BlockBefore

Gonzales County, Texas

72 topographic sheets cover 37 settlements here, and 15 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

15 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Gonzales County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 418 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 15 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 9 buildings and 6 districts.
  • 5 of the 15 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 39 populated places in this county; 37 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

15

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Braches Housebuilding197171000936
Edwards High Schoolbuilding2024100010161
First Shot Monuments Historic Districtdistrict2017100000673
First Shot Monuments Historic Districtdistrict2017100000673
First Shot Monuments Historic Districtdistrict2017100000673
First Shot Monuments Historic Districtdistrict2017100000673
First Shot Monuments Historic Districtdistrict2017100000673
Gonzales Commercial Historic Districtdistrict199696000935
Gonzales County Courthousebuilding197272001364
Gonzales County Jailbuilding197575001985
Gonzales Memorial Museum and Amphitheater Historic Districtbuilding200403001414
William Buckner and Sue Houston Housebuilding200303000769
Kennard Housebuilding197171000937
Leesville Schoolhousebuilding197878002937
Thomas Harrison and Mollie Spooner Housebuilding200303000610

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 1880 - Gonzales Co
Land ownership map (1880) - Gonzales Co. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 1,658 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-12-11, scale 1:69000
1952-12-11, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-16, scale 1:69000
1953-04-16, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-16, scale 1:69000
1953-04-16, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-16, scale 1:69000
1953-04-16, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-04-16, scale 1:69000
1953-04-16, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-05-04, scale 1:22800
1958-05-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-05-04, scale 1:22800
1958-05-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-05-04, scale 1:22800
1958-05-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-05-04, scale 1:22800
1958-05-04, scale 1:22800. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-26, scale 1:19500
1960-02-26, scale 1:19500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-26, scale 1:19500
1960-02-26, scale 1:19500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-26, scale 1:19500
1960-02-26, scale 1:19500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1960-02-26, scale 1:19500
1960-02-26, scale 1:19500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-02-05, scale 1:17600
1962-02-05, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-02-05, scale 1:17600
1962-02-05, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-02-05, scale 1:17600
1962-02-05, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-02-05, scale 1:17600
1962-02-05, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-21, scale 1:17200
1963-01-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-21, scale 1:17200
1963-01-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-21, scale 1:17200
1963-01-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-21, scale 1:17200
1963-01-21, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-10, scale 1:17600
1964-02-10, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-10, scale 1:17600
1964-02-10, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-10, scale 1:17600
1964-02-10, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-10, scale 1:17600
1964-02-10, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-11-20, scale 1:120431
1971-11-20, scale 1:120431. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-11-20, scale 1:120431
1971-11-20, scale 1:120431. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-11-20, scale 1:120749
1971-11-20, scale 1:120749. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-11-20, scale 1:120749
1971-11-20, scale 1:120749. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-01, scale 1:26000
1973-08-01, scale 1:26000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-01, scale 1:26000
1973-08-01, scale 1:26000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-01, scale 1:26000
1973-08-01, scale 1:26000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-08-01, scale 1:26000
1973-08-01, scale 1:26000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-02-22, scale 1:80000
1978-02-22, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-02-22, scale 1:80000
1978-02-22, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-12-05, scale 1:80000
1978-12-05, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1978-12-05, scale 1:80000
1978-12-05, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1986-04-22, scale 1:25400
1986-04-22, scale 1:25400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1986-04-22, scale 1:25400
1986-04-22, scale 1:25400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1986-04-22, scale 1:25400
1986-04-22, scale 1:25400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1986-04-22, scale 1:25400
1986-04-22, scale 1:25400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-12-12, scale 1:65000
1989-12-12, scale 1:65000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-12-12, scale 1:65000
1989-12-12, scale 1:65000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-12-12, scale 1:65000
1989-12-12, scale 1:65000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1989-12-12, scale 1:65000
1989-12-12, scale 1:65000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

