Lee

Lee County

Updated on: December 17, 2021
Coordinates
30 18' 36" N, 96 57' 36" W (30.31, -96.96)
State
Texas
Region
Central
County Seat:
Giddings
Year Organized:
1874
Total Square Miles:
634.1
629 sq mi (1,629 km2) land
5.1 sq mi (13 km2) water
Population:
17183 (2017)
Population: 17,055 Est. (2016) 16,612 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
27
Lee County Website
http://www.co.lee.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Milam (N)
Burleson (NE)
Washington (E)
Fayette (SE)
Bastrop (SW)
Williamson (NW)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
17183
25 to 64 Years of Age:
51.70%
65 Years of Age and Older:
18.49%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$921.1 M
Labor Force:
9,425
Unemployment Rate:
3.10%

County Contact

PO BOX 390
County Courthouse
Giddings, TX, 78942-0390

http://www.co.lee.tx.us

Lee County, Texas, is found in Claypan. The County was created in 1874 and named for Robert Edward Lee. Lee was the confederate general stationed in Texas during the era when southern states started seceding.  

Lee County borders six counties, namely, Washington, Bastrop, Milam, Fayette, Williamson, and Burleson. Giddings is the County seat. Giddings is the largest town in Lee County and is located on US highways 77 and 290.  

Lexington, hills, Lincoln, and old dime box are the other towns found in Lee County.  

Why Lee County is Famous 

Lee County is known for many things with one of them being its annual Christmas parade. You can see Santa Claus riding on top of a float as he makes his way through the streets of downtown Giddings.  

There also is a festival held every year called the “Christmas Tree Festival.” This event features live entertainment, food vendors, and lots of activities for kids. If you’re looking for more family fun, you should check out the Texas State Fair nearby Luling. This fair has been around since 1876 featuring carnival rides, games, and other attractions. 

If you want to learn more about the area, we recommend visiting the Giddings Area Chamber of Commerce. They offer information about what’s going on in the community. In addition, they host events such as art shows and concerts.  

Lee County is also famous for its rich history. Many of the buildings in town were built during the century. These include the courthouse, jail, and post office. All these structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The county is known for the Slavic immigrants who settled here in the early 1900s. They came from Russia, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. Most of them worked at the local cotton mill. Today, their descendants still live in the area. 

Lee County Demographics 

Lee County has a population of 17,239 people. The information is according to the United States Census Bureau. 93.2% of the population are Lee citizens, and 6.8% are foreigners. 

The largest ethnic group in the County is the white(non-Hispanic) with 63.3%, while the white(Hispanic) follows with 18.4%. The black/African Americans are 11.1% of the population.  

Women are 49.7%, while 50.3% are men. The County’s median age is 41.1%. On the other hand, 59% of the people are between 18-64 years, while 19% are aged 65 and above. Land owners occupied 80.6% of the housing units in Lee County, TX, in 2019 compared to 78.8% in 2018. 

Lee County Flora And Fauna 

Lee County sits on 631 square miles. Six hundred twenty-nine square miles are covered by land, while water covers two square miles. The County’s elevation range is between 270 -970 feet. The County has three soil regions.  

The central area has light-colored loam to deep reddish to black clayey soils. Light-colored loamy to loamy subsoils or sandy soils covers the northwest area.  

The rest of the County has light-colored soils with clayey subsoils and sandy surfaces.  

The central part of the County’s location is in the Blackland Prairies region. Pecan, mesquite trees, oak, elm, and thick grasses along the streams characterize the area. Notably, the other parts of the County are located in Post the Oak Savannah vegetation region.   

The vegetation in the area includes black and red haw, tall grass, blackjack, blackberries, muscadine grapes, and yaupon. Lee County enjoys a humid and subtropical climate.  

The average temperature is 69° F annually, while the average annual rainfall is 36 inches. Yegua Creek-East, West Yegua creeks, and Middle Yegua branches drain most of the County.  

