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Texas
| Counties
VICTORIA
COUNTY, TEXAS
28° 48' 0"
N, 96° 58' 12" W (28.8, -96.97)
Population: 92,467 est. (2016) 86,793 (2010)
Total area: 889 square miles (2,300 km2)
882 square miles (2,280 km2) land
6.7 square miles (17 km2) water |
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Victoria County
History
Historical Marker
(on US 59 12 miles E of Victoria) :
VICTORIA COUNTY
Inhabited briefly by adventurer Cabeza
de Vaca in 1530's and French explorer La
Salle in 1680's. Site of 1720 Mission Espiritu Santo de Zuniga.
Mission friars, sent here to Christianize and civilize the Karankawa
Indians, laid foundation for the cattle industry of Texas, their
stray stock forming nucleus for later vast herds of wild cattle.
Presidio La Bahia, founded 1721 within present Victoria County,
has been restored on a later site, in Goliad.
Civilian settlement began in 1824 with Martin de Leon's grant from
the Mexican government to plant a colony on the Guadalupe
River. Placido Benavides, son-in-law of De Leon, commanded Victoria
militia, which as part of army of Gen.
Sam Houston, opposed Mexican countrymen during the Texas Revolution.
After the establishment of the Republic
of Texas, Victoria County was officially organized in 1837.
Many settlers from the Old South immigrated to the area. Navigation
of Guadalupe River began 1854 with line of steamers between Victoria
and Indianola.
Kemper's Bluff was principal cotton loading point. Known as "Cradle
of the Cattle Industry in Texas", county remained principally agricultural
and ranching area until oil was discovered in late 1930's. (1968)
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Victoria County
Town List
Cities, Towns &
Ghost Towns: History, attractions, landmarks, architecture, monuments,
museums, cemeteries, bridges, parks, vintage & contemporary images,
area destinations, hotels,
and forum.
County Seat - Victoria
Hotels - Victoria
Hotels |
Victoria County
Vintage Maps
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Victoria County
1907 postal map
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Victoria County
1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Victoria County
1940s map
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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