The history of transportation in Bastrop County, Texas, is a fascinating narrative that mirrors the development of the state itself – evolving from ancient trails and river crossings to modern highways and air travel. Its location on the Colorado River and between major Texas cities made it a crucial corridor for movement.
Early Trails and River Crossings (Pre-1800s – Mid-1800s)
- Indigenous Trails: Long before European arrival, Native American tribes, such as the Tonkawa and Comanche, utilized established trails for hunting, trade, and movement throughout the region. These trails often followed natural contours of the land and proximity to water sources.
- El Camino Real de los Tejas: This historic Spanish “Royal Road” was a critical early transportation route. Portions of El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail ran through Bastrop County, particularly crossing the Colorado River at the strategic site where the city of Bastrop now stands. This road was essential for connecting Spanish missions and presidios from Mexico City to East Texas and Louisiana, serving as a conduit for exploration, trade, migration, and military movements. An 1804 Spanish fort, Puesta del Colorado, was established at this significant river crossing.
- Fords and Ferries: For early settlers and travelers, crossing the Colorado River was a major challenge. Initially, people forded the river on foot or by wagon when water levels were low. As Bastrop grew in the late 1860s, ferries became a popular and safer option for transporting people, wagons, freight, and livestock across the river. These ferry operations were a vital part of the local economy.
The Age of Railroads (Mid-1800s – Early 1900s)
The arrival of the railroads dramatically transformed transportation and economic development in Bastrop County.
- Houston and Texas Central Railway (1871): This railway was a significant stimulus to growth. In 1871, the Houston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC) completed its line through the northern part of Bastrop County, connecting Austin and Brenham. This led to the rapid development of towns along the railway, most notably Elgin. For the first time, many farmers had an efficient freight outlet for their agricultural products, such as corn and cotton. The town of Paige was established in 1872 at the site of an H&TC railroad water tower.
- Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railway (1880s-1890s): Further railroad expansion occurred with the chartering of the Bastrop and Taylor Railway Company in 1886. This line was intended to connect Bastrop to Taylor. It was soon renamed the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railway Company and later acquired by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company (“Katy” Railroad). This railway connected Bastrop County towns like Smithville and Bastrop with larger regional hubs such as Lockhart, Waco, San Antonio, and Houston.
- Smithville as a Railroad Hub: The “Katy” Railroad’s development was particularly impactful for Smithville. In 1894, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad selected Smithville as the site of its central shops. This decision caused Smithville’s population to boom, doubling rapidly as railroad jobs became a major employer. Smithville remained a crucial railroad center for decades, even into the mid-20th century.
Bridges and the Rise of Automobiles (Late 1800s – Mid-1900s)
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the transition from ferry crossings to permanent bridges, anticipating the eventual dominance of the automobile.
- The Original “Old Iron Bridge” (1890): The Bastrop Bridge Company commissioned the construction of a wrought-iron cantilever truss bridge across the Colorado River in Bastrop, completed in 1890. This 1,369-foot-long bridge cost $45,000 and quickly made the ferry industry in Bastrop obsolete. Initially a toll bridge, it was sold to Bastrop County in 1898 and converted to a toll-free crossing, significantly improving local and regional connectivity.
- The Current “Old Iron Bridge” (1923): With the rise of automobiles after World War I, the original wooden-floored iron bridge was deemed inadequate for heavier vehicle traffic. In 1921, Bastrop residents voted to fund a new bridge. The current “Old Iron Bridge,” a Parker steel-truss bridge, was completed in 1923 (opened 1924) at a cost of $167,500. This bridge served as the main crossing for over sixty years, facilitating the critical connection between Austin and Houston.
- Highway Development: The expansion of state highways, such as Texas State Highway 71 in the 1960s, led to new direct routes that often bypassed historic downtown areas like Bastrop. This shifted vehicular traffic away from older, smaller bridges and throughways, reflecting the changing landscape of transportation planning. The 1923 “Old Iron Bridge” was eventually closed to vehicular traffic in 1992 and now serves as a pedestrian landmark, a testament to its bygone era of automobile dominance.
- Lower Elgin Road Bridge (1888): Another example of late 19th-century bridge construction is the Lower Elgin Road Bridge, a Pratt through-truss bridge spanning Wilbarger Creek. Built in 1888 by the Kansas City Bridge and Iron Company, it was part of a group of four bridges constructed at that time, highlighting the county’s investment in infrastructure to support its growing agricultural and timber industries.
Modern Transportation (Late 1900s – Present)
- Automobile Dominance: Modern Bastrop County transportation is overwhelmingly dominated by automobiles and trucks utilizing a network of state highways (such as SH 71, US 290, SH 95, and SH 21) and county roads. These highways connect Bastrop County to Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and other parts of Central and East Texas, supporting commuting, commerce, and tourism.
- Aviation: Bastrop County has a limited aviation presence. The Smithville Municipal Airport (also known as Crawford Municipal Airport) is the county’s only airport, primarily serving private planes and flight training. Proposals for larger developments, like the “Central Texas Airport/Greenport” near Bastrop, have faced significant community opposition and have not come to fruition, indicating a local preference for maintaining rural character over large-scale aviation hubs.
- Continued Rail Presence: While passenger rail largely disappeared, freight rail continues to operate through parts of Bastrop County, maintaining its historical role in goods movement. Smithville, in particular, retains its identity as a historic railroad town, even if the scale of operations has changed.