Bastrop County, Texas

In 1834, the provincial legislature of Coahuila y Tejas – established by the Mexican Constitution of 1824 – met in Saltillo and established the Municipality and County of Mina, consisting of parts of present-day Mason, Kimble, Llano, Burnet, Williamson, Gillespie, Blanco, Comal, Hays, Travis, Caldwell, Bastrop, Lee, Gonzales, Fayette, Washington, and Lavaca Counties. On December 14, 1837, the second Congress of the Republic of Texas adjusted geographical limits to create Fayette County, and remove Gonzales and Caldwell Counties from Mina's boundaries. On December 18, 1837, Sam Houston signed acts that (a) incorporated the town of Mina and (b) changed the name of the county and town of Mina to Bastrop to honor Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, an early Dutch settler who helped Stephen F. Austin obtain land grants in Texas. On May 24, 1838, the Republic of Texas added parts of Kimble and Comal Counties to contain parts of present-day Blanco, Burnet, Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, Caldwell, Bastrop, Lee, Gonzales, and Fayette Counties. From January 25, 1840, to January 25, 1850, Bastrop county limits shifted nearly to its present dimensions, including small portions of Lee, Williamson, Caldwell, Gonzales, and Fayette Counties. In December 1942, Bastrop was the site of an alleged military murder, in which Sgt. Walter Springs was gunned down by a White military police officer following a dispute. Springs was shot in the back, but the case remains largely unsolved to this day. A memorial scholarship in his honor has been active at his alma mater, Regis University, for most of the period since 1952 and has the backing of former NBA All Star Chauncey Billups. In September 2011, Bastrop County suffered the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, which destroyed over 1,600 homes. In March 2022, the Refuge Ranch, a facility in rural Bastrop County for girls who had been victims of sexual trafficking, was ordered closed down after allegations that the girls had been subjected to further exploitation by ranch staffers. ==Climate==

In general this area has a subtropical and humid maritime climate with consistently hot and dry summers, while the milder winter weather occasionally has short spans of cold temperatures. The growing season starts in early March and continues through late November, while annually this location receives 37.2 inches of average precipitation, and also on average experiences 49 days per year of at least 0.1 inches, primarily during May, June, September, and October. Within the Texas Gulf Coast basin where Bastrop County resides, severe to extreme droughts occur at least once every 10 years (within a century of record keeping). Additionally, flash flooding due to hurricanes or slow thunderstorms are of concern, with 10-11 inches of rain within a single day being at least 1% likely. ==Geography==

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.8%) are covered by water. This area resides in the Gulf Coastal Plains which has sparse topographic relief; elevations gently slope between 400-600 feet. Vegetation is primarily Post Oak savannah and woodland, Blackland Prairie, and pine hardwood forest. The unique Lost Pines Forest features loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) which require the deep, moist, acidic, sandy soil of the Carrizo Sands formation. As for geologic formations, the most recent around floodplains and lowlands of the Colorado River (as well as larger nearby streams) are alluvium, fluviatile terrace deposits, and high gravel. Tertiary formations have sandstone, mudstone, sand, and clay running in bands from northeast to southwest, which notably also provide the critically endangered Houston Toad necessary deep sandy soil habitat. Major aquifers include the Carrizo-Wilcox, Colorado River, and Lake Bastrop, and the water system divides along US Highway 290 to separate the Colorado River and the Brazos River basins. ==Wildlife==

