DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — and Travis County's got a story worth every mile of pavement between here and there. Now, before there was a Travis County as you know it, this whole stretch of central Texas fell under the municipality of Mina — later renamed Bastrop — or the Travis District, named for William B. Travis, the commander at the Alamo.
That name carried weight then, and it carries weight still. The year was 1839. Fourth year of the Republic of Texas.
The site of present-day Austin was chosen as the location for the capital, and it was named for the father of Texas himself. And the moment that decision was made, local county government didn't wait around. It stood up immediately, starting with the setting up of militia beats.
You got a new capital, you better be ready to defend it. And defend it they did — or tried to. Five forts were in operation to guard against Comanche raids, raids that kept on coming as late as 1863.
That's not a footnote, friends. That's decades of tension on the frontier edge of a young republic. In that same year of 1839, Mormon settlers built the first jail and the first gristmill.
Two very different kinds of order, but both of them necessary. Then Congress got around to making it official — January of 1840, Travis County was formally created. By that point, the county already had 856 people calling it home.
The Colorado River did its part too. Dams brought industrial power and laid down some fine recreation lakes along the way. The county grew.
State government put down roots. The University of Texas rose up. Bergstrom Air Force Base, public institutions, private businesses — all of them drawing working folks from a county population that had climbed to 237,000 by the time this story was being set down.
In 1964, Travis County marked its 125th anniversary under the administration of Judge J. H. Watson, with commissioners Robert Barker, Lawson Boothe, N.
L. Gault, and Arthur Swenson steering the ship. County auditor Weldon S.
Horton saw to it that the historic county emblem was restored and sponsored. And the county flag — well, that was designed by Mrs. Jessie McIlroy Smith.
And the courthouse standing on this very site? Built in 1939 — the 91st year of Travis County. From a militia beat in a brand-new republic to 237,000 strong, named for a man who gave everything at the Alamo.
That's not just a county. That's a through-line.
What the marker says
Courthouse built here in 1939, 91st year of Travis County, which in early Texas was in municipality of Mina (later Bastrop), or Travis District, named for Wm. B.Travis, commander at the Alamo. Site of present-day Austin was chosen in 1839 (4th year of the Republic of Texas) as location for capital, and named for the father of Texas. Local county government began immediately, with setting up of militia beats. Mormon settlers in 1839 built the first jail and also the first gristmill. Congress in January 1840 formally created the county, which by then had 856 people. 5 forts were in operation to guard against Comanche Indians, whose raids went on as late as 1863. Dams in the Colorado River provided industrial power and created fine recreation lakes. State government, University of Texas, Bergstorm Air Force Base, public institutions and private businesses employ working forces from the county population of 237,000. The county's 125th anniversary was attended 1964 under the administration of Judge J. H. Watson and commissioners Robert Barker, Lawson Boothe, N. L. Gault and Arthur Swenson. Historic county emblem was restored and sponsored by county auditor Weldon S.Horton. Flag was designed by Mrs.Jessie McIlroy Smith. (1965)