Richmond

At 1,280 miles, the Brazos River, which runs through Richmond is the 11th largest river in the United States. It was originally called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers, which means "The River of the Arms of God". The origins of its Spanish monicker is due to it being the first water encountered by thirsty travelers. The Brazos was a source of navigation carrying agricultural products to markets in Galveston & abroad into the early 1900's. During the Texas Revolution, skirmeshes were fought for control of the Brazos River ferry crossings. Today it is used mostly for power & irrigation.

This shrimp was a fixture outside a local seafood restaurant. The restaurant went from owner to owner until finally it was abandoned & demolished. I do not miss the food that remained lousy throughout the restaurant's history, but I do miss the cowboy shrimp.

In 1822 a vanguard of Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" led by William W. Little erected a log fort on this bend of the Brazos River. This area became known as Ft. Settlement or Ft. Bend. The area was evacuated in 1836 during The Runaway Scrape. Land promoters Robert Handy & William Lusk established the city here in 1837 from the land grants of Jane Long & William Morton & named it Richmond after Richmond, England. As a transportation hub, Richmond quickly became a crossroad of early Texas. Richmond was incorporated by the 2nd Congress of the Republic of Texas, June 5, 1837 & has served as county seat since the establishment of Ft. Bend County on December 29, 1837. Some of the towns notable past residents include Jane Long, Deaf Smith & Mirabeau Lamar.