INTRODUCTION

The goal of this project is to present genealogical and historical details about Calhoun County, Texas, and its people.  This website is part of the The TXGenWeb Project and The USGenWeb Project.  This not-for-profit network of volunteers is dedicated to providing free information to researchers.  My name is Donna Sims Conner and I am pleased to be the Coordinator for Calhoun County.

We rely on volunteers to grow and maintain our websites.  Several of the counties in Texas are in need of adoption.  If you are interested in becoming a Coordinator for a county, please review the Volunteer Requirements and complete the Experience Questionnaire.

HISTORY

Introduction

On April 4, 1846, Calhoun County was formed from parts of Victoria, Jackson and Matagorda counties.  It was named after John C. Calhoun, who had advocated for Texas statehood.  Indianola was named the county seat in 1852.  The town was almost completely destroyed by a tidal wave in 1886, and was never rebuilt.  In 1887, Port Lavaca replaced Indianola as the county seat.  Calhoun County is located on the Gulf Coast between Houston and Corpus Christi.

Early Settlers

The first White settlement in the county was located at Linnville, where in 1831, John Linn established a warehouse and wharf near the present site of Port Lavaca.  In 1844, one hundred German families arrived at Indian Point in Calhoun County.  They established a tent village called Karkshafen which later became known as Indianola.  In the 1840s other German immigrants formed a community at Seadrift, Polish immigrants arrived at Indianola between 1854 and 1856.  Many native Tejanos were granted land in Calhoun County, where they developed more of the Spanish ranching culture.  Swedes established a Lutheran colony at Olivia in 1892, and by 1900 European immigrants included Irish, Scots, Germans and Bohemians.  The majority of American settlers in Calhoun County came from Southern states including Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama.

Economy

Newcomers began rounding up cattle during the 1840s making ranching, traditionally a Hispanic concern, an American occupation.  In 1842, Lavaca was established as a port, shipping hides and rendered fat.  Its present name, Spanish for "cow port" reflected the importance of cattle to the local economy.  Port Lavaca later became prominent in oyster shipping.  Both Port Lavaca and Indianola remained important trade centers until 1861.  Exports from Port Lavaca included cotton, pecans, and lead and copper from Mexico.  Indianola exported silver bullion and cattle.

Population

The county's population increased between 1850 and 1860 from 867 White and 234 Black residents to a total of 2,642, of which 414 were enslaved persons.   By 1870, the population had grown to 3,443, of which 907 were Black.  By 1880, the population had decreased to 1,739.  The decline continued and in 1890 the population was a mere 815 residents.  The population slowly increased and in 1910 the total was 3,635 and by 1920 the total number of inhabitants was 4,325.

Source: Abstract from the article, "Calhoun County," written by Diana J. Kleiner; located on the website, Texas State Historical Association (http://tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/calhoun-county), accessed on 5 September 2022.