McMullen County – Introduction
This County is named for John McMullen, Irishman and emprasario. He was co founder of a failed Colony in Texas. Also he was a member, as well as temporary President, of the General Council during the Texas Revolution. The county was established in 1858 and organized in 1877. Tilden is its county seat.
Interestingly, Tilden is named for a former New York Governor. It Seems that the 1876 Presidential Election was truly controversial and Tilden actually won the Popular Vote, as a Democrat, while Rutherford B. Hayes won the Electoral College.
Tilden has had several names over the years. Rio Frio was the name of the original settlement. By the mid 1860s, Rio Frio had become known as Dog Town. Reports differ as to the reason for the name Dog Town. 1871 the town was laid out using the name Colfax. In 1877, while organizing McMullen County, the town became its county seat. Also, In 1877, its name is changed to Tilden.
Pictures of the older County Courthouse
There has been exactly two different courthouses within McMullen County. The first, built in 1877 and burned down in 1929. The second, pictured below, built in 1930.
To date, we have found no pictures of the 1877 Courthouse.
Pictures of the 1930 McMullen County Texas Courthouse
Cities and Towns
- *Tilden – County Seat
Other McMullen County Attractions
- McMullen County Centennial Marker – We don’t believe this item exists within McMullen County
- Tilden Historical Marker, Tilden
- Very Old Rock Gas Station – Probably Mobilgas, Tilden
- Dog Town Jail, Tilden
- Old Rock Store, Tilden
Our List of additional attractions to see
- McMullen County Sherriff’s Office / Jail
- Boot Hill Cemetery
- Choke Canyon State Park
- Calliham (small town near the state park)
If anyone knows of anything else … please leave us a comment! We’d love to see it, next time we go out!!
Links
McMullen County Website
Texas State Historical Association
Wikipedia Article