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Llano County TX
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CASTELL, TEXAS


Llano County, Texas Hill Country

30° 42' 4" N, 98° 57' 23" W (30.701111, -98.956389)

FM 2768 and FM 152
3 miles S of Highway 29
18 miles W of Llano
88 miles W of Austin
18 miles E of Mason
42 miles N of Fredericksburg
Population: 104 (2010) 72 (2000, 1970)

Castell, Texas Area HotelsLlano Hotels

Castell TX City Limit Sign
Castell City Limit
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011

History in a Pecan Shell

Castell now has the distinction of being the oldest surviving settlement in Llano County. Although the town is now on the south bank of the Llano River, it began on the north bank in 1847.

Castell was settled by German immigrants led by Count Emil von Kriewitz. John O. Meusebach had chosen the land following the dictates of the Fisher-Miller land grant. The towns namesake was Count Carl Frederick Castell-Castell, business manager of the Adelsverein. Other "sister-settlements" included Bettina, Leiningen, and Schoenburg - all of which failed to survive. A post office opened on the south side of the river in 1872.

The local Methodist and Lutheran churches date from 1852 and Castell remains a religious center in Llano County. Most residents are descendants of the original settlers.


Castell TX - Post Office

Castell Post Office, TX 76831
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, July 2011


Photographers' Notes:

"It was a busy day in Castell the day we passed through. There was a wedding in town and a family reunion at the schoolhouse. The schoolhouse looks to have been recently renovated. People were cooling of in the nearby river as well." - William Beachamp

"The schoolhouse and church actually face each other and are across the street from the general store. Apparently there is a rooster at the general store, who is somewhat of a local celebrity. There’s a sign outside that mentions it, and a Chicken Crossing traffic sign." - Erik Whetstone

 Castell, Texas - post office & general store
General Store & Post Office
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, August 2005
More Texas Post Offices

Old schoolhouse in Castell, Texas
The Old Castell Schoolhouse
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, August 2005
TX - Castell School historical marker
Castell School historical marker
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011
See Texas Schoolhouses


Methodist Church in Castell, Texas
Trinity United Methodist Church
Photo courtesy Erik Whetstone, August 2005
Castell TX - Trinity United Methodist Church
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011
Castell TX - Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery
Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011
More Texas Churches | Texas Cemeteries


Castell Tx - St. John Lutheran Church
St. John Lutheran Church
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011
Castell TX - St. John Lutheran Church Historical Marker
St. John Lutheran Church Historical Marker
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011
St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery
St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011
More Texas Churches | Texas Cemeteries


Castell Tx Town View
Castell Town View
Photo courtesy William Beachamp, July 2011



Related Article:

Bettina by Michael Barr
The Bettina Experiment by Clay Coppedge



TX Llano County 1940s Map
1940s Llano County map showing Castell on Llano River,
just East of Mason County line
From Texas state map #4335

Courtesy Texas General Land Office

Take a road trip

Texas Hill Country

Castell, Texas nearby historic county seats:
Mason | Llano | Menard | Fredericksburg

See Llano County

Book Hotel Here:
Llano Hotels | Fredericksburg Hotels | More Hotels
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