Historical Marker
Goliad County
Goliad, Goliad County · Texas
Erected 1936
No town in Goliad County has ever reached 2,500 people, the census line for urban. The county lived on livestock: it ranked among the state's top cattle raisers in 1900, was quarantined for ticks in 1921, and by 1940 stood fifth in Texas for turkeys, with 77,110 birds. Oil drilling began in 1929, and by the end of 2004 county lands had yielded more than 82 million barrels. The local medical society was commended by Dr. Albert Sabin for its 1962 program with his Type III oral polio vaccine. The population bottomed out at 4,869 in 1970.
What the plaque says
Goliad County First known to Spanish settlers as Nuestra Senora de Loreto, later called La Bahia del Espiritu Santo. Established as a mission in 1749. Became a strategic fort under Spanish, Mexican, Texas occupancy, 1810 - 1821, 1835 - 1836. Name changed to Goliad and created a Mexican municipality in 1829. Scene of massacre of Fannin and his command in 1836. Organized as a county, 1836, with town of Goliad as the county seat. Home of Confederate General Hamilton P. Bee. From population of 3,384 county sent several army companies to the Civil War.
Where it stands
28.64553, -97.44007 · Directions
More markers nearby
- Site of Mission Nuestra Senora del Rosario — steps away
- Founding Site of First Baptist Church of Goliad — 3.1 mi
- John Mason Brewer — 3.2 mi
- Bull Durham Advertisement — 3.2 mi