Belmont, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belmont
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  Above: Primary cell site, downtown Belmont;
Below: Belmont ca. 1940 |
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| Nickname(s):
"Beaumont," "Centerville"
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| Subregion | East Central Texas |
| Region | Texas Triangle |
| Settled | 1825–1836, DeWitt Colony (Eliza DeWitt Tract) |
| Founded | As late as c.1850 |
| Recognized | c.1893 (state law) |
| Precinct | Electoral Precinct 5 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unincorporated; emergency services managed by County Sheriff |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25,600 acre (10,400 ha) |
| Population
(2016)
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| • Total | 36 |
| • Density | 0.90/sq mi (0.35/km2) |
| • Traffic | 13,197 vehicles (AADT) |
| • Traffic density | 329.9/sq mi (127.4/km2) |
| • Rural environs | 1,169 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 |
| Location | South of Austin–San Marcos areas North of Leesville, Texas |
| Expressway |   |
| U.S. Route |   |
| Website | Belmont VFD |
Belmont is a small community in Gonzales County, Texas, United States. It is an "unincorporated area," which means it doesn't have its own city government. Belmont covers about 40 square miles. Around 36 people work in Belmont, and about 1,169 people live in the wider area. The community is served by the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department.
Contents
What is Belmont Like?
In 2016, Belmont had several types of businesses. These included a construction company, a wholesale business, two retail stores, a finance and insurance service, and a place to eat. These businesses employed 36 people. The Gonzales County Sheriff's Office helps with emergency services in the area.
Belmont is connected to nearby towns like Seguin and Gonzales by roads. The Guadalupe River also flows nearby, with bridges and roads crossing it. In 2019, about 13,197 vehicles traveled through Belmont's state highways each day.
Belmont's Past
Belmont has a long history. Records from 1893 show it was a community where many people worked hard. The area is also part of the Old West history. It is mentioned in stories about a historical event called the Battle of Belmont. The area was also known for horsebreeding.
How Belmont Got Its Name
The name "Belmont" has changed over time.
- First Name: The area was first mapped in 1856 as "Beaumont, Gonzales County, Texas." This name was confusing because there is another large city called Beaumont, Texas in southeast Texas.
- Second Name: Later, a settlement on the Guadalupe River was founded in the 1840s as "Centerville, Gonzales County." This name was also confusing because there is another Centerville, Texas.
- Current Name: To avoid confusion and get postal service, the community eventually became known as "Belmont."
Some people wrongly believe Belmont was named after horse racing, like the Belmont Stakes. However, the community was founded much earlier than that famous race.
The DeWitt Colony
The Belmont area was first settled by Eliza DeWitt. She received a land grant in April 1831 as part of the DeWitt Colony. This land grant is the oldest established area completely within Belmont. It was settled before the Texan Revolution.
Old Billy and Horse Breeding
William B. Fleming, born in Georgia in 1830, moved to Texas before 1850. He served as a Texas Ranger and in the Confederate Army. After the war, Fleming moved to Gonzales County. In 1871, he bought land in Belmont along the Guadalupe River.
Fleming was famous for breeding horses. He bought a horse known as "Old Billy." He used Old Billy to create a special line of "Billy" horses. These horses were very popular with cowboys, rodeo performers, and racing fans. Fleming became one of the best horse breeders of his time.
Notable Person
- Martin Beaty: He was a United States Representative from Kentucky.
Images for kids
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Belmont around 1940