Lee County Economy 

The County’s per capita income is $ 27, 227 while the median household income is $54,774. 12.3% of the population lives below the poverty line. In 2019, the employment rate grew by 1.6%.  

The sector that has employed the largest population is Office and Administrative Support Occupations with 12.6%. Sales & Related Occupations follows with 10.5% while Construction & Extraction is third with 9.5%. 

According to the GINI calculation, the 2019 income inequality was 0.48. the inequality declined by 0.28% from 2018. Note, the decline reflects growth in the wage distribution.  

Lee County Courthouse  

The Lee County Courthouse was constructed in 1899 by James Riely Gordon in Romanesque Revival style. Sadly, the original courthouse was built in 1897 but later destroyed by fire.  

Lee County Courthouse is among the National Register of Historic Places in the United States.  

The courthouse building is three stories tall and has a clock tower facing each side of the building. The building has retained most of its historical integrity despite having gone through a basement flooding incident. 

After the incident, the courthouse had spalling concrete, and the water was infiltrating through rotted windows. The contractor also replaced the electrical system, windows, and exterior masonry. The district courtroom had a decorative painting to reflect Lee’s community’s Wendish roots. Note, the courthouse is one of the few buildings with a Rotunda.  

Lee County Historical Commission 

Lee County is at the forefront of preserving its heritage for generations to come. In this regard, the County has set up a historical commission. The commission’s main agenda is to maintain the County’s history for education, enjoyment, or economic purposes.  

The commission’s responsibility is to keep Lee County history alive. As part of fulfilling its mandate, it also manages historical items at the Fletcher house museum.   

Lee County Attraction Sites 

Lee County is one of the ideal places to visit in Texas. From the County’s culture to history to cuisines, while in Lee County, one has so much to explore. Below are the best places you can visit while in Lee County.  

  • Texas Wendish Heritage Museum 
  • Lee County courthouse 
  • Saint Paul Lutheran Church and Wendish Cabin 
  • Union Station Transportation Museum 
  • Schubert-Fletcher Home 

Lee County Offices  

County Judge: Judge Paul E. Fischer is Lee’s County judge. Citizens can access the judge’s office in Lee County Annex 898 E. Richmond, Room 107 Giddings, Texas 78942. Contact the judge through Phone: (979)-542-3178, Fax: (979)-542-298 Or Email: [email protected] 

Commissioners Court: Mark Matthijetz, Richard Wagner, Alan Turner, and Steven Knobloch are the four Precinct Commissioners. The commissioners’ offices are at Lee County Annex 898 E. Richmond, Room 107 Giddings, Texas 78942. 

County Attorney: Martin Placke is Lee’s County Attorney. The attorney’s office location is at 200 South Main, Room 305 Giddings, Texas 78942. For any inquiry or concern, call 979-542-3233 or Fax 979-542-1226.  

County Clerk: Lee County’s clerk is Sharon Blasig. Her office can be found at 843 East Industry Giddings, Texas 78942. For any query or concern, reach the clerk through Phone: (979)-542-3684, Fax: (979)-542-2623, or email:[email protected] 

County Treasurer: Melinda “Lyndy” Krause is the Treasurer at Lee County. You can visit her office at the County Annex 898 E. Richmond, Room 102 Giddings, Texas 78942. The treasurer’s contacts are Phone: (979)-542-2161, Fax: (979)-540-2739, or Email: [email protected]. 

County Auditor. Lee County auditor is Jared Albrecht. His Mail Address is 200 S. Main, Room 201 Giddings, Texas 78942. Contact the auditor through Phone: (979)-542-3103, Fax: (979)-540-2740, or E-mail: [email protected]  

There are other County offices in Lee County that are committed to serving the interest of its citizens. Visit their website for more information. 

Lee County FAQ’s 

Which are the primary agricultural practices in Lee County? 

Lee County’s farmers rear beef cattle, goats, horses, aquaculture, and poultry. The farms also produce peanuts, hay, and corn.  

Which mineral resources does Lee County have? 

Lee County is known for the lignite coal, gravel, and iron ore.