30 stations, 6 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

47 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 89-1Justice Precinct 1: Gonzales city: Gonzales city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by City limits; City limits, St. Joseph; E. Cone, Water, W. Cone; City limits
  • 89-2Gonzales city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by W. Cone, Water, E. Cone; St. Paul; St. Andrew, City limits; City limits
  • 89-3Gonzales city - That part of Ward 1 Bounded by City limits, St. Andrew, St. Paul, Ward line, St. Lawrence; N. College, S. College; City limits; City limits
  • 89-4CN/A
  • 89-4BN/A
  • 89-4AN/A
  • 89-5Gonzales city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by City limits; City limits; St. Lawrence; Davis, St. Andrew, Johnson, Texas and New Orleans Railroad, Church
  • 89-6BN/A
  • 89-6AN/A
  • 89-7Gonzales city - That part of Ward 2 Bounded by Texas and New Orleans Railroad; Johnson, St. Andrew, Davis; St. Lawrence; Ward line, St. Paul
  • 89-8Justice Precinct 1 - That part northwest of State Hwy. 3, east of Texas and New Orleans Railroad, outside Gonzales city
  • 89-9Justice Precinct 1 - That part west of the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, east of Marcos River, outside Gonzales city
  • 89-10Justice Precinct 1 - That part southwest of Marcos River, west and north of Guadalupe River
  • 89-11Justice Precinct 1 - That part south and east of Guadalupe River, west of State Hwy. 29 and north of State Hwy. 200
  • 89-12Justice Precinct 1 - That part southeast of State Hwy. 3, east and north of Guadalupe River, outside Gonzales city
  • 89-13Justice Precinct 1 - That part south of State Hwy. 200, east of State Hwy. 29, and south and west of Guadalupe River
  • 89-14Justice Precinct 2: Justice Precinct 2 - That part north of State Hwy. 3
  • 89-15Justice Precinct 2 - That part south of State Hwy. 3
  • 89-16Justice Precinct 3: Waelder city: Waelder city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway; City limits
  • 89-17Waelder city - That part Bounded by San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway; City limits; City limits; City limits
  • 89-18BJustice Precinct 3 - That part west of Copperas Creek School - Waelder Rd, north of Texas and New Orleans Railroad and east of Stewarts Prairie School Rd., outside Waelder city
  • 89-18CJustice Precinct 3 - That part north of Texas and New Orleans Railroad and east of Copperas Creek School - Waelder Rd., outside Waelder city
  • 89-18AJustice Precinct 3 - That part west of Stewarts Prairie School Rd. and north of Texas and New Orleans Railroad
  • 89-19Justice Precinct 3 - That part south of Texas and New Orleans Railroad and west of State Hwy. 3 from Waelder to intersection with Sandy Fork, southwest of Sandy Fork from State Hwy. 3 to Peach Creek, outside Waelder city
  • 89-20Justice Precinct 3 - That part south of Texas and New Orleans Railroad, east of State Hwy. 3 from Waelder to intersection with Sandy Fork, northeast of Sandy Fork from State Hwy. 3 to Peach Creek, west of Peach Creek, outside Waelder city
  • 89-21Justice Precinct 3 - That part south of Texas and New Orleans Railroad, and east of Peach Creek
  • 89-22Justice Precinct 4: Justice Precinct 4 - That part west of State Hwy. 80
  • 89-23Justice Precinct 4 - That part east of State Hwy. 80
  • 89-24Justice Precinct 5: Justice Precinct 5 - That part south and east of Cheapside - Hamon Rd., east of State Hwy. 29 and southwest of Hamon - Dreyer Rd.
  • 89-25Justice Precinct 5 - That part north of Hamon - Dreyer Rd., west of State Hvy. 29, north and west of Cheapside - Hamon Rd. and east of Brushy Creek
  • 89-26Justice Precinct 5 - That part west of Brushy Creek, north of Sandies Creek, east of Sample - Pilgrim - Wrightsboro Rd. and northeast of Wrightsboro - Bebe Rd.
  • 89-27Justice Precinct 5 - That part southwest of Bebe - Wrightsboro Rd., west of Pilgrim - Sample Rd., south of Sandies Creek and west of Brushy Creek
  • 89-28Justice Precinct 6: Justice Precinct 6 - That part north of Dilworth - Rockford School Rd.
  • 89-29AJustice Precinct 6 - That part south of Dilworth - Rockford School Rd. and north of State Hwy. 200
  • 89-29BJustice Precinct 3 - That part south of State Hwy. 200 and north of Gonzales - Kokernot - Shiner Rd.
  • 89-30Justice Precinct 6 - That part southwest of Gonzales - Kokernot - Shiner Rd.
  • 89-31Justice Precinct 7: Harwood town
  • 89-32Justice Precinct 7 - That part north and east of the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, (S.P.), outside Harwood town
  • 89-33Justice Precinct 7 - That part south and west of the Texas and New Orleans Railroad, outside Harwood town
  • 89-34Justice Precinct 8: Nixon city: Nixon city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad; Nixon Ave.
  • 89-35Nixon city - That part Bounded by City limits; Nixon Ave., State Hwy. 80; City limits; City limits
  • 89-36Nixon city - That part Bounded by Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad; City limits; City limits; State Hwy. 80, Nixon Ave.
  • 89-37Justice Precinct 8 - That part north of U.S. Hwy. 87, northwest of State Hwy. 77, outside Nixon city
  • 89-38Justice Precinct 8 - That part south of U.S. Hwy. 87 north of Sandy Greek, outside Nixon city and Smiley town
  • 89-39Justice Precinct 8 - That part south and southwest of State Hwy. 77, north of U.S. Hwy. 87, outside Smiley town
  • 89-40Justice Precinct 8 - Thab part south of Sandy Creek and west of U.S. Hwy. 87
  • 89-41Smiley town

