Brazoria Texas, Historic Brazoria Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Part of the original Stephen F. Austin land grant, Brazoria was platted in 1828 by John Austin. It was deserted in what is called the Runaway Scrape as the Mexican army advanced from their victory at the Alamo.

A school opened as early as 1838 but it wasn't granted a post office for eight more years. The town had a respectable population of 800 by the mid 1880s. Sugar mills and cotton gins provided employment and income while the town gained three hotels and no less than twelve general stores.

The town became the county seat and by 1890 the population reached 900. The first newspaper was published in 1892 and a second sometime before 1914. Brazoria was bypassed by the railroad and lost its status as county seat to Angleton. Nevertheless, the population grew from 633 in 1904 to 1,050 by 1929. Its population reached 1,291 by the early 1960s which has more than doubled to 2,787 in 2000..

Brazoria, Texas Landmarks/Attractions:

All that remains of the 1894 courthouse in Brazoria
Photo courtesy Julie McConnell, 2002

Old Brazoria Cemetery

	Historical Marker - Corner of Star and Camp St Old Brazoria Cemetery Site given to Brazoria in 1827 by government of Mexico as cemetery for Catholics; thus was open to all residents, as all Austin Colony settlers were legally Catholics. By 1930, this was full, and new cemetery opened. Most pioneer families have members buried here. Photo courtesy Julie McConnell

	"This Oak stands in the Old Brazoria Cemetery - on the south side of Pleasant Street in Brazoria. This area had been designated as a cemetery in 1833. It was on property that had belonged to (General) John Austin who had died of cholera in 1833." - Photo Courtesy Julie McConnell

Don Carlos Barrett Centennial Marker in The Old Brazoria Cemetery
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2009

Centennial Marker - Corner of China and Travis

Don Carlos Barrett

A member of the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas and by that body elected judge advocate general of the army with the rank of colonel, 1835. Born in Vermont June 22, 1788; died in Texas May 19, 1838.

1907 Brazoria County postal map showing Brazoria
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office

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