In 1691 missionaries on the expedition of Don Domingo Teran De Los Rios sighted a lagoon which the Indians call Nenocadda. The Lagoon, known today as Shipp’s Lake, is on the southern edge of present Smithville. Frederick W. Grasmeyer operated a ferry here on the Colorado River in 1836. Steamboats plied the river from 1845 to about 1865.
  The village of "old Smithville" was laid out on 640 acres of land granted to Thomas J. Gazley and Lewis Lomas. The town was located on the Colorado River in the northeast section of present Smithville. There were mercantile stores, dry goods shops and a Masonic Lodge. In 1876, the first post office was established with John Pride Jones as postmaster.
  The Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railroad, later a part of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas system (MKT, "Katy"), arrived in 1886 and the town relocated along the tracks.. Legend has it that a coin was tossed to decide if the name would be changed to Burlesonville for Murray Burleson, who gave the land for the railroad depot. The coin toss resulted in "Smithville" being retained as the name, apparently in honor of pioneer settler William Smith.
  The town was incorporated in 1895, and T.C.Collins served as the first mayor . Today, Smithville is a municipality with approximately 3.5 square miles inside the city limits.

2005....4,370 est.

2000....3,901

1990.... 3,196

1980.... 3,470

1970.... 2,959

2005.... 69,932 est

2000.... 57,733

1990.... 38,263

1980.... 24,726

1970.... 17,297

Smithville had an estimated 12% population growth from 2000 to 2005. Bastrop County is the second fastest growing county in the state with growth around 22% from 2000 to 2005.

Smithville, Bastrop County , Texas

Unicom 122.9

Lights Dusk to Dawn

Glide Slope Landing Indicators

Runway 17-35; 4000’x75’ (New 2001)

Elevation 323’

Fuel: 100LL

Tiedowns & Hangers Available

Pilots’ Lounge

Internet Access

Major/Minor Engine & Airframe Repairs

512-237-3282

Newspaper....The Smithville Times, Thursday publication

Radio Stations....0 Local Stations Several Austin Stations

Cable TV.... Yes

High Speed Internet... Yes

Smithville Independent School District is a 3A school with four campuses.

2006-07

Smithville High School, grades 9-12... 549 students

Smithville Junior High, grades 6-8... 406 students

Smithville Elementary, grades 3-5... 380 students

District programs and features:

* College prep and vocational tech prep programs offered at the high school.

* Full athletic program.

* Full UIL extra-curricular program

* Full time professional school counselors at each campus.

* Library Resource Media Centers located at each campus.

* Internet access at all campuses.

* Ever-expanding use of technology in the classroom.

* Full range of Special Services Programs: Gifted & Talented, Honors Programs, Advanced Placement Programs at the High School, special education services, Section 504 programs, English as a Second Language (ESL) program, migrant services, compensatory education programs including Title I.

www.smithvilleisd.org/

Smithville Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is the only level IV trauma center in the county and is equipped with the latest life-saving equipment to take advantage of the “golden hour,” the first 60 minutes after an accident, injury, or life-threatening heart attack when most lives are saved.

The hospital also has a complete imaging and diagnostic center, physical therapy and rehabilitation care, inpatient medical and surgical care, cardiopulmonary services, oncology services and more.

www.srhnet.com/