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CAT SPRING, TEXAS

Austin County, Central Texas South

29° 50' 44" N, 96° 19' 33" W (29.845556, -96.325833)

FM 1094 and FM 949
(one mile South of Intersection)
10 miles S of Bellville the county seat
29 miles S of Brenham
13 miles W of Sealy
15 miles NE of Columbus
40 miles NE of La Grange
ZIP codes 78933
Population: 76 est. (2010, 2000, 1990)

Book Hotel Here › Columbus Hotels | Brenham Hotels

Cat Spring Texas post office
The Cat Spring Post Office, TX 78933
TE photo, 2000

More Texas Post Offices

History in a Pecan Shell

Cat Spring dates from 1834 and like Frelsburg, was settled by Germans from Westphalia and Oldenburg.

The name comes from an encounter the son of the town's founder had with a large wild cat near a spring.

The town was granted a post office in 1878.

The population has slowly decreased from its robust start of 350 people in 1836. Currently there are only about 75 people, the store at the crossroads one mile north, the post office and tractor graveyard.

The large building just west of the Crossroads is one of the few remaining German-constructed Austin County Dancehalls. It is frequently used for seasonal antique shows.

Another of these buildings sits just East of the railroad tracks off 159 in Bellville.


Cat Spring TX Octagonal Dance Hall
Twelve-sided Building
One of the few remaining German-constructed dance halls in the area

Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

Cat Spring, Texas Forum

Subject: Dance Hall of Austin County
Hello, I'm sure readers have already mentioned that the Cat Spring and Bellville Turnvereins or dance halls are twelve sided, not octagonal. I think there are six such dance halls in Austin County, either octagonal or twelve sided, that are still in use. Two in the Bellville area, one in Cat Spring, one in Sealy, one in Peters and one in Wallis. Information taken from Dance Halls of Austin County, Copyright 1993. Published by the Austin County Historical Commission in Bellville, TX. Enjoy your web site. - Sincerely, Marilyn Stellberg, September 20, 2005

Cat Spring TX Dance Hall
Dance Hall
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX Landscape
The rolling country near Cat Spring
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX cross road store
Cat Spring cross road
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX  stores
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX store
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX closed store
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX sign and railroad track
On the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011


Cat Spring TX building with mural
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

Nearby Destinations:

  • On I-10 - Sealy | Columbus
  • On Hwy 159 - Bellville (Hwy 36) | Industry | Nelsonville
  • On FM 1094 - New Ulm | Fayetteville
  • On FM 237- Round Top | Warrenton | Oldenburg
  • On US 290 - Brenham | Burton | Chappell Hill | Giddings

  • Book Hotels:
    Sealy Hotels | Columbus Hotels | Brenham Hotels | More Hotels


    TX Austin County 1907 Postal Map
    Austin County 1907 postal map showing Cat Spring on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad just west of the San Bernard River
    From Texas state map #2090
    Courtesy Texas General Land Office

    Take a road trip

    Central Texas South

    Cat Spring, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Bellville the county seat

    See Austin County
    Colorado County
    Washington County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Sealy Hotels | More Hotels
    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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