San Saba County, Texas
San Saba County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Western Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 6,186. Its county seat is San Saba[1]. It is named for the San Saba River, which flows through the county.
United Confederate Veterans organized a chapter known as the "William P. Rogers Camp" in San Saba County after the death in 1889 of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Rogers, a hero of the Battle of Corinth in Mississippi, was a native of Georgia. He did not live in San Saba, but his daughter, Fannie, married one of Rogers' officers, George Harris, who moved there in 1880. A former county judge, Harris served as a commander of Rogers Camp, named for his father-in-law. The veterans' organization lasted until the early 1930s.[2]
During the 1880s, a vigilante mob, organized like a fraternal lodge, killed a number of San Saba County settlers. In 1896, the Texas Rangers began an investigation. Uluth M. Sanderson, editor of the San Saba County News, ran editorials against the mob. Ultimately, the mob was broken by the Ranger Captain Bill McDonald and District Attorney W.C. Linder. Few of the outlaws ever paid for their crimes.[3]
Abraham Lincoln Galloway (March 3, 1901—August 17, 1961) was a rancher in San Saba County. An historical marker at the courthouse in San Saba describes him as: "One of the greatest San Saba cowboys ever to grace the back of a horse. He enjoyed deep and lasting friendships with many. Abe was truly a good man with a heart as big as the cowboy's loop he was known for throwing. His integrity and his word were accepted by all who knew him, a handshake was his bond." Galloway, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Galloway, is interred at Hillcrest Cemetery.[4]
Another San Saba County historical marker honors the Texas state District Judge Jack B. Miller (October 21, 1921—February 15, 1991).[5]
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History Timeline
- 1519-1685 Hernando Cortez and Alonso Álvarez de Pineda claim Texas for Spain.
- 1732 Governor of Spanish Texas, Juan Antonio Bustillo y Ceballos, arriving on feast day of 6th Century monk St. Sabbas, names the San Saba River the Río de San Sabá de las Nueces.[8]
- 1757 Santa Cruz de San Sabá Mission established.
- 1788 José Mares expedition from San Antonio to Santa Fe.
- 1821 Mexico claims its independence from Spain. Anglos from the north settle in Texas and claim Mexican citizenship
- 1828 Twenty-eight people from Stephen F. Austin group pass through. A portion of the county is included in Austin’s grants from the Mexican government.
- 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:[9][10]
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
- 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.
- 1842 Fisher-Miller land grant contains most of later land deeds.
- 1845, December 29 - Texas Annexation by the United States
- 1846, May 13 - The United States Congress officially declares war on Mexico.
- 1847 Meusebach•Comanche Treaty is signed in San Saba, County.[11]
- 1848, February 2 - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ends the Mexican-American War.
- 1854 Harkey family settle at Wallace and Richland creeks.[12] David Matsler family move from Burnet County to Cherokee Creek.
- 1856 San Saba County is organized from Bexar County and named for the San Saba River. San Saba selected as county seat.
- 1858 Seventh Texas Legislature confirms boundaries of the county.
- 1860 Population 913, which includes 98 slaves.
- 1861
- County votes for secession from the Union.
- February 1 - Texas secedes from the Union.
- March 2 - Texas joins the Confederate States of America.
- February 1 - Texas secedes from the Union.
- 1863, January 1 • The Emancipation Proclamation.[13]
- 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.[14]
- 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.[14]
- April 15 • President Abraham Lincoln dies of a head wound inflicted by assassin John Wilkes Booth.
- 1867 County is divided into ten school districts.
- 1870, March 30 - The United States Congress readmits Texas into the Union
- 1874 Edmund E. Risen devotes his work to improving local nuts, in particular the pecan. San Saba eventually bills itself as the Pecan Capital of the World.[15][16]
- 1880’s-1896 Mob rule and local feuding in the county results in the Texas Rangers restoring order.
- 1882 San Saba Male and Female Academy is founded.
