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Kerr County TX
Kerr County

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KERRVILLE, TEXAS


Kerr County Seat, Texas Hill Country

30° 2' 51" N, 99° 8' 26.1" W (30.0475, -99.140583)

Hwy 16, 2 miles South of I-10
65 miles NW of San Antonio
102 miles SW of Austin
52 miles SE of Junction
24 miles SW of Fredericksburg
24 miles NE of Medina
25 miles N of Bandera
6 miles E of Ingram
18 miles W of Comfort
ZIP codes 78028-78029
Area code 830
Population: 23,754 Est. (2019)
22,347 (2010) 20,425 (2000) 17,384 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Kerrville Hotels

Kerrville TX 1910s Birdseye View
1910s Bird's Eye View of Kerrville
Click on image to enlarge

Vintage photo courtesy of Dan Whatley's Collection

History in a Pecan Shell

Created in 1856 from Bexar County, Kerrville has been the county seat of Kerr County with the exception of the years 1860-62 when the seat was Comfort. Both town and city were named after James Kerr, who was one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence and an early settler. Kerrville's population has consistently been approximately half that of the County.



Historical Marker:

KERRVILLE

Kerr County was formally created on January 26, 1856, and named for Republic of Texas soldier and pioneer James Kerr. Among the first settlers in the area was Joshua D. Brown, a veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto. Brown was instrumental in naming the county for his friend James Kerr. The new county seat was named Kerrsville in May 1856 when Brown donated four acres of land for a public square. (The "S" was later dropped.)

Early Kerrville settlers included Anglo-American pioneers and German immigrants. The area became an important cattle raising and shipping point in the 1870s. In an election held on September 7, 1889, the citizens of Kerrville voted to incorporate the city, and a mayor and five aldermen were elected later that month. Joseph A. Tivy served as first mayor.

The town continued to grow. A city marshal was soon hired and a volunteer fire department was established in 1891. Also in the 1890s city water works and electric service were instituted. By the mid-20th century agriculture, medical services, and tourism had become the major economic concerns of the city.
(1989)

Kerrville TX - I-10
I-10 to Kerrville
TE Photo


Kerrville, Texas Attractions / Landmarks



Kerrville TX, 1 926 Kerr County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2008
Kerr County Courthouse

  • Hill Country Arts Foundation in Ingram

  • Hill Country Museum
    Located in the Captain Charles Schreiner Mansion at 226 Earl Garrett Street. A Confederate Soldier and Texas Ranger, he later became a successful business man and philanthropist, endowing Kerrville with a State Park and a College as well as his beautiful home which was turned into a museum in 1983. Phone: 210-896-8633.

  • Kerr Arts and Cultural Center
    In the old post office building. Earl Garrett St. and Main St.

  • Museum of Western Art
    Home of the Cowboy Artists of America - 1550 Bandera Hwy. (Hwy 173 South of Kerrville). Free admissions. 830-896-2553



  • Kerrville Events

    Perhaps most famous for The Kerrville Music Festival, every Spring, there is also the Folk Festival, Bike Tours, Runs, a Cowboy Camp Meeting, Various Cook-Offs, Senior Games, Fairs, Shows and Concerts. Call Kerrville Chamber of Commerce: 830-792-3535.

    Kerrville Hotels › Book Hotel Here



    Kerrville, Texas Natural Attractions
  • Guadalupe River
    Having the Guadalupe River bisect your town is a great tourist draw. ... more

  • Kerrville-Schreiner State Park
    Just south of downtown Kerrville on Hwy 16 across the bridge you’ll see the sign for 173. Go left on 173 and two and a half miles later you’ll come to the park entrance on your left. This 517-acre park offers canoe and tube rentals in the Guadalupe River. During the week it’s VERY tranquil and on weekends it’s still an improvement over the crowds found on the river back in Kerrville. Reservations recommended for overnight stay.
    Annual bicycling event every Easter Weekend. 830-257-5392.

  • Louise Hays Park is right in the middle of town, and a footbridge crosses the river to the appropriately named Tranquility Island. ... more

  • Riverside Nature Center -
    150 Francisco Lemos St. 830-257-4837

  • Kerrville Schreiner State  Park
    Kerrville-Schreiner State Park
    TE photo

    Guadalupe River, Kerrville, Texas
    Guadalupe River
    Photo courtesy Chia-Wei Wang


    Kerrville, Texas river and park
    Louise Hays Park
    TE Photo


    Kerrville, Texas cliff with trees
    Kerrville cliff.
    TE Photo


    Arcadia Theatre, Kerrville, Texas
    Arcadia Theatre.
    TE Photo, 2002
    More Texas Theatres
    Texas Old Neon


