Our Community - Wilson County Texas Disability Attorneys, TX Supplemental Security Income Lawyers

Wilson County, Texas is found in the Rio Grande Plain, the upper coastal plain of South Texas. The gently rolling terrain covers 807 miles and is drained on its western side by the San Antonio River and the eastern side by Cibolo and Ecleto creeks. Deep loamy soil with a clay subsoil grows grasses, cacti, mesquite, live oak and post oak. Up to 40% of the county is considered prime farmland, with such crops as pecans and peanuts, hay, wheat, oats and corn. Watermelons and peaches also thrive here in the subtropical, humid climate with a growing season of 280 days and an average annual rainfall of 30 inches. Mild winters, with a January low average of 40 degrees, and warm summers that range from 76 to 94 degrees make Wilson County a prime location for both farming and livestock. 86% of the county's land is used for the combined ranching/farming industry. Cattle (both beef and dairy), hogs and poultry are all raised here.

Wilson County, Texas was founded in 1860; Floresville became its county seat in 1885. Floresville, Texas lies 35 miles southeast from the exciting city of San Antonio. US Highways 87 and 181, along with state highways 97 and 123 make easy travel to and through the county. The Southern Pacific Railroad also serves Wilson County's transportation needs.

According to the 2000 census, 32,800 people make their home in Wilson County. Unemployment is a low 2.2%. The median household income is just over $40,000.

Wilson County was first home to Coahuiletcan speaking Indians, hunter-gathers who lived there long before the first Europeans arrived. The Comanche, Lipan-Apace and Tonkawa tribes also used the region for their hunting range. Spanish explorers started investigating the area in the early 1700's and soon ranchers from San Antonio were grazing cattle here. By the mid 1850's, German and Polish planters had discovered Wilson County. Because the majority of the region was used for cattle ranching, rather than plantation farming which ran on slavery, abolition and the Civil War didn't affect the area as much as other Texan regions, and Wilson County's economy held strong. Wilson County did vote for secession and several companies of militia supported the Confederate cause.

After the war, livestock and ranching remained the mainstay of the economy. In the 1880's, fencing practices hit the open range, and the character of the county changed. From 290 farms in 1870 to almost 3,000 in 1920, farming became one of the most important parts of the economy.

Manufacturing found Wilson County near the turn of the century. Brick and tile made from the county's high clay content soil attracted factories. Oil and gas were discovered in the mid 1900's and today the county has a diverse and strong economy.

The four major towns in Wilson County are Floresville, La Vernia, Stockdale and Poth, each with its own independent school system. La Vernia is rated as having one of the finest school systems in Texas, along with having one of the lowest tax rates. Being only 20 miles from San Antonio, this historic, quaint and rural Texas town is an excellent place to raise a family while still having access to work in a major city. Stockdale has played host to the Stockdale Watermelon Jubilee since 1937, one of the oldest watermelon festivals in Texas.

Floresville, TX, the county seat, is home to one of the largest all- Jersey dairy farms in the world. Promised Land Dairy is an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that is a joy to all county residents, young and old alike. Floresville also has River Park and the ruins of Ranchos de Las Cabras, a National Historic Park. Floresville is within 30 minutes drive to San Antonio, and offers small-town living with easy access to the city. Due to its sandy soil which is especially suited to peanut growing, Floresville holds its own Peanut Festival in the second week of October, and boasts a statue of a giant peanut that sits on the grounds of its historic courthouse.

Wilson County, Texas, with it's proximity to big-city San Antonio, provides all the opportunities of living near a metropolitan area, while holding fast to its small town flavor and pride in Texan heritage and ideals.