Wilson County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

located in the U.S. state of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. As of the 2020 census, its population was 49,753. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

is Floresville. The county is named after James Charles Wilson. Wilson County is part of the

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_ ...

–

New Braunfels New Braunfels ( ) is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas known for its German Texan heritage. It is the seat of Comal County. The city covers and had a population of 90,403 as of the 2020 Census. A suburb just north ...

, Texas,

metropolitan statistical area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...

History

Native Americans

Archeological evidence in the Wilson County area reveals early habitation from the paleo-Indians hunter-gatherers period. UT Texas at Austin Later, the area was a hunting range for Tonkawa, Karankawa. Tawakoni, Lipan Apache, and

Comanche The Comanche or Nʉmʉnʉʉ ( com, Nʉmʉnʉʉ, "the people") are a Native American tribe from the Southern Plains of the present-day United States. Comanche people today belong to the federally recognized Comanche Nation, headquartered in ...

who lived in the area.

Explorations and county established

In September 1718 Martín de Alarcón crossed the area on his way to explore the bay of Espíritu Santo. Pedro de Rivera y Villalón crossed the county in 1727 as part of an expedition to inspect the frontier defenses of

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the A ...

. Texas State Historical Association In 1766–67 the Marqués de Rubí included the area in his inspection of the Spanish frontier, Texas State Historical Association and the 1798 explorations of the coast by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado skirted the area. The first two land grants in the area were to Luis Menchaca and Andrés Hernández, Texas General Land Office who established ranches circa 1832–1833. Anglos began arriving in the 1840s, and Southern planters in 1850 and 1860, followed by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

and Polish immigrants from other counties. Wilson County was formed in 1860 from Bexar County and Karnes County. Sutherland Springs Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. was designated the county seat. Wilson County voted in favor of

secession Secession is the withdrawal of a group from a larger entity, especially a political entity, but also from any organization, union or military alliance. Some of the most famous and significant secessions have been: the former Soviet republics l ...

from the Union, and sent several military units to serve. Wartime hardships were compounded by a three-year drought. Following the civil war, the county seat Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. was moved to Floresville. The 1872 courthouse was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1884 with a new building Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. designed by Alfred Giles. Fence Cutting Wars in Texas lasted for approximately five years, 1883–1888. The ranch of Houston and Dilworth became the focal point in Wilson County. As farmers and ranchers began to compete for precious land and water, cattlemen found it more difficult to feed their herds, prompting cowboys to cut through fences. Texas Governor John Ireland Texas State Library and Archives Commission prodded a special assembly to order the fence cutters to cease. In response, the legislature made fence-cutting and pasture-burning crimes punishable with prison time, while at the same time regulating fencing. The practice abated with sporadic incidents of related violence 1888. The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway reached Floresville in 1886. In 1898 the San Antonio and Gulf Railroad Texas State Historical Association was extended to Stockdale.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.6%) are covered by water.

Major highways

* U.S. Highway 87 * U.S. Highway 181 * State Highway 97

Adjacent counties

* Guadalupe County (north) * Gonzales County (northeast) * Karnes County (southeast) * Atascosa County (southwest) * Bexar County (northwest)

Demographics

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.'' As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2000, there were 32,408 people, 11,038 households, and 8,830 families residing in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was 40 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 12,110 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.19%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 1.21%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.58% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 14.25% from other races, and 2.43% from two or more races. 36.52% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race. There were 11,038 households, out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.00% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.26. In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.20% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,006, and the median income for a family was $45,681. Males had a median income of $31,716 versus $23,582 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the county was $17,253. About 9.20% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 12.40% of those under age 18 and 15.80% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

* Elmendorf (mostly in Bexar County) * Floresville (county seat) * La Vernia * Nixon (mostly in Gonzales County) * Stockdale

Towns

* Poth

Unincorporated communities

* Calaveras * Carpenter * Kicaster * Kosciusko * Pandora * Saspamco * Sutherland Springs * Union

Ghost towns

* Dewees * Doseido Colony * Grass Pond Colony * Sandy Hills

Education

School districts include: *

Falls City Independent School District Falls City Independent School District is a public school district based in Falls City, Texas ( USA). In addition to Falls City, the district also serves the unincorporated community of Hobson as well as rural areas in northwestern Karnes Co ...

* Floresville Independent School District *

La Vernia Independent School District La Vernia Independent School District is a public school district based in La Vernia, Texas ( USA). Located in Wilson County, a portion of the district extends into Guadalupe County. In 2009, the school district was rated " recognized" by the ...

* Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District * Poth Independent School District * Stockdale Independent School District All of the county is in the service area of

Alamo Community College District The Alamo Colleges District (previously the Alamo Community College District, or ACCD, and The Alamo Colleges) is a network of five community colleges in San Antonio and Universal City, Texas, and serving the Greater San Antonio metropolitan a ...

.Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.162. ALAMO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.

Notable people

* John Connally, governor of Texas and U.S. Secretary of the Navy and Treasury * Merrill Connally, an actor and a county judge *

Wayne Connally Wayne Wright Connally (March 19, 1923 – December 20, 2000) was an American politician. He served as a Democratic member for the 58th district of the Texas House of Representatives. He also served as a member for the 21st district of the T ...

, a member of both houses of the Texas State Legislature *

Frank Hamer Francis Augustus Hamer (March 17, 1884 – July 10, 1955) was an American lawman and Texas Ranger who led the 1934 posse that tracked down and killed criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Renowned for his toughness, marksmanship, an ...

, Texas Ranger * Stephen Willeford, civilian who intervened during the Sutherland Springs church shooting

Gallery

Image:The Peanut marker in Floresville, TX IMG_2672.JPG, The "Peanut Marker" at the Wilson County Courthouse lawn commemorates the life of Joe T. Sheehy (1886–1967), who introduced

peanut The peanut (''Arachis hypogaea''), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), pindar (US) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, important to both small an ...

farming to the area in 1916. Image:Wilson County Public Library in Floresville, TX IMG_2686.JPG, The Wilson County Public Library near the courthouse. Image:Wilson County Hardware, Floresville, TX IMG_2666.JPG, The Wilson County Hardware store in Floresville.

Politics

Wilson County is a strongly Republican county in presidential elections. It last voted for a Democrat in 1976, when it supported Georgia's Jimmy Carter. More recently, in 2020, it gave a quarter of its vote to Democratic candidate Joe Biden. The last time a Democratic candidate won 35% or more of Wilson County's vote was in 1996.

References

External links

*
Historic Wilson County materials
hosted by th
Portal to Texas History.

Wilson County Historical Society

Wilson County government's website
{{coord, 29.17, -98.09, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990 1860 establishments in Texas Greater San Antonio New Braunfels, Texas Populated places established in 1860