When you say College Town what comes to mind? Is it Frat houses all in row throwing beer swilled parties where daddy’s little girl is running around with her shirt over her head?
How about throngs of people wearing a sea of colored jersey’s screaming for their team on the gridiron or double the rent for apartments and traffic choking congestion on the roads.
It didn’t used to be that way and to be fair in some places it is not all that bad but what about the first college town in Texas?
The oldest college town in Texas is not in Austin, where the University of Texas is located. It is not in College Station, home to Texas A&M or even Waco home to Baylor. It is however the original home to Baylor University.
Independence Texas is located twelve miles northeast of Brenham Texas at the intersection of FM Rd 390 and FM 50 in Washington County. For those unfamiliar with Texas road systems FM stands for Farm to Market, in other words small two lane roads connecting Texas towns. Blink and you will drive right through this little town. Independence is one of those rural towns that you may have driven though a hundred times and never paid any attention to other than slowing down a little in case there is a police car running radar.
This Texas town doesn’t have a police force but with a population of around one hundred forty it has a big history. Once known as the richest town in Texas it is home to a rich history as well.
Founded in 1835 on seventy-eight acres in Stephen F Austin’s colony the town quickly became a Baptist religious and educational center of the Republic of Texas.
In 1845 the town of Independence won a bid for a University from the Republic of Texas. Named after Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor, REB Baylor to his friends, ‘ol REB had quit a history himself.
Son of a revolutionary war soldier, REB Baylor fought in the war of 1812, lead a contingent of volunteers against the Creek Indians, was a lawyer and judge, a member of the Alabama State legislature and a US congressman all before he converted to Christianity and became a Baptist. preacher.
Baylor University for men and women, later named the University of Mary Hardin Baylor for women, were established and opened in 1846, the first year of Texas statehood.
Things the way they were in those times, and also the nature of the religious ways of early settlers, two separate Universities were built, one for men and one for women. All that remains today of the Universities, located about one mile apart, are some ruins at the men’s University along with the grave of R.E.B. Baylor and the pillars of a building at the site of women’s University.
In 1839, prior to the founding of Baylor University, the Independence Baptist Church was organized. The church was the fourth missionary Baptist Church in Texas and is still active today. There is also a free museum located at the church dedicated to the early history.
Sam Houston, General of the Texas Army, twice President of the Republic of Texas and later a US Congressman for the State of Texas and Governor, was a member of the church when he lived in Independence in the 1850’s.
After Sam’s death, his widow, Margaret Lea Houston, returned in 1863. When she died of Yellow Fever in 1867 she was buried at the cemetery next to the church.
The home of Margaret Lea Houston, built in 1830, is still standing and located on a main road near the highway intersection. Privately owned, it was being renovated at the time of this writing, soon to be open to the public.
There are old houses and buildings along with historical markers located all over town.
Some of the other notable sites in town include the home of Jerome Bonaparte Robertson, Kentucky physician and later Civil War General from Texas. One of two father-son generals during the civil war the other being Robert E Lee and sons.
The Adobe House, built in 1836 and once served as the county court room and jail.
Blanton Block, built of native limestone in the 1820’s, consist of two buildings which were originally used as a hotel, stagecoach and mail depot, general store, and residence. Today they are home to a real estate office and private residence.
The Liberty Baptist Church was established in 1866 when over 100 African Americans withdrew from the Independence Baptist Church and established their own congregation.
The Seward Plantation built in the 1850’s was one of the largest homes in Independence and is still owned by descendants today. Along with the main house there are four log structures—a corn crib, horse barn, place for storing hay and slave quarters. There is also a well house and “Aunt Caroline’s Cabin,” an old board and batten cabin that has a blacksmith’s shop attached to it.
The General Store was originally built as a residence and later turned into a commercial property. The store has changed hands a few times and in 1939 Walter Luckmeyer bought the store and replaced the old false-front building with a stone front he patterned after the iconic look of the Alamo. The store is open today as a grocery store, gas station and grill.
There are several other old homes scattered throughout town and to make it easy there are signs located on various properties that tell about the early history.
There is also a small visitors bureau, that may or may not be open when you stop in, where you can learn about the town.
If you ever find yourself near Brenham Texas, home to Blue Bell Ice Cream by the way, then take a short side trip to Independence and check out some early Texas history.
This is a part of the USA that I have yet to visit and would love to. Thanks for a great little discovery, I had no idea about this place 🙂
That is one incredibly small town. It’s cool that the monuments of the university still stand as a marker for the past.
For such a small town there are a lot of old homes and historic sites.
So much history for such a small town! Sounds like an interesting place to visit.
This is a good solid tour of a place I’d like to visit. It always amazes me how early some of the universities around the world were established.
