Williamson County, TX
Williamson County (sometimes abbreviated as "Wilco")[2] is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area.,[3] In 2009, the population was 410,686, a 57.7% increase from the 2000 figure [4]. Its county seat is Georgetown[5]. The county is named for Robert McAlpin Williamson, a leader and veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto[6].
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Growth
Williamson County has been growing at a fast rate for several years now because of its location just north of Austin. In fact, parts of Austin's city limits extend beyond the "chicken wire curtain" into southern Williamson County. Most of the growth has been residential but large companies, such as Dell have become a part of the area.
History Timeline
- 4500 b.c. Early native American inhabitants include Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, Kiowa, Comanche, Yojuane, Tawakoni, and Mayeye.[7][8][9][10]
- 1519-1685 Hernando Cortez and Alonso Álvarez de Pineda claim Texas for Spain.
- 1528 Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca expedition for Spain.
- 1686-1689 Alonso De León expeditions for Spain.
- 1716 Louis Juchereau de St. Denis and Domingo Ramón, Spanish expedition name Brushy Creek “Rio de San Xavier” and the San Gabriel River “Arroyo de las Bendítas Ánimas”.
- 1746-1755 San Xavier Missions - San Francisco Xavier de Horcasitas, San Ildefonso, and Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, founded by Franciscan monks of Mexico to serve Central Texas Indians.[12]
- 1821 Mexico claims its independence from Spain. Anglos from the north settle in Texas and claim Mexican citizenship.
- 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:[13][14]
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.
- 1838 Dr. Thomas Kenney establishes first civilian settlement named Kenney's Fort, on Brushy Creek.[15]
- 1839 Battle of Brushy Creek, last major Indian battle in Williamson County.[16]
- 1842 Governor Sam Houston advises settlers to pull back from the frontier.
- 1845, December 29 - Texas Annexation by the United States
- 1846, May 13 - The United States Congress officially declares war on Mexico.
- 1848
- February 2 - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ends the Mexican-American War.
- March 31 - Texas legislature establishes Williamson County, named for Robert McAlpin Williamson.[17] Georgetown is the county seat.
- 1860 Population of 3,638 whites and 891 slaves.
- 1861
- County votes against secession from the Union. The issue of secession divides the county for the duration of the War.
- 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.[18]
- 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.[19]
- 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.[19]
- 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
- 1880 First marked grave of a slave at Slave Burial Ground in Round Rock .[20]
- 1880’s-1890’s Migration in the county of Scandinavians, Germans, Czechs, Wends, and Austrians.
- 1909 Bartlett Colored School, the first county school for African American students.[21]
- 1911 Williamson County brick and stone courthouse built in Georgetown. Beaux-arts style. Architect Charles H. Page [22]
- 1918 Suffragette Jessie Daniel Ames of Georgetown leads a registration drive the adds 3,300 Williamson County women in time for the first primary in which they are eligible to vote.[23]
- 1922 Future Governor of Texas Dan Moody, then district attorney of the 26th Judicial District, prosecutes a group for criminal activities allegedly connected with the Ku Klux Klan and sends some of them to prison.[24]
- 1930 Extensive road work prompted by the 11,882 automobiles in the county.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,135 square miles (2,939 km²), of which, 1,123 square miles (2,908 km²) of it is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) of it (1.05%) is water. Western parts of the county are considered to be within the eastern fringes of Texas Hill Country and offer residents and visitors with rolling, open lands and an abundance of Texas Live Oak, Prickly Pear Cactus and Karst topography. Eastern parts of the county consist of flatter, more fertile lands for agriculture but are quickly being developed as the county's population continues to increase and expand out.
Major highways
- Interstate 35
- U.S. Highway 79
- U.S. Highway 183
- State Highway 29
- State Highway 45
- State Highway 95
- State Highway 130
- 183A Toll Road
- State Highway 195
Minor highways
Adjacent counties
- Bell County (north)
- Milam County (northeast)
- Lee County (east)
- Bastrop County (southeast)
- Travis County (south)
- Burnet County (west)
National protected area
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 38,072 | — | |
| 1910 | 42,228 | 10.9% | |
| 1920 | 42,934 | 1.7% | |
| 1930 | 44,146 | 2.8% | |
| 1940 | 41,698 | −5.5% | |
| 1950 | 38,853 | −6.8% | |
| 1960 | 35,044 | −9.8% | |
| 1970 | 37,305 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 76,521 | 105.1% | |
| 1990 | 139,551 | 82.4% | |
| 2000 | 249,967 | 79.1% | |
| Est. 2008 | 394,193 | 57.7% | |
As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 249,967 people, 86,766 households, and 66,983 families residing in the county. The population density was 223 people per square mile (86/km²). There were 90,325 housing units at an average density of 80 per square mile (31/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.41% White, 5.12% Black or African American, 0.45% Native American, 2.64% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 7.19% from other races, and 2.11% from two or more races. 17.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.9% were of German, 9.8% English, 8.8% American and 8.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 86,766 households out of which 43.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.00% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.80% were non-families. 17.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the county, the population was spread out with 30.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 35.60% from 25 to 44, 19.10% from 45 to 64, and 7.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,642, and the median income for a family was $66,208. Males had a median income of $43,471 versus $30,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,547. About 3.40% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.40% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.
In 2010 Williamson County was ranked number 34 on The Daily Caller's list of America's 100 most conservative-friendly counties.[26]
Politics
Williamson County is located in Texas's 31st Congressional district which is represented by Republican John Carter.
The 31st District leans strongly Republican and has a Cook PVI of R+14. Though presidential candidate Barack Obama fared better than usual for a Democratic candidate in the area against John McCain in 2008, this did not have much affect on other races and incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn continues to perform quite well locally.
Williamson County has one of the nation's highest property tax rates. In 2007, it was ranked #25th in the nation for property taxes as percentage of the homes value on owner occupied housing, the list only includes counties with a population of over 65,000 for accuracy . [1] link title. It also ranked ranked in the Top 100 for amount of property taxes paid and for percentage of taxes of income.
Williamson County flag
The stars on the flag surrounding the state of Texas represent the thirty-three viable communities identified by Clara Stearns Scarbrough in her 1973 book, Land of Good Water. In 1970, these communities ranged in population from twenty people in Norman's Crossing to more than 10,000 residents in Taylor. It is difficult to establish how many communities exist in Williamson County today, because the determination of "community" is subjective and without set criteria. However, in Williamson County in 2004, there were 11 towns with populations of over 1,000 people and seven towns with populations above 5,000.
Courtesy of the Williamson County Commissioner's Court
Communities
*unincorporated community
Austin is primarily in Travis County and Thorndale is primarily in Milam County. Bartlett lies on the line between Williamson and Bell counties. Cedar Park, Leander, and Round Rock extend into Travis County. Jollyville, Brushy Creek and Serenada are not communities as such but were census-designated places in 2000.
Newspapers
The newspapers that serve Williamson County include the Round Rock Leader, Williamson County Sun, Taylor Daily Press, Hutto News, Hill Country News, Liberty Hill Independent, Tribune-Progress and Community Impact Newspaper.[27]
Education
The following school districts serve Williamson County:
- Bartlett ISD (partly in Bell County, small portion in Milam County)
- Burnet Consolidated ISD (mostly in Burnet County, small portion in Llano County)
- Coupland ISD (very small portion in Travis County)
- Florence ISD (small portion in Bell County)
- Georgetown ISD
- Granger ISD
- Hutto ISD
- Jarrell ISD
- Leander ISD (partly in Travis County)
- Lexington ISD (mostly in Lee County, very small portion in Milam County)
- Liberty Hill ISD
- Round Rock ISD (small portion in Travis County)
- Taylor ISD
- Thrall ISD
- Thorndale ISD (mostly in Milam County)
Trivia
Williamson County is depicted in the Coen Brothers movie "Blood Simple."
References
- ^ THE COURTHOUSE OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Georgetown, Texas
- ^ http://www.wilco.org Williamson County, TX Home Page
- ^ "Austin-Round Rock, Texas MSA"". http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2009.taf?rankyear=2009&type=rank200&ID=1601.
- ^ State & County QuickFacts, U.S. Census Bureau
- ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Robert McAlpin Williamson Handbook of Texas entry
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Williamson County
- ^ Handbook of Texas, Mayeye
- ^ Access Genealogy, Yojuane
- ^ Access Genealogy, Tawakoni
- ^ The Six National Flags of Texas
- ^ Handbook of Texas, San Xavier Missions
- ^ The Magnificent Life of Vicente Ramon Guerrero
- ^ TAMU Chieftans of Mexican Independence
- ^ Kenney's Fort
- ^ Texas Historical Marker, Battle of Brushy Creek
- ^ Texas State Cemetery, Robert Williamson
- ^ Government documents, Emancipation Proclamation
- ^ Cinnamon Hearts Juneteenth
- ^ Texas Historical Markers, Slave Burial Ground
- ^ Texas Historical Markers Bartlett Colored School
- ^ Texas Escape, Williamson Co Courthouse
- ^ Jessie Daniel Ames
- ^ Texas State Cemetery, Dan Moody
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Palko, Chris (March 19, 2010). "America’s top 20 conservative-friendly counties". The Daily Caller. http://dailycaller.com/2010/03/19/americas-top-20-conservative-friendly-counties/2/. Retrieved 19 March 2010
- ^ Ben Trollinger. (2006) Cox to purchase Round Rock Leader, The Williamson County Sun, October 18, 2006
External links
| Austin portal |
Government & Non-Profit Sites
- Williamson County government's website
- Williamson Central Appraisal District web site
- Williamson County Historical Commisssion
- Williamson County Historical Commission Photos
- Robert Williamson Father of County
- Read Robert M. Williamson's entry in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
- Williamson County from the Handbook of Texas Online
Blogs and other sites
- Eye on Williamson - Liberal political blog
- Williamson Republic conservative political blog
- Williamson County chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas
- Williamson County Weather and Climate Data
30°39′20″N 97°35′02″W / 30.65551°N 97.58390°W
| Bell County | Milam County | |||
| Burnet County | Lee County | |||
| Williamson County, Texas | ||||
| Travis County | Bastrop County |
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Categories: Texas counties | Williamson County, Texas | Austin • Round Rock metropolitan area 9%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF,_%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8" title="উইলিয়ামসন কাউন্টি, টেক্সাস">ইমার ঠার/বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী