This article is from the Spring 2008 Visitor's Guide.
Blanco County celebrated its Sesquicentennial in 2008. The Blanco area was first settled in 1853 when Captain James Hughes Callahan, Eli Clemens Hinds, and their families moved into the valley. Captain Callahan had first visited the Blanco Valley years earlier, on his way to an expedition in Mexico, and decided to return to the area to live. The pioneers built homes along the Blanco River and, by 1854, other settlers had arrived. Several formed the Pittsburg Land Company with General John D. Pitts. The company laid out the town of Pittsburg across the Blanco River from the present-day City of Blanco. 150 years ago, Blanco County was formed and about 120 acres of land left to the Land Company in Captain Callahan’s will was used to establish the City of Blanco for the county’s seat. The city grew around its town square, and eventually annexed the town of Pittsburg. The hill country is an attraction to many, and more settlers came to Blanco County. About 15 miles north of Blanco, Johnson City was established and began to grow. The historic courthouse on the town square, the third courthouse built in town, was completed in 1886. The creation of new counties south of Blanco changed the shape of this county. The courthouse served only four years as the courthouse before an election in 1890 moved the county seat to the more central Johnson City, named after an ancestor of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Blanco County is primarily a farming and ranching region. Cotton and sheep were first introduced to the area by Eli Hinds. As with many small towns, tourism has become a major part of the economy. Thanks to the local climate, lavender grows well and Blanco is host to the Lavender Festival of Texas. Johnson City celebrates its abundance of wildflowers every year with a festival. The citizens of Blanco County are coming together this year, 2008, to celebrate the sesquicentennial. With the help of many volunteers, events highlighting the county’s past have already taken place and more are planned throughout the year. Blanco County is an easy drive from both Austin and San Antonio, and is known in Houston as an enjoyable Hill Country destination. Both cities are located along US Highway 281, with US Highway 290 running east-west through the county to connect Austin to the Hill Country city of Fredericksburg. In addition to the restaurants and shops in the cities, visitors also enjoy Blanco State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park, and Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historical Park. Pictured Above: Our Founding Fathers — To commemorate Blanco County’s 150 years, events such as this re-enactment of the founding of Blanco County, which was performed during March 8’s sesquicentennial events by these men in the Old Blanco County Courthouse’s courtroom, will take place around the county. Mayor Pro-Tem and City Councilmember Ron Houston, standing on the left, narrated the play, with (front row) Rob Jones as James H. Callahan, Blanco County Municipal Court Judge Don Barnett as John D. Pitts, Blanco County Judge Bill Guthrie as State Senator Henry E. McCulloch, Bill Noonan as State Representative W.J. Howerton, (back row) Blanco ISD School Board President Matt Herden as Andrew Lindsey, Carl Homeier as E.C. Hinds, Steve Edmondson as William E. Jones, Dr. Clinton DeWolfe as Christoph Rhodius, T.D. Smylie as Jacob Watson, Vic Hinze as John L. Hodges, and Marc Mabrito as F.W. Chandler.
Blanco County celebrated its Sesquicentennial in 2008. The Blanco area was first settled in 1853 when Captain James Hughes Callahan, Eli Clemens Hinds, and their families moved into the valley. Captain Callahan had first visited the Blanco Valley years earlier, on his way to an expedition in Mexico, and decided to return to the area to live. The pioneers built homes along the Blanco River and, by 1854, other settlers had arrived. Several formed the Pittsburg Land Company with General John D. Pitts. The company laid out the town of Pittsburg across the Blanco River from the present-day City of Blanco. 150 years ago, Blanco County was formed and about 120 acres of land left to the Land Company in Captain Callahan’s will was used to establish the City of Blanco for the county’s seat. The city grew around its town square, and eventually annexed the town of Pittsburg. The hill country is an attraction to many, and more settlers came to Blanco County. About 15 miles north of Blanco, Johnson City was established and began to grow. The historic courthouse on the town square, the third courthouse built in town, was completed in 1886. The creation of new counties south of Blanco changed the shape of this county. The courthouse served only four years as the courthouse before an election in 1890 moved the county seat to the more central Johnson City, named after an ancestor of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Blanco County is primarily a farming and ranching region. Cotton and sheep were first introduced to the area by Eli Hinds. As with many small towns, tourism has become a major part of the economy. Thanks to the local climate, lavender grows well and Blanco is host to the Lavender Festival of Texas. Johnson City celebrates its abundance of wildflowers every year with a festival. The citizens of Blanco County are coming together this year, 2008, to celebrate the sesquicentennial. With the help of many volunteers, events highlighting the county’s past have already taken place and more are planned throughout the year. Blanco County is an easy drive from both Austin and San Antonio, and is known in Houston as an enjoyable Hill Country destination. Both cities are located along US Highway 281, with US Highway 290 running east-west through the county to connect Austin to the Hill Country city of Fredericksburg. In addition to the restaurants and shops in the cities, visitors also enjoy Blanco State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park, and Lyndon Baines Johnson National Historical Park. Pictured Above: Our Founding Fathers — To commemorate Blanco County’s 150 years, events such as this re-enactment of the founding of Blanco County, which was performed during March 8’s sesquicentennial events by these men in the Old Blanco County Courthouse’s courtroom, will take place around the county. Mayor Pro-Tem and City Councilmember Ron Houston, standing on the left, narrated the play, with (front row) Rob Jones as James H. Callahan, Blanco County Municipal Court Judge Don Barnett as John D. Pitts, Blanco County Judge Bill Guthrie as State Senator Henry E. McCulloch, Bill Noonan as State Representative W.J. Howerton, (back row) Blanco ISD School Board President Matt Herden as Andrew Lindsey, Carl Homeier as E.C. Hinds, Steve Edmondson as William E. Jones, Dr. Clinton DeWolfe as Christoph Rhodius, T.D. Smylie as Jacob Watson, Vic Hinze as John L. Hodges, and Marc Mabrito as F.W. Chandler.