The most notable animal within Bastrop County is the critically endangered amphibian Houston Toad. Otherwise the area features primarily Post Oak Savannah and pine oak woodland wildlife, with more than 200 documented species of birds as of 1996. Bastrop County is the southwestern-most area for the pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), pine warbler (Dendroica pinus), and includes the western range for the Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formosus), hooded warbler (Wilsonia citrina), and Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). Rare species in Bastrop County tracked by the Texas Parks and Wildlife are the Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), mountain plover (Charadrius montanus), cave myotis, Elliot's short-tailed shrew (Blarina hylophaga hylophaga), plains spotted skunk, spot-tailed earless lizard, and Texas gartersnake (T. sirtalis annectens). Common mammals found in this county are white-tailed deer, common raccoon, striped skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, coyote, red fox and common gray fox, bobcat, ringtail cat (Bassariscus astutus), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), fox squirrel, eastern cottontail, Mexican long-nosed armadillo. Additionally some smaller mammals found here are the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus), short tailed shrew (Blarina sp.), Attwater's pocket gopher (Geomy attwateri), white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), northern pygmy mouse (Baiomys taylori), hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus), Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), cave myotis (Myotis velifer), Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans), and the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). Other amphibians are the small-mouth salamander (Ambystoma texanum), cricket frog (Acris crepitans), green toad (B. debilis), Texas toad (B. speciosus), Gulf Coast toad (B. valliceps valliceps),Woodhouse's toad (B. woodhousii), eastern narrowmouth toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis), Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad (G. olivacea). Some frogs include the Rio Grande leopard (Rana berlandieri), bullfrog (R, catesbeiana), green (R. clamitans), southern leopard (R. sphenocephala), and both Couch's and Hurter's spadefoots (Scaphiopus couchi and hurteri). Documented treefrogs include Cope's gray (Hyla chrysoscelis), green (Hyla cinerea), and gray (H. versicolor). Chorus Frog members found in Bastrop County are the spotted (Pseudacris clarki), Strecker's (P. streckeri), and striped (P. triseriata). The largest reptile in Bastrop County is the American alligator, while some turtles include spiny softshell, common snapping turtle, Texas map (Graptemys versa), yellow mud (Kinosternon flavescens flavescens), river cooter (P. texana), eastern box turtle, ornate box turtle, and red-eared slider. Lizards found in this county are the green anole, Texas spotted whiptail, six-lined racerunner (C. sexlineatus), eastern collared lizard, spot-tailed earless lizard, Texas horned lizard, Texas spiny lizard, fence lizard, ground skink, and tree lizard. Many snakes are present, including broad-banded copperhead, western cottonmouth, eastern glossy snake, eastern racer, western diamondback rattlesnake, corn snake, Texas rat snake, eastern hognose snake, prairie kingsnake, common kingsnake, western coachwhip (Masticophus flagellum testaceus), Texas coral snake, rough greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus), bullsnake, Texas long-nosed snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei), mountain patch-nosed snake (Salvadora grahamiae), Texas brownsnake (Storeria dekayi), flat-headed snake (Tantilla gracilis), Checkered garter snake, orange-striped ribbonsnake (T. proximus proximus), rough gartersnake (Virginia striatula), and timber rattlesnake. Watersnakes found here are the plain-bellied, southern, and diamondback (Nerodia erythrogaster, fasciata, rhombifera). Major predatory fish in Bastrop County are the gar, black bass, and flathead catfish, forage species are various shiners, minnows, gizzard shad, sunfish, and anglers additionally pursue largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, channel catfish, and white crappie. Adjacent counties • Williamson County (north and northwest) • Lee County (northeast) • Fayette County (southeast) • Caldwell County (southwest) • Travis County (west) ==Demographics==

Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 97,216. The median age was 38.5 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 103.2 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 57.3% White, 5.9% Black or African American, 1.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 17.4% from some other race, and 17.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 42.7% of the population. 28.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 72.0% lived in rural areas. There were 33,267 households in the county, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.5% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, 57,733 people, 20,097 households, and 14,771 families resided in the county. The population density was . The 22,254 housing units averagedf . The racial makeup of the county was 80.2% White, 8.8% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 7.7% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. About 24.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 20,097 households, 35.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were not families. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23. In the county, the population was distributed as 28.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males. The median income for a household in the county was $43,578, and for a family was $49,456. Males had a median income of $32,843 versus $25,536 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,146. About 8.4% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over. ==Education==

The following school districts serve Bastrop County: • Bastrop Independent School District • Elgin Independent School District (partial) • Lexington Independent School District (partial) • McDade Independent School District • Smithville Independent School District (partial) Austin Community College is the designated community college for most of the county. Areas in Lexington ISD are in Blinn Junior College District. ==Transportation==

Central Texas Airport has been proposed about ten miles NW of the town of Bastrop, but has met with local opposition. Major highways • U.S. Highway 290 • State Highway 21 • State Highway 71 • State Highway 95 • State Highway 304 ==Recreational facilities==

• Bastrop State Park • Buescher State Park ==Communities==

Cities • Bastrop (county seat) • Elgin (partly in Travis County) • Mustang Ridge (mostly in Travis County and a small part in Caldwell County) • Smithville Census-designated places • Camp Swift • Cedar Creek • Circle D-KC Estates • McDade • Paige • Red Rock • Rosanky • Wyldwood Unincorporated communities • Alum Creek • Bateman • Butler • Colorado • Elysium • Hills Prairie • Jeddo • Kovar • Pettytown (partly in Caldwell County) • Rockne • Salem • Sayersville • String Prairie • Swiftex • Upton • Utley • Watterson Ghost towns • Flower Hill • Grassyville • McDuff • Oak Hill • Phelan • Pin Oak ==In popular culture==

Several Hollywood feature films and notable independent films have used locations in Bastrop County. ==Politics==