About Smithville

History of Smithville

In 1691 missionaries on the expedition of Don Domingo Teran De Los Rios sighted a lagoon which the Indians called 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 and 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.

Article on Smithville - Texas Escapes.com

Article on Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia - Wikipedia.org

Article on early Smithville area heroes -fourhorsemenofthetexasapocalypse.com

---

Military Helicopter

The Smithville Times | Sunday, May 27, 2012 | Denis McGinness

Chopper’s history takes flight at VFW Hall

When people visit Smithville one of the first sights they see as they cross the Colorado River Bridge is a medevac helicopter in proud static display at VFW Post 1309. For one recent visitor, the reason he came to Smithville was to see the old chopper, an aircraft that held strong memories of his service during Operation Desert Storm.  READ MORE

---

Smithville Municipal Airport (84R)

Also known as Crawford Municipal Airport, the airport is located on Hwy 95 (Loop 230) near the intersection of Hwy 71, and is the only airport in Bastrop County.  There is no local air traffic control.  The airport is used mainly for private planes.  The airport has Free Wireless Internet Access and a desktop computer for checking email or weather conditions. The airport also provides a Courtesy Van for pilots (please just refill the gas tank!).

For more information, call 512-237-3282 City Hall or pilot Sandy Meyerson, who has a hangar/business on site at 512-237-3500.

Facebook Page:  84R Smithville Municipal Airport

• Smithville, Bastrop County , Texas [airport-fh]
• 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
• Wireless Internet Access
• Major/Minor Engine & Airframe Repairs

For information on use, see the City of Smithville WEBSITE.

---

Smithville Independent School District

"Building a tradition of excellence."

Smithville Independent School District, a 3A school, has 4 campuses.

Mascot is the Tigers, and school colors are orange and black.

In 2016 SISD received an "A" for superior achievement in financial accountability and a "Standards Met" rating for all campuses.

In 2010, SISD received the designation of "RECOGNIZED" at all 4 campuses. Congratulations to the teachers and staff who made this possible.

District Enrollment  (2016 figures)

Smithville High School - Grades 9-12... 512 students
Smithville Junior High - Grades 6-8... 394 students
Smithville Elementary - Grades 3-5... 386 students
Brown Primary - Grades PreK-2... 4 students

District Facts 

* SISD has 171 professional teachers with an average experience of 12.9 years.

* Average Class size is 19 to 1 in the Elementary Schools; and 18 to 1 in the Secondary Schools.

* 49.6% of the student population is economically disadvantaged.

* 2.7% of the student population is limited English proficient.

* District expenditures per pupil are $6,576.

* Tax rate is $1.2540 per hundred.

District programs and features

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

* Full athletic program. [SHSschoolspirit_0102]

* Full UIL extra-curricular program

* Professional school counselors.

* Library Resource Media Centers.

* Internet access and computer training.

* 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

S.I.S.D. PARENT RESOURCE CENTER

The Center, for all Smithville ISD parents and grandparents, is located in Room 9 on the Junior High campus and provides computers for parents to check grades, parenting books,  family games, family movies, and educational and developmental toys for check-out, a work station for parent volunteers helping teachers, a play area for small kids that accompany parents, an area for parents to visit and work together, and a TV/VCR to view parenting videos. Call the Jr. High office at 237-2407 or email scampbell@smithvilleisd.org.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB - SMITHVILLE

Have you ever wished that there were a safe, productive place for the youth of Smithville to go after-school, on weekends and holidays? Have you ever wished that there were professionally trained caring adults to supervise and mentor our young people while their parents are at work in Austin or Bastrop?  The Boys & Girls Club is the ANSWER!

Smithville ISD is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club to bring a high quality after-school youth development program to Smithville’s young people.

The campus is located at the Elementary School, and has afterschool activities for students from 3rd to 8th grade.

---