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Physical Features: Rolling; alluvial, sandy, loam soils; varied timber, Lost Pines; bisected by Colorado River; Lake Bastrop.

Economy: Government/services; tourism; agribusiness; bio-technology research; computer-related industries; commuters to Austin.

History: Tonkawa Indian area; Comanches also present. Spanish fort established in 1804. County created in 1836, organized in 1837; named for Baron de Bastrop, who aided Moses and Stephen F. Austin in establishing the colony in the 1820s.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 52.6; Black, 7.6; Hispanic, 37.8; Asian, 0.9; Other, 2.2; Two or more races, 2.1.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 1,048; deaths, 660; marriages, 401; divorces, 225.

Recreation: Fishing, hunting; state parks; Lake Bastrop; historic sites; museum; railroad park; natural science center; nature trails.

Minerals:  Lignite and clay.

Agriculture: Beef cattle, hay, pecans, turfgrass. Market value $35.3 million. Pine for lumber, oak for firewood.

BASTROP (8,712) county seat; government/services, tourism, hospitals, University of Texas cancer research center, federal prison; riverwalk; Yesterfest in April.

ELGIN (9,652) bricks, sausage manufacturing; horse, cattle breeding; medical research; depot museum; Western Days in June, Hogeye festival in October.

Smithville (4,188) government/services, hospital, railroad; parks, hike & bike trails, museums; jamboree on weekend after Easter, Reel Film Expo in May.

Other towns: Cedar Creek (145); Circle D-KC Estates (2,740); McDade (794) watermelon festival in July; Paige (275); Red Rock (40); Rosanky (210) automotive museum; Wyldwood (2,746). Also, Camp Swift (7,414).

Flowers along US 290 in Bastrop County. Photo by Ron Billings, Texas A&M Forest Service.