County Seat: Port Lavaca
County Population: 20,406
(Texas Almanac 2010-2011)
The Calhoun County Courthouse, erected in 1959, was designed in a Modern style by Rusty and Martin of Houston.
The county, named for John C. Calhoun, a prominent national politician from South Carolina, is located along the mid-Texas coast where U.S. Highway 87 begins and the Guadalupe River ends. Some 540 square miles in size, Calhoun County is bordered from the southwest to the southeast by major inland bays and the Gulf of Mexico with more than 560 miles of coastline.
Port Lavaca, which became the county seat in 1846, comes from the Spanish term “the cow” and refers to the city’s early role as a cattle-shipping point. The county seat moved to Indianola for 30 years, but returned to Port Lavaca after Indianola was severely damaged by storms.
Calhoun County’s multitude of attractions and natural resources results in so many visitors that the county doubles in population several times throughout the year. For example, the county is home to the largest and deepest bay system on the Texas Gulf Coast. Avid fishermen are lured to Matagorda Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, San Antonio Bay, Lavaca Bay and Caranchua Bay in search of redfish, shark, trout, flounder, Spanish mackerel and tarpon, to name a few.
Port Lavaca sits on Lavaca Bay with Point Comfort on the east. Seadrift is located on San Antonio Bay, and the unincorporated community of Port O'Connor is located on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Easy access to the Gulf via the Port O'Connor Jetties makes this one of the most popular fishing resorts on the entire Texas coast.
Calhoun County Matagorda Island separates Espiritu Santo Bay and San Antonio Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. The island’s southwestern end is separated by a channel from St. Joseph’s Island; at the northeastern end, Pass Cavallo separates the island from Matagorda Peninsula. This sandy barrier island is some two miles wide and 50 miles long. The Matagorda State Parks and Wildlife Area is located at the eastern portion of the island.
Birders have chosen Calhoun County, part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, as one of the best birding hotspots in the Lone Star State. In fact, for several years, Calhoun County has held the record for the most bird species spotted anywhere in the nation.
The county’s rich history is displayed in special attractions including Ranger Cemetery, Half-Moon Reef Lighthouse, the old Indianola Townsite, Matagorda Island Lighthouse, and the LaSalle Monument.
When it comes to governing the area, the county website includes the following message to its citizens: “Your Government is not by accident but by the device of your vote. Calhoun County's elected officials and public servants take pride in the fact that the citizens of Calhoun County trust them with conducting business and providing service on their behalf. Thank you for your trust.”
COUNTY JUDGE
Michael Pfeifer
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Precinct 1
Roger C. Galvan
Precinct 2
Vern Lyssy
Precinct 3
Neil Fritsch
Precinct 4
Kenneth W. Finster
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