Matagorda County in this week's county spotlight

Maize fills up the hopper as a farmer combines his field in late July. Last year, sorghum brought in an estimated $5.6 million to the county's economy and is expected to double this year. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

Location:

Dec. 9, 2004 - Matagorda County is located in the Coastal Prairie region of Texas, extending across 1,612 square miles of mostly open prairie. The Colorado River bisects the county from north to south. A narrow barrior island, Matagorda Peninsula, runs northeast and southwest for 65 miles. The peninsula protects Matagorda Bay. Major watercourses include Caney, Peach, Peyton's, Turtle, Cash's and Big and Little Boggy creeks, the Trespalacios and Colorado rivers, Live Oak and Linville bayous, and Little Robbins Slough.

Bay City is the largest city and the county's seat of government. Other towns include Palacios, Blessing, Cedar Lane, Collegeport, Elmaton, Markham, Matagorda, Midfield, Pledger, Sargent, Van Vleck and Wadsworth.

Agriculture in early years:

In 1829, the town of Matagorda was founded after Stephen F. Austin convinced the Mexican government that a military post was needed to protect incoming settlers. As a port of entry for Texas immigrants and the state's second major seaport, Matagorda rapidly developed transportation and industry from 1840 to 1865.

In 1850 the agricultural census reported 59,000 acres in farms, including 8,500 acres considered "improved." That year more than 103,000 bushels of corn, 1,394 thousand-pound hogsheads of sugar, 1,613 bales of cotton and 60 pounds of rice were produced in Matagorda County. Along with cash crops, livestock played a significant role with a reported 32,000 head of cattle and more than 2,100 sheep. By 1858, cotton was raised on roughly 30 percent of the improved acreage; sugar on 6 percent and corn on 20 percent. In1859, the town had a gristmill and the largest sugar mill in Texas was built.

By 1860, almost 159,000 acres in the county was in farms and 21,000 acres reported as improved. The county's plantations and farms produced 8,454 bales of cotton, 507 hogsheads of cane sugar, and 144,000 bushels of corn. That year, almost 38,000 cattle were reported.

Between the years 1860 and 1870, the county's farm acreage declined by 30 percent. Undercut during the Civil War by the Union blockade, the area's cotton-growers never recovered. Only 1,590 bales were produced in 1870. While the county's wealthy planters left the area, others remained and engaged in the cattle trade. In 1870, over 93,000 cattle and about 8,500 sheep were reported.

In 1870, cotton production in the county began to revive but the economy and population grew slowly until the last years of the 19th century. In 1880, 3,400 acres were planted in cotton and 4,307 acres a decade later. The number of cattle also declined with fewer than 20,000 head reported in 1880 and 27,000 in 1890.

During the 1890s, the county's agricultural economy developed more rapidly as people from the north-central and central western states moved into the area to take up farming. Cotton acreage almost tripled, and by 1900, 12,000 acres of fiber were planted. In 1900, there were 448 farms and ranches.

After the boll weevil invasion in the early 1900s, farmers turned increasingly to rice production. When the Matagorda County Rice and Irrigation Company was founded after 1899, canal building and the production of rice helped to diversify and invigorate the county's economy. By 1912, rice plantations grew up along the railroad for 15 miles above Bay City making it one of the leading rice markets in the state. Four years later there were 11 irrigation plants, capable of irrigating 286,000 acres and 235 miles of canals had been built.

By 1920, 38,000 acres were planted in rice and cotton was planted on more than 46,000 acres. Five years later, 60,000 acres were planted in rice. The trend reversed however in 1930 with only 7,452 acres planted in rice and only 24,000 acres in cotton.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, cotton cultivation declined. Only 17,000 acres were devoted to the fiber in 1940. Rice cultivation revived however, with 16,000 acres planted. Cropland harvested rose from 50,000 acres in 1929 to 62,000 acres in 1940.

By the 1970s, the county was a leading cattle-producing area. The area was the third largest rice producer in the state after Wharton and Jefferson counties. Significant amounts of cotton, grain sorghums, soybeans and corn were still grown.

In the 1980s, many people still engaged in farming, but 10 percent of the labor force was employed in the construction industry. The fishing industry and fine recreational facilities for hunting helped to diversify the economy.

Source: The Handbook of Texas Online

Agriculture today:

Bringing in an estimated $40 million last year, nursery is the top commodity for the county, according to the annual increment report compiled by Matagorda County Extension Agent Brent Batchelor.

With beef mother cows numbering 58,000, other beef is the second highest commodity bringing in receipts of $28.8 million in 2003 and is projected to rise to $30 million this year.

Crops, including cotton, rice, hay and sorghum, rank third through sixth, respectively. In 2003, cotton was estimated at $12.3 million; rice, $11.5 million; hay, $10.8 million; and sorghum, $5.6 million. Cotton, planted on 31,899 acres this year, is projected to bring in $20 million. Sorghum, planted on 36,488 acres, is projected to almost double its receipts. Also in the crop category, cottonseed is estimated at $1.5 million; corn, $1.1 million; pecans, $1 million; soybeans, $960,000; vegetables, $200,000; and wheat, $108,000.

In "Other Ag," aquaculture is reported to have brought in an estimated $5 million in 2003 and is projected to rise to $7.5 million this year. Fishing, hunting and recreation also play a large role in the county's economy. Fishing is projected to bring in $3 million this year; hunting, $2.5 million; and recreation, $1.5 million.

In 2003, agriculture receipts in Matagorda County totaled $126 million.

Attractions:

Matagorda County Museum, 2100 Ave. F, Bay City - houses many of the artifacts from La Salle's ship La Belle that sank in Matagorda Bay in 1685 and was discovered in 1996. (979)245-7502.

Matagorda County Birding Nature Center - 34-acre site west of Bay City caters to the bird watcher, nature lover, or those seeking solitude.

Riverside Park, located off FM 2668 - features 40 hook-up R.V. sites. A family atmosphere for picnicking, fishing, boating and more. (979)245-0340.

LeTulle Park, located two miles west of Bay City on Hwy. 35 - three covered pavilions equipped with barbecue pits and picnic tables.

(For more information on events and attractions contact the Bay City Texas Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture at 979-245-8333, 1-800-806-8333, www.baycitychamber.org.