|
PORT LAVACA,
TEXAS
Calhoun
County
Seat, Texas Gulf Coast
28° 36' 56" N, 96° 37' 47" W (28.615556, -96.629722)
On Lavaca Bay
Highways 87, 35 and 238,
and FMs 1090 and 3084
Near Point Comfort
25 miles SE of Victoria
29 miles SW of Palacios
55 miles E of Goliad
14 miles NW of Indianola
via Hwy 316
130 miles SW of Houston
Population: 12,400 Est. (2016)
12,248 (2010) 12,035 (2000) 10,886 (1990)
Book Hotel Here › Port
Lavaca Hotels |
Shrimp boats
in Port Lavaca
TE photo, 2001 |
History
in a Seashell
The town was founded after "The
Great Comanche Raid" of 1840 when Comanche Indians swept down
from the Hill Country
and destroyed the tiny coastal town of Linnville.
Only a marker remains today to mark the former town.
Former Linnvillain Thomas McConnell bought land from a De Leon's colonist
and called the place Lavaca. The town succeeded in a short time, eclipsing
the commerce that Linnville had
seen before the raid.
Lavaca became county seat with the formation of Calhoun
County in 1846.
In November of 1847 a stage line was inaugurated connecting the town
to Victoria but by 1852
Indianola,
with it's deepwater port became the Calhoun
County seat.
By 1860 Lavaca's population was half of Indianola.
During the Civil War the city was bombarded by Union ships in late
1862, but did not surrender. In late 1863 it was occupied by Union
troops. In 1864 an election gave county seat status back to Lavaca,
but after the war it was returned to Indianola.
The hurricane of 1875 so damaged the railroad that Indianola,
became the only area port with a railroad connection. By 1884 Lavaca's
population was down to only 70 people.
But after Indianola
was obliterated in the 1886 Hurricane, Lavaca's star began another
ascent. Lavaca became the county seat again and railroad service was
re-established.
Lavaca, now known as Port Lavaca, was shipping seafood and the railroad
ran weekend excursions to the coast. Port Lavaca welcomed the seafood
hungry tourists.
In 1920 a seawall was completed and in 1928 Port Lavaca shipped more
shrimp than any other port in the U.S.
State Highway 35 was the only paved highway in the county in 1940
when the population was just over 2,000. Hurricane Carla damaged the
causeway in 1961, forcing it to be converted into a fishing pier.
(See Texas
Storms) |
 |
Port
Lavaca Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Port Lavaca
Landmarks / Attractions
|
Port
Lavaca Half Moon Reef Lighthouse
In Bay Front Park, west end of causeway on Hwy 35
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2004 |
|
Historical Marker:
Half
Moon Reef Lighthouse
Constructed in 1858, this three-story hexagonal lighthouse was originally
located in Matagorda Bay, at the southern tip of Half Moon reef.
The beacon served as an aid to ships trading in Port Lavaca and
the nearby town of Indianola
(14 mi. SE). During the Civil War the light was disabled by Confederate
troops in an attempt to disrupt federal efforts to capture southern
blockade runners. The lighthouse was restored to full operation
in 1868 and remained in service until 1943 when it was moved to
Point Comfort
(7 mi. NE). It was relocated here in 1979.
(1980)
|
Half Moon Reef Lighthouse Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
Half Moon Reef Lighthouse Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, February 2009 |
|
Historical Marker:
San
Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad
Chartered in 1850, the San Antonio & Mexican Gulf Railroad was one
of the first railroads in Texas. San
Antonio investors hoped it would open trade from the Gulf. As
the line was built westward from Port Lavaca, wagons loaded with
goods met the train on the open prairie. In 1836 Confederates destroyed
the track to keep it out of Union hands. In the 1870s the line was
associated with Charles Morgan's steamship company. Southern Pacific
bought the railroad in 1884. Until the 1930s weekend excursions
were offered to Port Lavaca beaches.
(1979)
|
The former county
jail was demolished after this photo was taken
TE photo,
2001
See Texas Jails |
Port Lavaca bay
view
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/%7Etxpstcrd/ |
Port
Lavaca Chronicles
Exterminator
by Mike Cox ("Texas Tales")
German immigrant J.C. Melcher of Fayette County and Port Lavaca
and the Melcher family hardware store.
The
Old Lady and the Sea by Mike Cox
Years before most women had much of a career choice beyond homemaker,
teacher or nurse, Louise Sharp made her living as a shrimp boat
captain in Calhoun County. By 1951, when she caught the eye of a
writer for Texas Parade Magazine...
more
|
Port
Lavaca Texas Forum
Subject: US
Army Air Force Observer
During World War
II my mother was a volunteer air plane watcher. She worked out
of a tower overlooking Lavaca Bay. Most everyone I mention this
to think I am crazy. I was about eight years old then and I remember
the tower and the chart on the wall. If a plane flew over you had
to find it on the chart and call it in. She was given a pin for
service that is a small set of wings that has US Army Air Force
Observer around the edge and in the center is AWS. Have you [or
any of your readers] ever heard of this volunteer service or know
where I can find out about it? - Doris Hinds, February 25, 2006
|
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic
photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
Texas
Gulf Coast
East
Texas
Central
Texas North
Central
Texas South
Texas
Panhandle
South
Texas
Texas
Hill Country
West
Texas
Texas
Ghost Towns
Texas
Counties
