Fayette County

Fayette County nearly held the capital of Texas. On April 11, 1838, the Second Congress approved by an overwhelming majority a proposal to locate the seat of government here permanently, and local citizens arranged to buy the Eblin league on the east bank of the Colorado near La Grange, reserving all vacant land within a nine-mile radius. Sam Houston vetoed the measure, and the capital went upriver to the site of Austin. La Grange took its name from Lafayette's chateau. The county later gave up land to Lavaca County in 1854 and to Lee County in 1874.

What the plaque says

Fayette County Formed from Colorado and Bastrop counties. Created December 14, 1837. Organized January 1, 1838. Named in honor of Marquis de LaFayette. 1757-1834. Nobleman and republican friend of Washington and of the United States. County Seat, La Grange.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Texas Wendish Heritage Museum — 16 mi
  A museum at Serbin of the Wends, a Slavic people from Lusatia whose congregation of nearly 600 crossed on the Ben Nevis in 1854, losing seventy-three to cholera on the way.
• Bastrop State Park — 29 mi
  The westernmost loblolly pines in the United States, cut off from the East Texas forest by a hundred miles of post oak, burned almost entirely in 2011 and growing back.

More markers nearby

• Fayette County, C.S.A — steps away
• James Seaton Lester — steps away
• Kreische Complex — 1.6 mi
• Monument Hill Tomb — 1.6 mi