New Blog 1: Bastrop County Jail

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Bastrop County Jail

Bastrop County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 74,171. Its county seat is Bastrop. Bastrop County is named for Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop (he was actually a commoner named Philip Hendrik Nering Bogel wanted for embezzlement in his native country of the Netherlands), an early Dutch settler who assisted Stephen F. Austin in obtaining land grants in Texas. (See List of Texas county name etymologies.) In September 2011 Bastrop County suffered the most destructive wildfire in Texas history, which destroyed over 1,600 homes. The Bastrop County Court House was built in 1883-84, and altered in the 1920's. It is located at 804 Pine Street. There is a collection of early Bastrop historical photos decorating the inside walls of the court house. The business district is not built around the court house like many other county seats. The historic old Bastrop County Jail is located next to the court house at 802 Pine Street. The old jail is a three story example of late 19th century second empire Victorian and was built in 1891. It served as the county jail until 1974.