Guadalupe County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guadalupe County
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The Guadalupe County Courthouse in Seguin
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Named for | Guadalupe River |
| Seat | Seguin |
| Largest city | New Braunfels |
| Area | |
| • Total | 715 sq mi (1,850 km2) |
| • Land | 711 sq mi (1,840 km2) |
| • Water | 3.5 sq mi (9 km2) 0.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 172,706 |
| • Density | 241.55/sq mi (93.26/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 15th, 28th |
Guadalupe County is a county in the state of Texas, USA. It was created in 1846. The county is named after the Guadalupe River.
The main city and county seat is Seguin. As of 2020, about 172,706 people live here. Guadalupe County is also part of the larger San Antonio metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Guadalupe County
The first people to live in this area were Native American hunter-gatherers. They lived here thousands of years ago. Later, tribes like the Tonkawa, Karankawa, Kickapoo, Lipan Apache, and Comanche lived in the area.
In 1689, a Spanish explorer named Alonso de Leon named the Guadalupe River. He named it to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Early Settlements and Land Grants
In 1806, a French army officer named José de la Baume received a large piece of land in Texas. This land was called El Capote Ranch. Later, the country of Mexico confirmed his ownership.
In 1821, people from the United States started settling in Texas. At that time, Texas was part of Mexico. In 1825, Green DeWitt asked the Mexican government for land to start a colony. This colony included the area that is now Guadalupe County. From 1827 to 1835, 22 families settled here as part of DeWitt's colony.
After Texas became independent from Mexico in 1836, a group of soldiers founded the town of Seguin. It was first called Walnut Springs in 1838. The name changed to Seguin the next year. This was to honor Juan Nepomuceno Seguín, a hero who fought for Texas's independence.
In 1845, Texas joined the United States. In 1846, the state of Texas officially created Guadalupe County. It was formed from parts of Bexar and Gonzales Counties.
German Immigrants and the Civil War
Many German immigrants came to Guadalupe County in the mid-1800s. They started towns like Schumannsville in 1847. These German settlers often did not support slavery.
By 1860, about 1,748 enslaved people lived in the county. They had been brought from other Southern states. In 1861, the people of Guadalupe County voted to leave the United States. They joined the Confederate States of America.
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, slavery was abolished. An office called the Freedmen's Bureau opened in Seguin in 1866. It helped formerly enslaved people find work and new lives. German Americans and African Americans often joined the Republican Party together.
Growth and Changes
In 1876, the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway reached Seguin. This helped the county grow. By 1880, about 40% of the people in the county were of German heritage.
In 1929, oil was found in the Darst Creek oilfield. This brought new jobs and money to the area. Over the next 50 years, the county became less focused on farming. More people started working in services, manufacturing, and trade.
Geography
Guadalupe County covers about 715 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Major Highways
Interstate 10
Interstate 35
U.S. Highway 90
U.S. Highway 90 Alternate
State Highway 46
State Highway 123
State Highway 130
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Neighboring Counties
- Hays County (north)
- Caldwell County (northeast)
- Gonzales County (southeast)
- Wilson County (south)
- Bexar County (southwest)
- Comal County (northwest)
People of Guadalupe County
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,511 | — | |
| 1860 | 5,444 | 260.3% | |
| 1870 | 7,282 | 33.8% | |
| 1880 | 12,202 | 67.6% | |
| 1890 | 15,217 | 24.7% | |
| 1900 | 21,385 | 40.5% | |
| 1910 | 24,913 | 16.5% | |
| 1920 | 27,719 | 11.3% | |
| 1930 | 28,925 | 4.4% | |
| 1940 | 25,596 | −11.5% | |
| 1950 | 25,392 | −0.8% | |
| 1960 | 29,017 | 14.3% | |
| 1970 | 33,554 | 15.6% | |
| 1980 | 46,708 | 39.2% | |
| 1990 | 64,873 | 38.9% | |
| 2000 | 89,023 | 37.2% | |
| 2010 | 131,533 | 47.8% | |
| 2020 | 172,706 | 31.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 182,760 | 38.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, Guadalupe County had a population of 172,706 people. The population has grown a lot over the years.
In 2000, there were 89,023 people living in the county. About 38% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in the county was 35 years old.
Education
School Districts
Students in Guadalupe County attend schools in several different districts:
- Comal Independent School District
- La Vernia Independent School District
- Luling Independent School District
- Marion Independent School District
- Navarro Independent School District
- New Braunfels Independent School District
- Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School District
- Prairie Lea Independent School District
- San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District
- Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District
- Seguin Independent School District
Colleges and Universities
Most of the county is served by the Alamo Community College District. This district offers many college courses.
Texas Lutheran University is also located in Guadalupe County. It has about 1,400 students. This university is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is known for its strong academic programs.
Towns and Communities
Cities (in multiple counties)
Some cities in Guadalupe County also extend into other nearby counties:
- Cibolo (a small part is in Bexar County)
- Luling (mostly in Caldwell County)
- New Braunfels (mostly in Comal County)
- San Marcos (mostly in Hays County)
- Schertz (partly in Bexar and Comal Counties)
- Selma (partly in Bexar and Comal Counties)
- Universal City (mostly in Bexar County)
Cities
- Kingsbury
- Marion
- New Berlin
- Santa Clara
- Seguin (the county seat)
- Staples
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
CDPs are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities:
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not part of any city:
Ghost Town
Images for kids
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The Guadalupe County Justice Center in Seguin
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The Guadalupe County Veterans Memorial
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Guadalupe (Texas) para niños
