AUSTIN COUNTY, TX HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

An Historical & Descriptive Sketch of Austin County, Texas by Martin M. Kenney, (1876) – 50 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2024.06.05.1038 .CD.AR

Austin County, Texas: A Genealogical Overview

As the colonial heart of Anglo-American Texas, Austin County is one of the most historically significant places in the state. It is crucial to note that the county is named for Stephen F. Austin but does not contain the city of Austin, which is the seat of Travis County. Located in the coastal plains region between Houston and Austin, this county was the site of San Felipe de Austin, the original capital of Austin’s Colony and the cradle of the Texas Revolution. Its rich history, defined by the “Old Three Hundred” settlers and a subsequent, massive wave of German immigration, makes it a foundational location for tracing deep Texan roots.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Austin County was one of the original counties of the Republic of Texas and served as the mother county for many others in the region.

  • 1836: County Formed: Austin County was established on December 20, 1836, as one of the 23 original counties of the Republic of Texas. It was officially organized in 1837.
  • Parent Entity: It was formed from the Municipality of San Felipe de Austin, which was the primary administrative district of Stephen F. Austin’s first colony under Mexican rule. Research for ancestors in the area prior to 1836 requires exploring Mexican and Spanish colonial land grant records, primarily held at the Texas General Land Office.
  • Subsequent Formations: The original Austin County was immense. Its territory was later used to form all or part of at least seven other counties:
    • Fayette County (1837)
    • Fort Bend County (1837)
    • Harris County (1836 – part)
    • Lavaca County (1846)
    • Waller County (1873)
    • Wharton County (1846)
  • Name Origin: The county was named for Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836), the “Father of Texas,” who brought the first Anglo-American settlers to the region.
  • County Seat History:
    • San Felipe de Austin: 1837-1846. As the original colonial capital, it was the natural first county seat.
    • Bellville: 1846-Present. The seat of government was moved to the more centrally located new town of Bellville.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The area was traditional territory for the Karankawa and Tonkawa peoples.
  • The “Old Three Hundred”: In 1823, Stephen F. Austin established his colonial headquarters of San Felipe de Austin on the Brazos River. The first families to receive land grants in his colony, known collectively as the “Old Three hundred,” were the first Anglo-American pioneers of the region and of Texas itself.
  • German Immigration: Austin County became the epicenter of German settlement in Texas. In 1831, Friedrich Ernst, known as the “Father of German Immigration in Texas,” wrote a widely circulated letter praising the area, sparking a wave of German migration. These immigrants founded enduring communities such as Industry (the first permanent German settlement in Texas), New Ulm, and Cat Spring, profoundly shaping the county’s cultural, religious, and linguistic landscape.
  • Key Historical Events:
    • The Texas Revolution: San Felipe de Austin was the political center of the revolution. It hosted the Conventions of 1832 and 1833 and the Consultation of 1835, where the groundwork for Texas independence was laid. During the “Runaway Scrape” of 1836, the town was burned by retreating Texian forces to keep it from falling to Santa Anna’s army.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

Records for Austin County are primarily located in the county seat of Bellville, with colonial-era records held at the state level.

  • County Courthouse: The Austin County Courthouse, 1 E Main St, Bellville, TX 77418, is the main repository for local records.
    • County Clerk’s Office: In Texas, this office is the primary source for genealogical records. It holds land records (deeds), marriage licenses (from 1837), birth and death records, and crucial probate records (wills and estate files).
    • District Clerk’s Office: This office maintains records of the district court, including civil case files, divorce decrees, and naturalization records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1903, but compliance varied. The County Clerk’s office is the location for county-level vital records.
    • Marriage Records: Held by the Austin County Clerk, with records dating back to the formation of the county in 1837.
    • Probate Records: Wills and estate files are also held by the Austin County Clerk.
  • Colonial Records: The original land titles and grants for the “Old Three Hundred” and other early settlers are part of the Spanish Collection at the Texas General Land Office in Austin. This is an essential resource for pre-Republic research.
  • Libraries and Societies:
    • Austin County Historical Commission: A key resource for local history and records preservation.
    • Bellville Public Library: Has a local history and genealogy collection.
    • San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site: The museum and archives provide invaluable context and information about the county’s founding period.
    • German-Texan Heritage Society: A statewide resource that is particularly relevant for Austin County researchers.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Washington County (north)
    • Waller County (east)
    • Fort Bend County (southeast)
    • Wharton County (south)
    • Colorado County (west)
    • Fayette County (northwest)

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks