Castro County

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Castro County. Out here on the Texas plains, the land has a way of holdin' onto names, and this one holds onto a name worth knowing.

The county was formed from Young and Bexar Territories, created on August 21, 1876. Now, created and organized are two different things, and Castro County knows that better than most. It sat there, formed but not yet official in the full sense, until December 8, 1891, when it was finally organized.

Fifteen years is a long time to wait, but the plains are patient. The county is named in honor of Henri Castro, born in 1786, died in 1861. Distinguished pioneer.

Colonizer of Texas. Those aren't words the marker throws around lightly. Castro was a founder, and not just of one place.

He founded Castroville, Quihi, Vandenburg, and D'Hanis, all of them in Medina County. Four towns. One man.

That is the kind of mark on the land that earns a county named after you. And the county seat? That's Dimmitt.

The marker says so plain and proud. Castro County, Texas, carrying a pioneer's name across the plains.

What the marker says

Formed from Young and Bexar Territories, created August 21, 1876, organized December 8, 1891. Named in honor of Henri Castro 1786-1861. A distinguished pioneer and colonizer of Texas. Founder of the towns of Castroville, Quihi, Vandenburg and D'Hanis in Medina County. Dimmitt, The County Seat.