DeWitt County

DeWitt County Offices

DeWitt County Town List

DeWitt County, Texas, was founded in 1825 by Empresario Green DeWitt. The first settlers were from the United States and Mexico, but most came from New England. They settled on land granted to Empresario for his services as a soldier during the War of Independence. 

He also received grants of land along the San Antonio River. In addition, he gained large tracts of land through purchase or inheritance. His son John H. De Witt inherited much of this property after his father’s death. 

The county seat of DeWitt County is Cuero. The town is famous for housing most of the county offices, including the courthouse. It has an annual rodeo which attracts many people from all over.  

History of DeWitt County Texas  

In 1824, DeWitt sold all of his holdings except for one tract near the Rio Grande, where he built Fort Concho. After selling off his lands, DeWitt moved back east with his family. 

However, when the Mexican–American war broke out, he returned to Texas to fight against Santa Anna’s army. During the battle at Goliad, DeWitt died fighting alongside Sam Houston. 

After the Battle of San Jacinto, General Sam Houston took possession of the fort and renamed it “Fort Defiance.” Later, the name was changed again to honor DeWitt. Today, there is still a monument dedicated to DeWitt outside the old fort. 

Other early settlers included the Germans, Irish, English, French, Spanish, African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexicans. Many of these families have lived here since before statehood. 

Today, DeWitt County remains primarily rural. Agriculture continues to be necessary to its economy. Some industries include oil production, cattle ranching, poultry farming, cotton ginning, lumber milling, sand mining, limestone quarrying, and tourism. 

DeWitt County Demographics Population and Cities 

According to the 2019 census, DeWitt County had a total population of 20,160. Of those, 10,859 were male, while 9,311 were female. The median age was 38.5 years old. The land size is approximately 2,357 square miles. Most of the land is being used for agriculture. 

There are two major cities in DeWitt County; Cuero and Victoria. Both are small communities with populations of around 3,000 residents. Other than these two major cities, there are numerous smaller villages throughout the county. 

Cuero is home to the largest city in the county. Located just south of I-10, Cuero serves as the county seat. It is the center of commerce for the entire region. Its downtown district contains restaurants, hotels, banks, medical facilities, shopping centers, schools, and churches. 

County Offices 

The County Judge office oversees the operations of the court system, law enforcement. If you want to contact the office, you can call 361-275-0916. 

The County Clerk’s office handles voter registration, marriage licenses, birth certificates, and death certificates. Contact them at 361-275-0864. 

The County Attorney’s Office provides legal services to citizens. They can also help you file lawsuits or defend yourself from criminal charges. You may contact them by phone at 361-275-0812. 

The County Treasurer’s Office handles financial matters, including budget preparation, accounting, auditing, payroll processing, purchasing supplies, equipment maintenance, and other financial issues. Contact them at 361-275-0894. 

The sheriff’s office has jurisdiction over crimes committed on public property and private property owned by someone else. Call them at 361-275-5734 if you have any inquiries. 

County Tax Assessor-Collector collects taxes and assessed values. If your house value changes, they will notify you to pay any additional tax due. Contact them at 361-275-0879.  

Is DeWitt an Excellent County to Live In? 

Yes! DeWitt County ranks number 1 in Texas for quality-of-life based on healthcare access, education, economic opportunity, safety, environment, recreation, air & water.  

Plus, it has proper public transportation, food security, livability, business climate/supportiveness, cost of living, crime rate, weather, traffic congestion, and overall well-being. 

The county has friendly people, beautiful scenery, excellent schools, affordable homes, low taxes, safe neighborhoods, excellent healthcare facilities, abundant recreational opportunities, and plenty of jobs. 

Additionally, you can walk anywhere in the county without encountering any major roadways. You will find yourself surrounded by farms, ranches, lakes, rivers, forests, mountains, prairies, and wildlife. 

The county sheriff ensures security, making the county safe from criminals. In addition, the county provides 24-hour emergency services through fire departments, EMS units, law enforcement officers, rescue squads, and ambulance crews.  

DeWitt County offers many employment options, including agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and retail trade. Other jobs are finance, insurance, real estate, government, service industry, and more. 

Numerous businesses provide goods or services throughout the county. The county supports businesses through issuing permits, delivering infrastructure improvements, and promoting local events.  

Housing in DeWitt County 

As far as housing goes, DeWitt County boasts an abundance of apartments, mobile home parks, manufactured homes, and condominiums. Plus, there are townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, quadruplexes, and commercial properties. 

Most houses are built of brick veneer, stucco, wood frame, and concrete block. Others feature stone masonry, tile roofs, metal roofs, vinyl siding, fiber cement, cedar shake shingle, etc. 

Homes range in size from small bungalows to large mansions. They come in all shapes and sizes. Homes may be found along country roads, near shopping centers, next to golf courses, at the lakefront property, or even in subdivisions. 

Most residents own their homes outright; however, some homeowners rent out their properties. Others choose to lease their properties while still owning them. Regardless of how they use their homes, most owners enjoy spending time inside their dwellings. 

Education in DeWitt County 

In terms of school districts, DeWitt County comprises many schools which offer quality education. Some schools include; 

• Cuero High School 
• Luling High School 
•  Nueces Valley High School 
• Rio Grande City High School 
• Three middle schools serve students in grades 6 – 8 
• Canyon Creek Middle School 

County Elections 

The DeWitt Elections Administrator conducts DeWitt County elections. The administrator ensures countywide elections and voter registration compliance.  

Besides, he oversees all aspects of the election process, including voting machines, ballot design, polling places, poll workers, etc., and provides training to precinct officials. 

The election administrator also notifies and maintains candidate reports for each political party. They must file a report with the Secretary of State within ten days after an election.  

This includes information about candidates who received votes equal to 5% of the total ballots cast in that race. In addition, the election administrator files a final report on the day following the general election.  

These reports include any changes made during the canvass period. 

Conclusion 

In summary, Dewitt county Texas is one of the best places to live if you love nature, quiet country living, and want to raise a family. It offers many opportunities for outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, and much more!