Lee

Formed March 13, 1874 (165^th county)

Lee County (17,480), Giddings (4,980)                

The stately looking Romanesque Revival courthouse was built in 1897 on the square at Main between Hempstead and Richmond streets.  Its site is south and west of the intersection of United States Highways 77 and 290.  J. Riely Gordon was the architect for this red brick structure.  The building was restored in 1982 and 2003.  Giddings has been the home for both courthouses that have served the county since its March 13, 1874 organizing.  The county was formed from parts of Bastrop, Fayette, Washington, and Burleson counties as the 165^th county.  Confederate General Robert E. Lee gave Lee County its name.  He is also the namesake of Robert Lee in Coke County.  Giddings is named for Jabez Deming Giddings, an owner of the Houston 7 Texas Central Railroad. 

Lee County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Lee, Bastrop, Burleson, and Washington counties and One County Court Judge serves Lee County.  The county is straight east of Austin, Texas.  The Yeagua River is the eastern border of the county.  The county center is 9.1 miles North-Northwest of Giddings nearer Lincoln.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Milam, Burleson, Washington, Fayette, Bastrop, and Williamson counties. 

The area of the county is 629 square miles.  It is 226 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 133 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 27.8 persons per square mile making it 110 out of 254 in the state.  Lee County has 35.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 77 goes from Milam County, north, into Fayette County, south.  United States Highway 290 cuts the southern tip from east to west, Fayette County to Bastrop County.  The basic 45-degree diamond shape to the county has Giddings in the far south part.  Giddings is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 28.5% of the county population.