Wildfire, 1993 to 2020

176 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 176 of them, burning about 3,721 acres. 3 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning79
Equipment and vehicle use34
Missing data/not specified/undetermined34
Railroad operations and maintenance10
Recreation and ceremony4
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Natural3
Smoking3
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Fireworks2
Arson/incendiarism1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
1 January 2008Debris and open burning350 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
9 October 2005Debris and open burning283 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSOUTH TX - 3
8 February 2011Debris and open burning200 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCR 360
4 September 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined175 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSOUTH BRANCH - 103
27 January 2011Debris and open burning150 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceLAMB RANCH FIRE
8 February 2011Equipment and vehicle use125 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSTAFFORD FIRE
4 August 2009Equipment and vehicle use125 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceOTTINE
8 February 2009Debris and open burning100 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHICKERY FORREST

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1955 to 2026

60 of 226 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 226 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 540 injuries and about $6,036,250 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Flash Flood91
Thunderstorm Wind52
Hail52
Tornado21
Funnel Cloud5
Lightning3
Flood2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
October 1998Flash FloodCountywide500 hurt, $500,000no account filed
October 1998Flash FloodCountywide30 hurt, $500,000no account filed
September 1999LightningGonzales6 hurtno account filed
June 1962Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurtno account filed
June 1984Tornado (F0)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
September 1967Tornadonot stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
May 1994Thunderstorm WindGonzales$500,000Damaging winds uprooted trees, snapped power lines and telephone lines, and caused widespread damage to roofs and windows. One mobile home was damaged.
September 2009Thunderstorm WindWaelder$150,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 knots that damaged four large barns, downed several 18 inch diameter trees, and blew a metal windmill onto a tractor.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindCost$150,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew roofs off buildings just south of Cost.
April 2023LightningSample$100,000Lightning struck an oil tank battery along Hwy 87 between Smiley and Westhoff and started a fire.
April 2019LightningWaelder$100,000Lightning started a fire at an oil tank battery damaging two tanks.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindSmiley$100,000no account filed
August 2003Thunderstorm WindGonzales$90,000As the line of thunderstorms associated with the late season cold front moved southward into Gonzales County, they produced severe winds that knocked over trees and blew down power lines just north of Gonzales. The severe winds also damaged a trailer in the area.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindLeesville$80,000The bow-shaped line along the Hays-Guadalupe-Wilson Counties accelerated as it crossed into Caldwell and Gonzales Counties near 12:30 am CST. The storms were now producing widespread wind gusts of 60 to 70 knots, with spotty higher gusts approaching 80 knots. Again, most of the damage was in the form of trees blown down, with some damages to roofs of homes.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindWaelder$50,000Strong thunderstorm winds, estimated at 50 mph, blew down several trees, large limbs, and produced roof damage on several buildings and homes. The damage was mainly found a few blocks either side of Highway 90 and east of Highway 97 near Waelder.
November 2000Thunderstorm WindGonzales$50,000Severe thunderstorm winds knocked down trees and destroyed two outbuildings.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindGonzales$50,000no account filed
October 2002Flash FloodCountywide$30,000Heavy rain began to fall in Gonzales County in the mid-morning, with general 1 to 2 inch accumulations by late morning. Isolated totals to 3 inches were indicated. Flash flooding began just before noon and ended in the mid-afternoon. Minor damage was reported to roads and bridges.
April 1997Flash FloodCountywide$30,000Rainfall totals in southern Gonzales County of up to 4" produced flooding of low areas across most of this part of the county.
August 2001Flash FloodCountywide$30,000no account filed
August 2001Flash FloodCountywide$30,000no account filed
July 1996Thunderstorm WindSmiley$30,000no account filed
October 1973Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1955Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
August 2003Thunderstorm WindGonzales$20,000Severe thunderstorm winds knocked over several trees just north of Gonzales
August 2001Flash FloodWest Portion$20,000no account filed
March 2000Thunderstorm WindGonzales$20,000no account filed
November 1998Flash FloodEast Portion$20,000no account filed
October 1997Flash FloodCountywide$20,000no account filed