Wow – a town steeped in so much history! Would definitely make for a really fascinating day – thanks for the full run down. I may actually print your post out so we can do our own self guided history tour 🙂
Very interesting read. I really enjoy visiting smaller towns with history and will certainly make it a point to visit Independence if ever in the area.. Seems like a perfect day trip visiting and reading about the historical locations..
Yeah, definitely not what I picture when I think of a college town! That’s a good thing though 🙂 This looks like a fantastic town to explore–I’d love to explore the history and the little that’s left of the school. Sounds like such an interesting spot to spend the day!
This place sounds fascinating but it seems bizarre to think that in less than 200 years two universities were built and then left for decay!
The whole town was pretty much passed by when everything moved to more accessible and built up areas. Not far away is the town of Washington on the Brazos where Texans signed their declaration of independence. http://www.thetravellingfool.com/forgotten-history/ there is not much left there either.
Interesting history! I hadn’t realized that Baylor was ever in a place other than Waco.
I don’t think a lot of people knew. I didn’t until a few months ago.
It’s as if time has stood still with some of those buildings! The Seward plantation and the old jail and courthouse would be very interesting to visit. The history of small towns can be so much more fascinating than the history of a state. You can get such a more personal side of history this way.
I am visiting Texas in July. Have pinned your post for my reference. Thanks for sharing it with us!
There is a lot to see in that general area. if you shoot me an email before you visit and tell me what part of the state you plan on being in I might be able to point you to a few places.
I love exploring small towns in America. This one looks like a gem. What an interesting history. I would never think to go here on my own, so thanks for sharing your experience.
I love running into places like this! if ever in Texas will definitely take a trip out here! thanks for sharing!
Thanks for such a comprehensive look at this historical town. Do you live in Texas? I have family there, and when I visit, they like to show me around. We’ve been to big cities and a few historical sites, but nothing so off the beaten path as this. Your photos provide a nice glimpse into the area. I’d love to explore some of the old plantations and buildings in Independence.
I do, I live on the west side of Houston. There are a lot of small towns in Texas with a big history.
That is a historical place it is nice to see the old university because it is a remembrance from past.
I have never heard of this. Thanks for writing about such an interesting part of history. And it’s cool that the houses and gravestones are still preserved like that.
I apologize now if I am misreading this article, but from what I can tell the original Baylor University was founded in 1845 in Independence, Texas. Your title and article states that this makes Independence, Texas, the first “college town” in Texas. I grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and, as you mention in another article you did on the town square of Georgetown recently, Southwestern University was founded in 1840. Is there a reason why Georgetown does not deserve the distinction of First College Town in Texas? I had always heard that, for a short time, Southwestern was actually called Texas University (or University of Texas) since it was, by default, the only university in Texas for a period of time. Maybe you can better explain why Independence, Texas, is better defined as the first Texas college town? No disrespect, I appreciate you spreading knowledge of small Texas towns. I love them myself, and am currently located in Elgin, Texas (Georgetown is too big for me now).
To add to my note above, I wonder if you are referring to the town of Independence being founded in 1835 and Georgetown not being founded until 1842 (actually after Southwestern University was established). However, it seems this would still establish Georgetown as the first college town in 1842, still 3 years ahead of Baylor University being established. I don’t know, maybe Georgetown didn’t incorporate the University into their town proper until after 1845? That would be interesting to research.
No problem and it is a little confusing, hence the great collegiate rivalries in Texas. Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas chartered in 1845 in Independence Texas. The Texas Congress between 1836–1845 established 4 educational institutions, Rutersville College in Rutersville Texas, Wesleyan College of San Augustine, Texas, McKenzie College of Clarksville, Texas and Soule University of Chappell Hill, Texas none of which still exist. Chartered under the Republic of Texas in 1840, Rutersville College was Texas’s first institution of higher education. After closing, the charter of Rutersville College was revived in 1872 during the formation of Southwestern University. In 1873, the union of the original 4 institutions of higher education opened in Georgetown as Texas University. In other words the original 4, defunct Universities was revived and opened as one. Wishing to reserve the name “Texas University” for a proposed state university in Austin, the University of Texas, the Texas Legislature instead granted a charter in 1875 under the name Southwestern University as a continuation of the charters for Rutersville, Wesleyan, McKenzie, and Soule. So the current Southwestern University is a continuation of the original 4, has underwent a name change and is using the charter of Rutersville College from 1840. So I guess technically, Rutersville would be the first college town. Hope all that makes sense.
Thanks so much for your response. That makes a lot more sense to me. I had always wondered how Southwestern could be established 2 years prior to the founding of the town in which it is located. Now I understand.
No problem Mike, and thanks for visiting. Hope you come back often.