McCulloch County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. At the 2020 census, its population was 7,630. Its county seat is Brady. The county was created in 1856 and later organized in 1876. It is named for Benjamin McCulloch, a famous Texas Ranger and Confederate general.

The geographical center of Texas lies within McCulloch County, near Brady.

History

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From 5000 BC to 1500 AD, the early Native American inhabitants included Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, Comanche, and Tawakoni. The 1788 José Mares expedition passed through the area while travelling from San Antonio to Santa Fe.

On November 21, 1831, in the Brady vicinity, James Bowie, Rezin P. Bowie, David Buchanan, Cephas D. Hamm, Matthew Doyle, Jesse Wallace, Thomas McCaslin, Robert Armstrong, and James Coryell with two servants, Charles and Gonzales, held at bay for a day and a night 164 Caddo and Lipans. After 80 warriors had been killed, the Indians withdrew. Camp San Saba was established in 1852 to protect settlers from Indians.

The Sixth Texas Legislature in 1856 formed McCulloch County from Bexar County, and named it for Benjamin McCulloch.

The Brady Sentinel was established by D.F. Hayes in 1880 as the county's first newspaper. Later, it was absorbed by the Heart o’ Texas News run by R.B. Boyle. West Sweden and Melvin were established. From 1897 to 1910, the Brady Enterprise or McCulloch County Enterprise was published.

In the last year of the 19th century, the Milburn Messenger was edited by T.F. Harwell. Cotton became a major county crop.

  • 1923 - Dan Collins Taylor, a rodeo performer and promoter was born in Doole in McCulloch County. He died there in 2010.-->

Tenant farming in the county peaked at 60% in the 1930s.

Curtis Field, named for Brady Mayor Harry L. Curtis, opened as a flying school in 1941, with 80 students. A county prisoner-of-war camp was set up in 1943; it housed members of Rommel's Afrika Corps, the S.S., and the Gestapo.

From 1954 to 1960, 48 restraining structures were installed in the county to control flooding. A tourist information marker placed in the county, declaring the geographical center of Texas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (0.7%) are covered by water.

Major highways

  • 20px U.S. Highway 87
  • 25px U.S. Highway 190
  • 25px U.S. Highway 283
  • 25px U.S. Highway 377
  • 20px State Highway 71

Adjacent counties

  • Coleman County (north)
  • Brown County (northeast)
  • San Saba County (east)
  • Mason County (south)
  • Menard County (southwest)
  • Concho County (west)

Demographics

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Education

The following school districts serve McCulloch County:

  • Brady ISD (small portion in Concho County)
  • Lohn ISD
  • Mason ISD (mostly in Mason County; small portions in Kimble, Menard, and San Saba Counties)
  • Rochelle ISD

Communities

City

  • Brady (county seat)

Town

  • Melvin

Census-designated place

  • Rochelle

Unincorporated communities

  • Doole
  • Fife
  • Lohn
  • Mercury
  • Milburn
  • Pear Valley
  • Placid
  • Salt Gap
  • Voca

See also

  • List of museums in West Texas
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in McCulloch County, Texas
  • Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in McCulloch County
  • Old McCulloch County Jail

References