. [25]
- December 6 • The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits slavery.
- June 19 • Major General Gordon Granger arrives in Galveston to enforce the emancipation of all slaves. It is the first time African Americans in Texas know of the Emancipation. The date becomes celebrated annually in Texas as Juneteenth, and later as an official state holiday known as Emancipation Day. [25]
- April 15 • President Abraham Lincoln dies of a head wound inflicted by assassin John Wilkes Booth.
- 1870, March 30 - The United States Congress readmits Texas into the Union.
- 1875 A Gulf tropical storm heavily damages Indianola. [26]
- 1900 European immigrants include Irish, Scots, Germans, and Czech Bohemians.
- 1909
- Port O’Connor is established. [28]
- The St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway establishes a terminus at Port O’Connor.
- 1920 Port Lavaca builds a seawall to protect itself against hurricanes.
- 1930 One-fourth of the population is described as Mexican.
- 1931 Lavaca Bay causeway is constructed. [29]
- 1934-1935 Oil and natural gas discovered near Port Lavaca.
- 1947 Alcoa opens a plant at Point Comfort.
- 1952 Union Carbide opens a plant near Seadrift.
- 1961, September 11 • Category 5 Hurricane Carla makes landfall between Port Lavaca and Port O’Connor.
- 1983 Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Management Area is run by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department under an agreement between the United States Department of the Interior and the state of Texas.
- 1988 Formosa Plastics opens a plant at Point Comfort.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,032 square miles (2,673 km²), of which, 512 square miles (1,327 km²) of it is land and 520 square miles (1,346 km²) of it (50.36%) is water.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Jackson County (north)
- Matagorda County (east)
- Gulf of Mexico (southeast)
- Aransas County (southwest)
- Refugio County (west)
- Victoria County (northwest)
National protected area
Demographics
As of the census[30] of 2000, there were 20,647 people, 7,442 households, and 5,574 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 10,238 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.04% White, 2.63% Black or African American, 0.49% Native American, 3.27% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 13.19% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. 40.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.4% were of German, 9.4% American and 5.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 67.9% spoke English, 29.1% Spanish and 1.2% Chinese as their first language.
There were 7,442 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the county, the population was spread out with 28.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 100.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,849, and the median income for a family was $39,900. Males had a median income of $35,957 versus $19,772 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,125. About 12.70% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated areas
Education
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.
Transportation
Calhoun County Airport, a general aviation airport, is located in unincorporated Calhoun County northwest of Port Lavaca.
References
- ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Calhoun County [1]
- ^ The Six National Flags of Texas [2]
- ^ The Magnificent Life of Vicente Ramon Guerrero [3]
- ^ TAMU Chieftans of Mexican Independence [4]
- ^ Handbook of Texas, John Linn [5]
- ^ Texas Excapes, Linnville [6]
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Linnville Raid of 1840 [7]
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Adelsverein [8]
- ^ Texas Almanac, The German Settlements in Central Texas [9]
- ^ Texas Historical Markers, Alsatian Immigration Through Lavaca Bay [10]
- ^ Texas Escapes, Indianaola [11]
- ^ Texas Escapes, Seadrift [12]
- ^ Texas Historical Markers, Seadrift [13]
- ^ Texas Escapes, Death March to Comal County [14]
- ^ Handbook of Texas, John O. Meusebach [15]
- ^ Handbook of Texas, The Morgan Line [16]
- ^ Texas Historical Markers, Half Moon Reef Lighthouse [17]
- ^ Lighthouse Friends [18]
- ^ Maritime Heritage Program [19]
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Fort Esperanza [20]
- ^ NYTimes, The Capture of Fort Esperanza [21]
- ^ Texas Historical Markers, Port Lavaca Bombardment [22]
- ^ Government documents, Emancipation Proclamation [23]
- ^ Cinnamon Hearts Juneteenth [24]
- ^ Weather Research Center, Texas Tropical Storms and Hurricanes [25]
- ^ Texas Escapes, Olivia [26]
- ^ Texas Escapes, Port O’Connor [27]
- ^ Port Lavaca Mainstreet [28]
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
| Victoria County | Jackson County | |||
| Refugio County | Matagorda County | |||
| Calhoun County, Texas | ||||
| Aransas County | Gulf of Mexico |
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Coordinates: 28°26′N 96°37′W / 28.44°N 96.61°W
Categories: Texas counties | Calhoun County, Texas | Guadalupe River (Texas) | Hurricane Ike | Victoria, Texas metropolitan area pe="text/javascript">if (window.runOnloadHook) runOnloadHook();