San Felipe, Texas
Encyclopedia
San Felipe, also known as San Felipe de Austin, is a town in Austin County
, Texas
, United States
. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 868 at the 2000 census.
with the help of Baron de Bastrop
to be the main site in Texas for colonization. Founded in 1824, as San Felipe de Austin, the town served as the capital of Stephen F. Austin
's first colony and the founding spot of the Texas Rangers
. It was first governed by James (Jack) Cummins
who was appointed the first Alcalde.
In 1828, the population numbered about 200. The town had three general stores, two taverns, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and forty to fifty log cabins. By 1835, its population had increased to around 600. It was home to the first post office and one of the earliest newspapers and land offices in Texas. San Felipe was second only to San Antonio as the commercial center of Texas.
The Texas conventions of 1832, 1833 and the Consultation of November 3, 1835 were held here. San Felipe would act as the capital for the provisional government of Texas until the Convention of 1836.
The town was burned in 1836 to prevent the Mexican army from capturing it. The town was rebuilt a few years later, but never regained its popularity. The oldest post office in Texas is located here (77473).
Austin County, Texas
Austin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas adjacent to the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The population was 28,417 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Bellville. Austin County is named for Stephen F...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The town was the social, economic, and political center of the early Stephen F. Austin colony. The population was 868 at the 2000 census.
History
In 1823 John McFarland operated a ferry near this location. In the fall of same year, the site was chosen by Stephen F. AustinStephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
with the help of Baron de Bastrop
Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop
Felipe Enrique Neri was a Dutch businessman and land owner known for his assistance in Anglo-American settlement of Texas.-Early life and family:...
to be the main site in Texas for colonization. Founded in 1824, as San Felipe de Austin, the town served as the capital of Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen Fuller Austin was born in Virginia and raised in southeastern Missouri. He was known as the Father of Texas, led the second, but first legal and ultimately successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from the United States. The capital of Texas, Austin in Travis County,...
's first colony and the founding spot of the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
. It was first governed by James (Jack) Cummins
James (Jack) Cummins
James Cummins was a Texas farmer, public official and a colonist of Stephen F. Austin's first settlement in Texas.-Early life and family:...
who was appointed the first Alcalde.
In 1828, the population numbered about 200. The town had three general stores, two taverns, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, and forty to fifty log cabins. By 1835, its population had increased to around 600. It was home to the first post office and one of the earliest newspapers and land offices in Texas. San Felipe was second only to San Antonio as the commercial center of Texas.
The Texas conventions of 1832, 1833 and the Consultation of November 3, 1835 were held here. San Felipe would act as the capital for the provisional government of Texas until the Convention of 1836.
The town was burned in 1836 to prevent the Mexican army from capturing it. The town was rebuilt a few years later, but never regained its popularity. The oldest post office in Texas is located here (77473).