    Column details.
    TE photo


    Kerrville Texas architectural details
    Kerrville architectural details.
    TE photo
    More Texas Architecture


    Kerrville Texas cliff with trees
    A parting look at Kerrville.
    TE photo


    Kerrville, Texas Chronicles


     TX -  Tivy Hotel in Kerrville
    May 2016 photo courtesy Michael Barr
    The View From Tivy Mountain
    by Michael Barr


     Kerrville TX - Original HEB Building
    Original HEB Building in Kerrville
    Photo courtesy of the Kerr County Historical Commission
    HEB - A Lesson in the Grocery Business
    by Michael Barr


    Kerrville, TX - Peterson Bus Terminal
    Peterson Bus Terminal
    Courtesy Hal and Charlie Peterson Foundation
    Kerrville Bus Company: Moving People Across the Hill Country
    by Michael Barr


    Lt. Earl Garrett, WWI
  • Lt. Earl Garrett - A Hero Who Never Came Home by Michael Barr

  • WWI war hero
  • A War Hero Comes Home by Michael Barr
    Pvt. Francisco Lemos was finally laid to rest in Mountain View Cemetery on the Fredericksburg Road. He was the first Kerr County soldier to die in World War I, and the last American soldier killed in Europe to be brought home.

  • Charles Schreiner
  • Charles Armand Schreiner by Mike Cox

  • Getting Social at Pampells in Kerrville by Michael Barr

  • bit dreams
  • Hal and Charlie Peterson - Big Dreams by Michael Barr

  • The Little Axe That Could by Clay Coppedge
    Story of the Kerrville Cedar Axe or Grey Gorge Axe

  • Will Rogers in Kerrville by Michael Barr

  • Country Music's First Superstar by Clay Coppedge

  • Survival in Kerr County by Mike Cox
    "Only a handful of families lived in the area, but all knew of the circumstances that led to Goss’ disappearance and presumed death 18 days earlier."

  • The News in 1920 by Michael Barr

  • Hardin Ranch Rodeo - Early Rodeos Were Thrilling and Dangerous by Michael Barr
    "The promoter of both the Fredericksburg and the Kerrville rodeos in 1921 was H. A. "Hackberry Slim" Johnson. Hackberry Slim, who performed at both rodeos as well, was a rodeo legend...."

  • Hog Drives of Frio Canyon: Late 1890’s - Early 1900’s by Linda-Kirkpatrick
    The drive to Kerrville... Like the cattle drives of old but just not as classy or as romantic or as written about were the hog drives of the Frio Canyon...


  • Kerrville Old Photos & Postcards


    Kerrville TX  - Tivy High School
    Tivy High School, Kerrville
    Vintage photo courtesy of Dan Whatley's Collection


    Library, Schreiner Institute, Kerrville, Texas
    "The Library, Schreiner Institute, Kerrville, Texas"
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Mosty's Gas Station, Kerrville, TX
    Mosty's Gas Station
    1925 photo courtesy Wayne Graefen


    Kerrville TX Leekee Home

    Postcard courtesy Jo Ann Arnold



    Kerrville City Hall, Texas
    Kerrville City Hall
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Post Office, Kerrville, Texas
    Post office in Kerrville in the 1950s
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/


    Kerrville, Texas - St. Charles Hotel

    St. Charles Hotel
    Postcard courtesy Jo Ann Arnold



    St. Charles Hotel, Kerrville, Texas postcard

    St. Charles Hotel
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/



    Kerrville TX - Loeb Courts

    Loeb Courts
    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
    More Rooms with a Past



    M-O Ranch near Kerrville, Texas

    "Presbyterian M-O Ranch near Kerrville, Texas.
    In the 'Heart O' the Hills'

    Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/




    Kerrville Area Destinations

  • Kerr County Towns

  • Fredericksburg - Hwy 16 North 22 miles

  • Comfort - Hwy 27 East 19 miles to Comfort via Center Point.

  • Swimming to Mexico II - A Trip

  • Texas Hill Country Towns


    Kerrville Texas Chamber of Commerce
    1700 Sidney Baker, Suite 200
    830-792-3535.
    Website: http://www.kerrvilletx.com/.

    Book Hotel Here › Kerrville Hotels | More Hotels

  • Kerr County TX 1920s Map
    1920s Kerr County Map
    Courtesy Texas General Land Office


    Kerr County TX 1907 Postal Map
    Kerr County 1907 Postal Map
    Courtesy Texas General Land Office

    Take a road trip

    Texas Hill Country

    Kerrville, Texas Nearby Towns:
    San Antonio | Junction | Fredericksburg |
    Bandera | Medina | Ingram | Comfort

    See Kerr County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Kerrville Hotels | More Hotels

    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and recent or vintage/historic photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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