Early Settlement
Travis County's Roots in Stephen F. Austin's Colony
The land that became Travis County was part of Stephen F. Austin's third land grant from the Mexican government in 1827.
In 1827, Mexico granted Stephen F. Austin his third 'Little Colony,' covering land east of the Colorado River and north and west of the Old San Antonio Road. Bastrop (then called Mina) was the colony's headquarters. Travis County developed as an outgrowth of that colony.
Early settlers grew corn and raised livestock. By the late 1880s, cotton had become the dominant crop. Farm tenancy peaked by the 1930s, with tenants working two-thirds of the farms. The county's shift away from agriculture accelerated after World War II as government jobs and then tech companies reshaped the economy.
Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook – Travis County