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Texas Counties
Texas is divided into two hundred and fifty-four counties, more than any other state. Texas was originally divided into municipalities, a unit of local government under Spanish and Mexican rule. When the Republic of Texas gained its independence in 1836, there were 23 municipalities, which became the original Texas counties. Many of these would later be divided into new counties. The most recent county to be created was Kenedy County in 1921. The most recent county to be organized was Loving County in 1931Glasscock County, Texas
Glasscock County Education, Geography, and History
Glasscock County is a county located in the state of Texas. Based on the 2010 census, its population was 1,226. Its county seat is Garden
City. The county was created in 1887 and later organized in 1893.It is named for George Washington Glasscock, an early settler of the Austin,
Texas area.
Glasscock County is included in the Big Spring, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area
Etymology - Origin of Glasscock County Name
George Washington Glasscock, an early settler of the Austin, Texas area
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Glasscock County History
Glasscock County is a county located in the US state of Texas. Its county seat is Garden City. It is named for George Washington Glasscock, an early settler of the Austin, Texas, area.
Handbook of Texas Online
Glasscock County was within the hunting area of Kickapoos and Lipan Apaches in the early nineteenth century but
was not attractive to early white settlers because of its aridity. One of the United States Army's defensive posts
against Indians, Fort Chadbourne, was built sixty miles east of the Glasscock county line in 1853, and during the
Civil War, after Fort Chadbourne was abandoned, Fort Concho, fifty miles from
the line, offered protection. The Butterfield Overland Mail route passed through
the southern part of the county. Glasscock County was formed in 1887 from Tom Green County and named for George W.
Glasscock, a Texas Revolution officer and
Texas legislator for whom Georgetown, county seat of Williamson County, was also named. Before the establishment of
Tom Green County in 1874, Glasscock County was part of the Bexar District, which was subsequently divided into
thirteen counties. After the Civil War, Glasscock County was part of the Pecos Military District, and cattlemen
using the Pecos Trail drove herds through the area. After its founding in 1889 Glasscock County was attached for
administrative purposes first to Martin County, then to Howard County. Glasscock County was formally organized after
an election was held in 1893. The 150 citizens who signed the petition for organization included a number of
Mexican-American shepherds or pastores. The first white settler in what
is now Glasscock County was L. S. McDowell, a sheep rancher, who moved into the area in 1883. In 1890 only 208
people lived in the county, but that year movement into the region began to be promoted by the Pecan, Colorado, and
Concho Immigration Association, formed in 1890, of which Glasscock County was a member. Settlers were also
encouraged to move to the area through the efforts of the Ohio Land Company, which had purchased five sections of
land, drilled wells, and built houses. By 1893 three small settlements, Garden City, Dixie, and New California, had
been established within 1? miles of each other near Lacy Creek. New California was selected as the county seat
because its higher ground promised more easily obtainable well water. The original settlement called Garden City was
abandoned, even though at the time it had the county's post office and more homes than New California. New
California was subsequently renamed Garden City. Though plans for other towns did not materialize, between 1908 and
1910 the area had another settlement boom, again the result of vigorous promotional efforts by land-development
companies. By 1910, 1,143 people were living in the county More at
John Leffler, "GLASSCOCK COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcg05),
accessed January 23, 2016. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 901 square miles (2,333 km2), virtually all
of which is land.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Howard County (north)
- Sterling County (east)
- Reagan County (south) \
- Midland County (west)
- Martin County (northwest)
Education
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