Robertson County

Robertson County Offices

Robertson County Town List

Robertson County is a county in the United States located in the northeast of Austin in east-central Texas, Claypan area. Leon and Limestone counties bind Robertson county to the north, to the east are the Madison and Brazos counties, Burleson County to the south, and to the west are the Falls and Milam counties.

The Robertson County, Texas, center is at 96°30′ west longitude and 31°00′ north latitude. The center of the county is close to the county’s seat, Franklin. US Highway 79 runs from the east to the county’s west, while State Highway 6 runs through Robertson County from north to south.

Robertson County History Overview 

Robertson County, Texas, got its name from Sterling C. Robertson, who got a colonization grant from Mexico. The county was established from portions of Bexar, Milam, and Nacogdoches counties by a measure passed by the First Texas Congress on December 14, 1837. The county has its name honoring Sterling C. Robertson.

The organizing of Robertson county was in 1838, and Franklin was chosen as the county’s seat. The county seat is sometimes known as Old Franklin to make it look different from the present-day Franklin, which is still the county seat. Franklin served as the headquarters for land district surveyors, including Limestone, Freestone, Leon, Navarro, etc.

In 1850, the residents moved the county seat from Old Franklin and chose Wheelock as the new county seat due to its proximity with the densely populated areas of the county. After six months, the county seat was moved again to Owensville, a new town closer to the county’s center. The county seat remained in Owensville until the Civil War was over.

In the 1830s, the county was the center of constant battles between Indians and Anglo-Americans. Some of the most significant battles of the time include the attack on Fort Parker on May 19, 1836, when the mother of Chief Quanah Parker, Cynthia Ann Parker, was taken captive. In 1838, a company of Texas Rangers was at Old Franklin, which saw the Indian raids reduced significantly.

By 1850, the population in Robertson County was 934, but later, several other settlers came to the county because of the fertile bottomland along the Navasota and Brazos rivers. Between 1850 to 1860, the population grew steadily, with most of the county’s new residents coming from the Old South, and most of them carried their slaves along.

The beginner farms in Robertson were in the upland prairies, although the settlers started moving to the bottomlands as the population increased. Between 1835 and 1840, most large landowners, including Joseph Webb, Andrew Cavitt, Purdy, and R. Robertson, started plantations in the Brazos Valley. Subsistence farming was the most prolific during the decade, though cotton farming also gained ground. A thriving plantation economy predominantly based on cotton started thriving in the 1850s.

The first railway line in Robertson County was the Houston & Texas Central. The line started its progress from Millican and reached Cavert in 1868. Since the coming of the railway line after the war, Robertson County’s reputation as a hub of cotton production flourished. The county has experienced a significant diversification of agriculture over the years.

Robertson County Climate and Topography 

Robertson County, Texas, receives 39 inches of rain per year. The average rainfall per year in the United States is 38 inches. The county receives 0 inches every year, while the US average is 28 inches.

The US receives an average of 205 sunny days per year, while there are 228 sunny days in Robertson County. The county also gets some precipitation on an average of 79 days each year. Precipitation refers to sleet, hail, snow, or rain that gets to the ground. You need to receive at least 0.1 inches of rainfall for it to measure.

Robertson County Offices

Robertson County has several offices, including the office of the county clerk. The duties and responsibilities of the county clerk’s office include the collection of voter registration information, mark and brand application, marriage application, assumed name certificate, mail-in birth, and death application.

Stephanie M. Sanders is the county clerk in Robertson County. There are several deputy clerks, including Tracy Woodall, Maxine Lattimore, Sarah Tepera, Kadie Burns, and Carol Bancroft. You can reach the county clerk’s office through PO Box 1029,103 E. Morgan St Franklin, TX 77856 or Phone: 979-828-4130. The offices are open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

The county judge’s office deals with all guardianship, probate, and civil cases. The cases are by appointment, and you need to contact the county judge’s office to set up your appointment. You can contact the office by phone at 979-828-3542. The county office opens on weekdays starting from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Charles L. Ellison is the county judge, while Shelley Smith is the administrative secretary.

There is also the office of the county tax assessor-collector. The tax office is a countywide elective position for a four-year term. The office’s responsibility is to collect taxes for Robertson County and other tax authorities depending on inter-local agreements. The official also calculates the taxes on properties, including railroad rolling stock, agricultural land, and timberland. The respective taxpayers then get the billing statements. The office is also responsible for registering motor vehicles and collecting related taxes and fees.

The county’s AgriLife Extension Office helps offer agriculture extension education to the residents. You can contact the AgriLife Extension Office by phone at (979)828-4270. Edward Schneider is the county’s extension agent.

Cost of Living

Robertson County has an overall cost of living index of 78.7 against the US average of 100. Grocery cost of living index is 90.7, utilities 97.2, health 106, housing 44.1, and the median home cost is $150,400.

The cost of living index for transportation is 86.5, while 95.3 is the miscellaneous index. Any amount below 100 means the cost of living index is cheaper than the US average, while anything above 100 means more expensive.