- 1889 United Confederate Veterans William P. Rogers Camp No. 322 is established, named for Col. William P. Rogers.[17]
- 1895 West Texas Normal and Business College is organized by Francis Marion Behrns.[18]
- 1896 Parallel wire suspension Beveridge Bridge built across the San Saba River by Flinn, Moyer Bridge Co.[20]
- 1897, May 27 - John O. Meusebach dies at his farm at Loyal Valley in Mason County, is buried in the Marschall Meusebach Cemetery at Cherry Spring.[21]
- 1911
- Lometa-Eden branch of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway comes through San Saba County.[22]
- San Saba county brick and sandstone courthouse is erected. Architect Chamberlin & Co.
- 1930
- Half of the county farms are Tenant farming.
- Uncle Billy Gibbons gives the Boy Scouts of America a 99-year lease to campgrounds along Brady Creek on his ranch.[23]
- 1938 San Saba River floods causing county-wide devastation. One-third of the town of San Saba is under water.
- 1940 Town of San Saba is incorporated.
- 1953-56 Prolonged drought brings hardship to the county agricultural economy.
- 1960 San Saba County News merges with the San Saba Star.
- 1965 Historical marker honors pioneer doctor Edward D. Doss.[24]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,138 square mile (2,948 km²), of which 1,134 square miles (2,938 km²) are land and 4 square miles (10 km²) (0.33%) are water.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Mills County (north)
- Lampasas County (east)
- Burnet County (southeast)
- Llano County (south)
- Mason County (southwest)
- McCulloch County (west)
- Brown County (northwest)
Demographics
As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 6,186 people, 2,289 households, and 1,616 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2/km²). There were 2,951 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile (1/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 84.50% White, 2.73% Black or African American, 1.07% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 10.52% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 21.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,289 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 20.80% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 20.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,104, and the median income for a family was $35,255. Males had a median income of $25,334 versus $20,111 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,309. About 13.30% of families and 16.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.50% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.
Local Attractions
San Saba County is home to the only suspension bridge open to traffic in the state of Texas, The Regency Bridge spanning the Colorado River, located off FM 500 in the northern part of the county, was built in 1939.
The Beveridge Bridge, built in 1896 spanning the San Saba River, was the only other suspension bridge in Texas open to traffic until 2004 when it was replaced by a concrete bridge. The Beveridge Bridge has been restored and is open as a pedestrian bridge. The bridge is located on the northwest edge of the city of San Saba, on China Creek Road, just north of the Wedding Oak.
Localities
Towns
Other places
See also
References
- ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Texas Historical Commission marker, 2002, San Saba County, Texas, Courthouse, San Saba, Texas
- ^ Texas Historical Commission marker, 2005, San Saba County Courthouse
- ^ Historical marker, San Saba County, Texas
- ^
- ^ Handbook of Texas, San Saba County
- ^ The Six National Flags of Texas
- ^ Handbook of Texas, San Saba River
- ^ The Magnificent Life of Vicente Ramon Guerrero
- ^ TAMU Chieftans of Mexican Independence
- ^ Texas Historical Marker, Meusebach-Comanche Treaty
- ^ Texas Historical Marker, Harkey Family
- ^ Government documents, Emancipation Proclamation
- ^ Cinnamon Hearts Juneteenth
- ^ San Saba Chamber of Commerce
- ^ Texas Historical Marker, Edmund E. Risen
- ^ Texas Historical Markers UCV Veterans Camp
- ^ Texas Historical Marker, WT College
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Francis Marion Behrns
- ^ Texas Escapes, Beveridge Bridge
- ^ Find A Grave, John O. Meusebach
- ^ Texas Escapes, San Saba, County
- ^ Texas Historical Marker, Uncle Billy Gibbons
- ^ Texas Historical Marker Edward D. Doss
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
- San Saba County government’s website
- San Saba from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Texas Beyond History, Mission San Saba
| Brown County | Mills County | |||
| McCulloch County | Lampasas County | |||
| San Saba County, Texas | ||||
| Mason County | Llano County | Burnet County |
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Coordinates: 31°10′N 98°49′W / 31.16°N 98.81°W
Categories: Texas counties | San Saba County, Texas | 1856 establishments
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