Alleyton

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, Colorado County has got some old bones in it, and Alleyton is sittin' right on top of some of the oldest. We're talking about the oldest permanent settlement in the whole county, and at one point, the largest town in it.

That's not a small thing. That's the kind of bragging rights that stick around for generations. So how does a place earn a distinction like that?

It starts with a family. The Alley family, to be precise. Five brothers, William, John, Rawson, Thomas, and Abraham, and every single one of them came over as part of Austin's original 300 settlers.

Think about that for a second. These weren't latecomers riding in after somebody else did the hard work. These were among the first.

The founding stock of Texas itself, putting down roots right here in Colorado County. They established a settlement, and that settlement took their name. Alleyton.

Now the story doesn't stop there, because Alleyton had another chapter coming, one made of iron rails and steam. In 1860, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railroad reached its terminus right here at Alleyton. The end of the line.

For seven years, from 1860 to 1867, this was where the railroad stopped. The end of the line has a way of becoming the center of everything, and for a stretch, that's exactly what Alleyton was. The Alley brothers planted something here that grew into the biggest town in the county, the kind of place where history decides to sit down and stay a while.

What the marker says

Oldest permanent settlement and once largest town in Colorado County. Established by the pioneer Alley family (Willliam, John, Rawson, Thomas and Abraham), all members of Austin's original 300 settlers. Terminus of the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railroad, 1860-1867.