San Saba County, Texas
San Saba County, Texas |
The San Saba County Courthouse in San Saba with emblem "From the People to the People."
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Location in the state of Texas |
Texas's location in the U.S. |
Founded |
1856 |
Seat |
San Saba |
Area
- Total
- Land
- Water |
1,138 sq mi (2,947 km²)
1,134 sq mi (2,937 km²)
4 sq mi (10 km²), 0.33% |
Population
- (2010)
- Density |
6,131
5/sq mi (2/km²) |
Website |
www.sansabacounty.org |
San Saba County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Western Central Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,131.[1] Its county seat is San Saba[2]. It is named for the San Saba River, which flows through the county.
History
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.[3]
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.
Timeline
- Early native American inhabitants include Tonkawa, Caddo, Apache and Comanche.[4]
- 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.[5][6]
- 1757 Santa Cruz de San Sabá Mission established.[5]
- 1788 José Mares expedition from San Antonio to Santa Fe.[7]
- 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.[4]
- 1842 Fisher-Miller Land Grant contains most of later land deeds.[8]
- 1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty is signed in San Saba, County.[8]
- 1854 Harkey family settle at Wallace and Richland creeks. David Matsler family move from Burnet County to Cherokee Creek.[4][9]
- 1856 San Saba County is organized from Bexar County and named for the San Saba River. San Saba selected as county seat.[4]
- 1858 Seventh Texas Legislature confirms boundaries of the county.[4]
- 1860 Population 913, which includes 98 slaves.[4]
- 1867 County is divided into ten school districts.[4]
- 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.[10]
- 1880’s-1896 Mob rule and local feuding in the county results in the Texas Rangers restoring order.[11]
- 1882 San Saba Male and Female Academy is founded.[4][12]
- 1889 United Confederate Veterans William P. Rogers Camp No. 322 is established, named for Col. William P. Rogers.[3]
- 1895 West Texas Normal and Business College is organized by Francis Marion Behrns.[13][14]
- 1896 Parallel wire suspension Beveridge Bridge built across the San Saba River by Flinn, Moyer Bridge Co.[15]
- 1911 Lometa-Eden branch of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway comes through San Saba County.[16] San Saba County brick and sandstone courthouse is erected. Architect Chamberlin & Co.[17]
- 1930 Half of the county farms are Tenant farming.[4] Uncle Billy Gibbons gives the Boy Scouts of America a 99-year lease to campgrounds along Brady Creek on his ranch.[18]
- 1938 San Saba River floods causing county-wide devastation. One-third of the town of San Saba is under water.[19]
- 1940 Town of San Saba is incorporated.[20]
- 1953-56 Prolonged drought brings hardship to the county agricultural economy.[4]
- 1960 San Saba County News merges with the San Saba Star.[4]
- 1965 Historical marker honors pioneer doctor Edward D. Doss.[21]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,138-square-mile (2,950 km2), of which 1,134 square miles (2,940 km2) is land and 4 square miles (10 km2) (0.33%) is water.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
Demographics
Historical populations |
Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
1860 |
913 |
|
—
|
1870 |
1,425 |
|
56.1% |
1880 |
5,324 |
|
273.6% |
1890 |
6,641 |
|
24.7% |
1900 |
7,569 |
|
14.0% |
1910 |
11,245 |
|
48.6% |
1920 |
10,045 |
|
−10.7% |
1930 |
10,273 |
|
2.3% |
1940 |
11,012 |
|
7.2% |
1950 |
8,666 |
|
−21.3% |
1960 |
6,381 |
|
−26.4% |
1970 |
5,540 |
|
−13.2% |
1980 |
5,693 |
|
2.8% |
1990 |
5,401 |
|
−5.1% |
2000 |
6,186 |
|
14.5% |
2010 |
6,131 |
|
−0.9% |
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[23]
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As of the census[24] of 2010, there were 6,131 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
Notable people
- 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.
- Another San Saba County historical marker honors the Texas state District Judge Jack B. Miller (October 21, 1921—February 15, 1991).
See also
References
- ^ United States Census Bureau. "2010 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ a b "United Confederate Veterans William P. Rogers Camp No. 322". William Nienke, Sam Morrow. http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5411012748. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Murphy, Victoria S. "San Saba County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcs05. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ a b Barr, Juliana (2007). Peace Came in the Form of a Woman: Indians and Spaniards in the Texas Borderlands. The University of North Carolina Press. p. 327. ISBN 978-0807857908.
- ^ "San Saba River". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rns11. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ Chipman, Donald E (1992). Spanish Texas, 1519-1821. University of Texas Press. p. 208. ISBN 978-0292776593.
- ^ a b Aston, B W; Taylor, Ira Donathon (1997). Along the Texas Forts Trail. University of North Texas Press. p. 119. ISBN 978-1574410358.
- ^ Wallis, Michael (2000). The Real Wild West: The 101 Ranch and the Creation of the American West. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 536. ISBN 978-0312263812.
- ^ "Edmond E. Risien, Pecan Pioneer". Texas State Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5411001391. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ Cox, Mike (2009). The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821-1900. Forge Books. pp. 439–441. ISBN 978-0765318923.
- ^ Burton, Jeffrey (2009). The Deadliest Outlaws: The Ketchum Gang and the Wild Bunch. University of North Texas Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-1574412703.
- ^ Upchurch, Alice Gray. "West Texas Normal and Business College". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbw11. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ Seeber, Jill S. "Francis Marion Behrns". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbe97. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ Kinsey, Jim and Lou; McBride, Judy. "Beveridge Bridge". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/San-Saba/Beveridge-Bridge-San-Saba-Texas.htm. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "San Saba, Texas". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/San-Saba-Texas.htm#landmark. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "San Saba County Courthouse". Texas Escapes. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/San-Saba-County-Courthouse.htm. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "W. H. (Uncle Billy) Gibbons (1846-1932) - Richland Sprinds, San Saba County, Texas". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5411005670. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ Burnett, Jonathan (2008). Flash Floods in Texas. TAMU Press. p. 120. ISBN 978-1585445905.
- ^ Hellman, Paul T (2004). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Routledge. p. 1084. ISBN 978-0415939485.
- ^ "Edward D Doss". Texas Historical Markers. William Nienke, Sam Morrow. http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5411001397. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ U.S. Decennial Census
- ^ Texas Almanac: County Population History 1850-2010
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
External links
Municipalities and communities of San Saba County, Texas, USA
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Towns |
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Unincorporated
communities |
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Footnotes |
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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