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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 1931Victoria County, Texas
Victoria County Education, Geography, and History
Victoria County is a county located in the state of Texas. Based on the 2010 census, its population was 86,793. Its county seat is Victoria.
Victoria County is included in the Victoria, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Etymology - Origin of Victoria County Name
Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of Mexico
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Victoria County History
Victoria County is a county located in the US state of Texas. Its county seat is Victoria. Victoria County was formed in 1836. It was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the first President of Mexico.
Handbook of Texas Online
Victoria was among the original twenty-three counties established by the First Congress of the Republic of Texas
on March 17, 1836. Its modern boundaries were defined by the Texas legislature on March 31, 1846. Conflicting claims
between Victoria County and Lavaca, Jackson, and Calhoun counties were settled in Victoria's favor on April 23,
1846, nineteen days after Calhoun County was demarked primarily from the Victoria County coastal area. Because
Victoria lay on the important cart road from the port of Indianola to San Antonio and New Braunfels, as well as on
the old Goliad road from east to west, the county was heavily traveled by traders and immigrants and populated by
many who found the area satisfactory. The German element was particularly large and influential at Coletoville,
Mission Valley, and Victoria. Though there were several points at which travelers and traders could cross the
Guadalupe River, White's Ferry and Kemper's Bluff were the most serious competition to Victoria as trade centers and
embarkation points (see KEMPER CITY, TEXAS). In 1840 the county commissioners approved rates "payable in good
money" for a municipal ferry across the river at Victoria to handle the traffic. The first toll bridge erected
across the river was also built at Victoria by Richard Owens and Sylvester
Sutton in February 1851. The move for a free bridge began about 1885, and the river was spanned in February 1886 by
King Iron and Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Also in 1886 a ferry known as Bray's Ferry was established at the
San Antonio River by G. B. Amery and John Bray More at
Craig H. Roell, "VICTORIA COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcv03),
accessed January 24, 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 889 square miles (2,302 km2), of which, 882
square miles (2,286 km2) of it is land and 7 square miles (16 km2) of it (0.70%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Lavaca County (north)
- Jackson County (northeast)
- Calhoun County (southeast)
- Refugio County (south)
- Goliad County (southwest)
- DeWitt County (northwest)
Education
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