November 2002Flash FloodCountywide$15,000General 1 to 2 inch rainfall with isolated totals to near 4 inches between Gonzales and Flatonia produced flash flooding from mid afternoon through late evening. Minor damage occurred to roads.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindSandy Fork$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that damaged a building and knocked down large tree limbs at 1715 CR 283 south of Sandy Fork.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindSaturn$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 80 mph that tore the roof off a horse barn near the intersection of Alt Hwy 90 and CR 345 east of Gonzales.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindNixon$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew down trees and power lines in Nixon.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindGonzales$10,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 65 mph that knocked down power lines in Gonzales.
May 2015Flash FloodNixon$10,000Water was reported over the roadway at Interstate 10 and the Gonzales and Fayette county line. A report of a semi-truck sliding off a roadway due to high water, and a high water rescue in the city of Gonzales were received but no additional details given.
December 2002Flash FloodNorth Portion$10,000The northern half of Gonzales County received a general 1 to 2 inch rainfall between 2 am and 4 am CST, with totals of nearly 4 inches between Belmont and Thompsonville. Soils had remained saturated from recent rainfall, allowing brief flash flooding to develop in the northern half of the county.
March 2000Thunderstorm WindSmiley$10,000Additional trees were reported to have been blown down in southwest Gonzales County.
July 1998Tornado (F1)Gonzales$10,000A small and short-lived tornado struck just east of Gonzales, destroying one mobile home while also damaging 5 homes and wrapping tin roofs around poles. The tornado was preceded by severe winds that also damaged sheds and the roofs of outbuildings, as well as by large hail.
February 1998Thunderstorm WindCheapside$10,000Trees were reported to have been blown down by severe thunderstorm winds.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindGonzales$10,000Trees were blown down in the Gonzales area.
May 1997Flash FloodCountywide$10,000Numerous roads were closed over Gonzales County due to heavy rain.
November 2000Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
August 1998Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
August 1998Flash FloodCountywide$10,000no account filed
July 1998Thunderstorm WindGonzales$10,000no account filed
September 1996Flash FloodSouth Portion$10,000no account filed
January 2024Thunderstorm WindGonzales$5,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that knocked down a traffic light at the intersection of St. Joseph St. and St. Lawrence St. in Gonzales.
January 2024HailGonzales Muni Arpt$5,000A thunderstorm produced hail up to the size of tennis balls that dented a car in Gonzales. The average hail stones were golf ball size.
January 2024Thunderstorm WindGonzales Muni Arpt$5,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that downed a power line on St. Joseph St. in Gonzales.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindSmiley$5,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that knocked down multiple large tree limbs in Smiley.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindGonzales$5,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 75 mph that snapped a tree trunk in Gonzales.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindCost$5,000A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew down trees and power lines in Cost.
June 2010HailGonzales$5,000A thunderstorm produced hail up to two inches in diameter which damaged several cars.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindOttine$5,000A six to seven foot long piece of sheet metal was torn from a business' car canopy.
January 2004Flash FloodCountywide$5,000General 1 to 2 inch totals fell across Gonzales County. Isolated amounts to 3 inches were reported in the eastern part of the county. Peach Creek was in flood and was reported over FM795.
February 2003Flash FloodCountywide$5,000General 1 to 2 inch rainfall, with isolated totals to 3 inches, combined with soils that were already saturated, resulted in brief flash flooding from the late afternoon into the early evening.
June 2003Flash FloodNorth Portion$5,000A line of showers and thunderstorms that had swept across the Hill Country through the late afternoon period moved into Gonzales County in the evening. General rainfall over Gonzales County was between 1 and 2 inches, with accumulations of up to 4 inches along and north of IH-10. The Gonzales County Sheriff's Department reported flash flooding during the late evening hours.
November 2000Tornado (F0)Cheapside$5,000A small and short-lived tornado touched down briefly in the Cheapside community. It damage about a dozen trees but caused no other damage.

Mines and quarries

13 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 13 workings inside this county. 11 still produce and 2 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Bentonite6
Uranium5
Clay2
Sand and Gravel, Construction1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Unnamed PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerSand
Moesker PitBentonite, ClayProducerSedimentary
Unnamed PitClayPast ProducerClay
Conoco Conquista Friar-Knandel PitUraniumProducer
Conoco Conquista Griffin PitUraniumProducer
Conoco Conquista Smith PitUraniumProducer
Griffin MineUraniumPast ProducerStratabound
Thomas Uranium PitUraniumProducer
Helms PitBentoniteProducerSedimentary
Helms PitBentoniteProducer
Kennard PitBentoniteProducerSedimentary
Knorr PitBentoniteProducerSedimentary
Southern Clay Pits and PlantBentoniteProducer

Every populated place in the county

39

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.