Llano County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Llano County
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The Llano County Courthouse in Llano
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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 | 1856 |
| Named for | Llano River |
| Seat | Llano |
| Largest city | Llano |
| Area | |
| • Total | 966 sq mi (2,500 km2) |
| • Land | 934 sq mi (2,420 km2) |
| • Water | 32 sq mi (80 km2) 3.3% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 21,243 |
| • Density | 21.991/sq mi (8.491/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 11th |
Llano County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 21,243. Its county seat is Llano, and the county is named for the Llano River.
During the American Civil War, the county was on the frontier, and Llano County's soldiers spent more time defending against Indian attacks then they did invading Yankees. In 1869, pioneer rancher John Wesley Snyder led a cattle drive from Llano County along the Chisholm Trail to Abilene, Kansas.
In the 1870s, a pioneer community known as Baby Head existed in Llano County. According to local legend, a small child was killed by Native Americans, and her remains were left on a hill called Baby Head Mountain. Jodie May McKneely (died January 1, 1884) originated the Baby Head Cemetery. The pioneer town no longer exists, but the cemetery still remains and is still accepting the dead.
Contents
History
- Peaceful Tonkawa tribe first inhabitants
- 1842 April 20 - Adelsverein Fisher-Miller Land Grant sets aside three million acres (12,000 km²) to settle 600 families and single men of German, Dutch, Swiss, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ancestry in Texas.
- 1844, June 26 - Henry Francis Fisher sells interest in land grant to Adelsverein
- 1845 December 20 - Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sell their rights in the land grant to Adelsverein.
- 1847 Meusebach–Comanche Treaty Bettina commune, last Adelsverein community in Texas, is established by a group of free thinking intellectuals, and named after German liberal Bettina Brentano von Arnim. The community fails within a year due to lack of any governing structure and conflict of authority.
- 1852 Settlers at Tow and Bluffton on the Colorado River.
- 1860 Population 1,101 - 21 slaveholders, 54 slaves
- 1862 One hundred Llano County volunteers join Major John George Walker Division of the Confederate States Army.
- 1873, August 4 - Packsaddle Mountain becomes the site of the region’s last battle with the Indians. The county’s farming economy begins to grow after threats of Indian attacks cease.
- 1892, June 7 - Llano branch of Austin and Northwestern Railroad arrives
- 1893 Completion of County Courthouse, designed by Austin architect A O Watson
- 1895 Llano County Jail erected by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St Louis, MO
- 1900 Frank Teich establishes the Teich Monument Works
- 1901 Llano Women's Literary Society organized - 16 charter members
- 1901 The Victorian style Antlers Hotel, a railroad resort in Kingsland, opened for business.
Darmstadt Society of Forty
Count Castell of the Adelsverein negotiated with the separate Darmstadt Society of Forty to colonize 200 families on the Fisher-Miller Land Grant in Texas. In return, they were to receive $12,000 in money, livestock, equipment and provisions for a year. After the first year, the colonies were expected to support themselves. The colonies attempted were Castell, Leiningen, Bettina, Schoenburg and Meerholz in Llano County; Darmstädler Farm in Comal County; and Tusculum in Kendall County. Of these, only Castell survives. The colonies failed after the Adelsverein funding expired, and also due to conflict of structure and authorities. Some members moved to other Adelsverein settlements in Texas. Others moved elsewhere, or returned to Germany.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 966 square miles (2,500 km2), of which 934 square miles (2,420 km2) is land and 32 square miles (83 km2) (3.3%) is water.
Enchanted Rock, a designated state natural area and popular tourist destination, is located in southern Llano county.
Two significant rivers, the Llano and the Colorado, flow through Llano County. These rivers contribute to Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, and Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, which are all located partially within the county.
Major highways
State Highway 16
State Highway 29
State Highway 71
State Highway 261
Adjacent counties
- San Saba County (north)
- Burnet County (east)
- Blanco County (southeast)
- Gillespie County (south)
- Mason County (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,101 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,379 | 25.2% | |
| 1880 | 4,962 | 259.8% | |
| 1890 | 6,772 | 36.5% | |
| 1900 | 7,301 | 7.8% | |
| 1910 | 6,520 | −10.7% | |
| 1920 | 5,360 | −17.8% | |
| 1930 | 5,538 | 3.3% | |
| 1940 | 5,996 | 8.3% | |
| 1950 | 5,377 | −10.3% | |
| 1960 | 5,240 | −2.5% | |
| 1970 | 6,979 | 33.2% | |
| 1980 | 10,144 | 45.4% | |
| 1990 | 11,631 | 14.7% | |
| 2000 | 17,044 | 46.5% | |
| 2010 | 19,301 | 13.2% | |
| 2020 | 21,243 | 10.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 17,303 | 17,530 | 89.65% | 82.52% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 102 | 97 | 0.53% | 0.46% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 87 | 115 | 0.45% | 0.54% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 76 | 121 | 0.39% | 0.57% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 5 | 4 | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 11 | 61 | 0.06% | 0.29% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 175 | 807 | 0.91% | 3.80% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,542 | 2,508 | 7.99% | 11.81% |
| Total | 19,301 | 21,243 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
Cities
- Horseshoe Bay (partly in Burnet County)
- Llano (county seat)
- Sunrise Beach Village
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
Ghost towns
Notable people
- Emil Kriewitz, who lived with the Penateka Comanche, served as guide for Fisher–Miller Land Grant settlers, 1870 Llano County justice of the peace, 1871 Llano County election judge, and postmaster of Castell from 1876 to 1883. He was buried in Llano County Cemetery.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Llano para niños
