Columbus is the oldest surveyed and platted Anglo-American town in Texas. It is on the site of the legendary Indian village of Montezuma. Members of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred” began arriving in the area in 1821. By 1823 a small community had developed and became known as Beason’s Ferry, named for Benjamin Beason, one of the original settlers who operated a ferry across the Colorado River. In 1835 it was renamed Columbus.
By the time of the Texas Revolution, Columbus was home to more than twenty-five families, including William D. Lacey, one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. After the fall of the Alamo, General Sam Houston camped on the east bank of the Colorado River at Columbus from March 19-26, 1836. When he and his troops left for San Jacinto, General Houston ordered Columbus burned so the Mexican Army would not be able to use any of the town’s buildings or resources. Columbus’ townspeople fled as well during this time period,
Located 70 miles west of Houston, 125 miles east of San Antonio, and 87 miles south of Austin, Columbus is a relaxing small town with a rich and wild history, full of Southern charm, and a long list of fun and interesting things to see and do. So, whether your road tripping down I-10 or Hwy 71, make a stop in Columbus… there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
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