The Beginnings of Bastrop County 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 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 Fayetts counties included.  In 1839, Bastrop was one of the locations being considered for the permanent site for the seat of government of the Republic of Texas. The seat of government, first on the Washington-on-the Brazos, moved to Columbia, then Houston until a more suitable site could be established. After three separate commissions were held to investigate areas on the Brazos and Colorado Rivers, Waterloo and Bastrop became the final two locations being considered, with Waterloo being chosen as the permanent site. Bastrop was able to benefit from the selection, as travelers on the Old San Antonio Road and Gotcher Trail had to pass through Bastrop on the way to the new Capital now known as Austin.

      In 1923, the brick was plastered over.  Many of the ornate Victorian details were removed, and the clock tower was reduced in size to make the building more "contemporary."  The years 1953 and 1989, along with evidence of an overhead bridge between the jail and the courthouse.

     Organized in 1837, Bastrop was named in honor of Felipe Enrique Neri Baron de Bastrop, land commissioner of Austin's colony and member of the Congress f Coahuila y Texas.

Bastrop County Jail

            Designed by Eugene T. Heiner of Houston, this building was erected in 1891-92 by contractors Martin, Byrne & Johnston.  Red brick trim decorates the tan brick walls, a pressed metal cornice encircles the structure, and a mansard roof tops one end.  Jailer’s quarters were located on the first floor and cell blocks on the second and third, which appear to be one floor on the exterior.  This edifice served as the Bastrop County jail until 1974.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 1977

Erected in recognition of the distinguished service to Texas of Felipe Henrique Ner., Baron De Bastrop, 1770-1829.

Pioneer Red River Empresario – Land commissioner of Austin’s Colony, member of the congress of Cauhuila and Texas – Through his aid, Moses Austin secured from the Spanish Government in 1821, the first contract for the Anglo-American colonization of Texas.

In his honor, the name of this town and that of this county, a part of Austin’s 1821 grant, known as the Municipality of Mina in 1834 and the county of Mina after March 17, 1836, was changed on December 18, 1837 to Bastrop.

Let this name bring to mind the friend and advocate of the pioneer in a foreign land.

Erected by the state of Texas

1936