Hondo

Hondo, Texas

Hondo, Texas

Hondo, the seat of Medina County, is located approximately 40 miles west of downtown San Antonio. Photograph by Billy Hathorn.
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Map of Medina County

Hondo, the county seat of Medina County, is on U.S. Highway 90 and the Southern Pacific Railroad, forty-one miles west of mid-town San Antonio. The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway built through the county from the east in 1881, and the first sale out of its Hondo City plat was made on October 1, 1881. The community had twenty-five residents in 1884, 200 in 1892, and 2,500 in 1915. A post office designated Hondo City began operation in 1882.

Ownership of the eastern half of the township was disputed in court, and the suit stopped all development until it was settled in 1891. Castroville was displaced as the county seat in favor of Hondo in an election on August 27, 1892. The courthouse was completed in 1893, built on a block of land the railroad president had donated ten years earlier for a courthouse lot. The name of the post office was changed to Hondo in 1895. The town quickly became a trade and shipping center for the area's agricultural and ranching economy. During its heyday in the early 1900s most of the downtown business buildings were built, chiefly of D'Hanis brick. During the late 1930s and early 1940s two annexes were added to the courthouse, indoor plumbing was installed, and the distinctive tower was removed. Extensive interior remodeling was completed by February 28, 1988.

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Martin O. Noonan | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Hondo is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Hondo is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • [-City]

Location

Latitude: 29.35340940
Longitude: -99.16225100

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

Yes

Population Count, 2021 View more »

8,387