Bastrop County, Texas

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Bastrop County ( BASS-tr?p, -trop) is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 74,171. Its county seat is Bastrop. The county was created in 1834 as a municipality of Mexico and organized as a county in 1837. It is named for Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, an early Dutch settler who helped Stephen F. Austin obtain land grants in Texas.

Bastrop County is included in the Austin-Round Rock, TX metropolitan statistical area.

In September 2011, Bastrop County suffered the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, which destroyed over 1,600 homes.

Video Bastrop County, Texas

Boundary changes

From January 8, 1836 to December 13, 1837, the Municipality and County of Mina consisted 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 passed legislation changing the geographical limits, creating Fayette County, removing Gonzales and Caldwell Counties from the boundaries and, five months later, added parts of Kimble and Comal Counties. On December 18, 1837, Sam Houston signed an act incorporating the town of Mina and, on the same day, changing the name of the county and town of Mina to Bastrop. May 24, 1838 to January 24, 1840, shows the borders of Bastrop County 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 the border changed to almost its present size with a small portion of Lee, Williamson, Caldwell, Gonzales and Fayette counties included. TxGenWeb

Maps Bastrop County, Texas

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 896 square miles (2,320 km²), of which 888 square miles (2,300 km²) is land and 7.4 square miles (19 km²) (0.8%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Williamson County (north)
Lee County (northeast)
Fayette County (southeast)
Caldwell County (southwest)
Travis County (northwest)

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Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 57,733 people, 20,097 households, and 14,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 22,254 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.24% White, 8.79% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 7.60% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 23.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,097 households out of which 35.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.50% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.50% 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. As of the 2010 census, there were about 7.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 105.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,578, and the median income 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 8.40% of families and 11.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 13.30% of those age 65 or over.