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ROUND
TOP, TEXAS
Fayette County,
Central Texas S
FM 237, South of US 290
93 miles W of Houston
77 miles E of Austin
22 miles SW of Brenham
25 miles SE of Giddings
4 miles N of Warrenton
31 miles scenic drive from Bellville
Population: 90, 96 or 77 (2000)
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Festival
Concert Hall at the International Festival Institute.
TE photo |
History
in a Pecan Shell: (See Round Top
historical marker)
Round Top's beginnings are similar to other towns in Fayette County
in that the original settlers were English and sold their land
to German newcomers.
The Stephen Townsend family left Florida in 1826 (in 1826 Florida
about all you could do was leave) and came to what is now Fayette
County. The Townsends, with the help of neighbors, set up a Presbyterian
Church and organized a Masonic Lodge. The church and the Townsend
family's former residence explains the name Florida Chapel
Road and Florida Chapel Cemetery found just South of town.
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A
typical German Hall
TE photo |
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The Square Top of the Round Top Precinct Courthouse
TE photo |
The Naming
of Round Top
The original name
was Jones Post Office and named after the town's postmaster
John Rice Jones Jr. who also happened to be the first postmaster
general for the Republic of Texas. Later, a house with a tall octagonal
tower served as the post office and since the tower's "round top"
could be seen from a distance, the name gained acceptance. |
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A
house rumored to be haunted
TE photo |
Round Top
Area Attractions
For years Round
Top has been an attraction for city dwellers - particularly Houstonians.
Many bed and breakfast facilities are available as well as antique
stores and restaurants.
Henkel Square
- A collection of early farmhouses and outbuildings that show
the simple utilitarian designs of the German and Anglo craftsmen
who built them. The complex is just East of the old precinct courthouse
inside an area defined by a split rail fence. Admission. Hours:
12:00 to 5:00
Winedale
Historical Center - 4 miles East of Round Top.
FM 1457 and FM 2714.
A former stagecoach stop and farmstead that was bequeathed to the
University of Texas by Miss Ima Hogg. Group tours are available
during the week with two days notice. Saturdays and Sundays 10:00
a.m. to 5 p.m.
International
Festival Institute - Just a stone's throw north of Round Top
on FM 237. Eighty acres of restored buildings including a concert
hall (tours can be arranged) provide a residence for international
musicians who perform in concerts held throughout the year. Call
for a schedule 979-249-3129
Antique
Weekends -
Last weekends in March and September, and first weekends in April
and October.
Book
Your Hotel Here & Save
Brenham
Hotels
Giddings
Hotels
More
Hotels |
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Festival
Hill's Edythe Bates Chapel, formerly Travis Street Methodist of La
Grange, was moved in 1994
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson |
Population
- Census 2000
We checked with the Round Top chamber of commerce and they said that
one of their people just recently went door-to-door and counted 90
persons (May 15, 2001). They believe the Census Bureau counted 91
- but you can't rely on census enumerators. The Official State Travel
Guide says 96 and so does the Official State Map. Texas State Data
Center's figure as published by Texas A&M is 77.
One thing is for sure - if you need exactly 100 people for something
- don't look for them at Round Top.
The population figure of 81 that Round Top used from the 1990 Census
has also been used as the population for a fictitious Brewster County
town in the movie Dancer, Texas Pop. 81. (See Oasis
Gas Station.) |
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