College Station in Brazos County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Richard Carter Homesite

Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2021

1. Richard Carter Homesite Marker

Inscription.

In 1831, Richard Carter (1789-1863), Virginia native and War of 1812 veteran, came from Alabama and received a grant of land within the Stephen F. Austin colony at the site of what is now the City of College Station. He became one of the areas wealthiest land and slave owners, raising cattle, corn, and cotton during the years before the Civil War. Carter was appointed to the first Board of Commissioners after Brazos County was created in 1841 and helped survey Boonville, its first county seat. Evidence of the Carter Home and the family cemetery has been found in this area.

Erected 1984 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8672.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.

Location. 30° 38.148′ N, 96° 18.52′ W. Marker is in College Station, Texas, in Brazos County. It is at the intersection of Brazoswood Drive and Frontage State Highway 6 Frontage Road, on the left when traveling west on Brazoswood Drive. The marker is located at the entrance to the Richard Carter Park on Brazoswood Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1800 Brazoswood Drive, College Station TX 77840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Start of Something Big

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(approx. 1½ miles away); “A Piece of Aggie History” (approx. 1½ miles away); Texas A&M University (approx. 1.6 miles away); Williams Administration Building (approx. 2 miles away); Shiloh Community (approx. 2.1 miles away); College Station Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); The Luke Patranella Memorial Center (approx. 2.2 miles away); History Building (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College Station.

Also see . . . Carter, Richard (ca. 1790–1863).

Carter died on May 12, 1863. Popular legend held that a substantial amount of Confederate money was buried with him, but the story was never substantiated. Apparently he had no desire for emancipation to be proclaimed within the lifetime of his family, for his will stated that upon the death of his wife, Elizabeth, who died in 1876, his property, including his two slave families, should be divided among his children and grandchildren. Through the war years Carter's estate climbed to an unprecedented $44,000. But after the 1865 taxes were assessed, the value of the estate had plummeted to $9,800, which still left the Carters in the upper
Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2021

2. Richard Carter Homesite Marker
economic bracket of Brazos County. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on March 12, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Richard Carter Homesite Marker from the road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 6, 2021

3. The view of the Richard Carter Homesite Marker from the road

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,114 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 12, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.