County Surveyor

The county surveyor office was appointed by Congress under the Republic of Texas, but the Constitution of 1845 made the office elective for a two-year term, and each succeeding constitution has had a similar provision; in 1954 the term of office was increased to four years by constitutional amendment. Duties included surveying land for the county and recording and examining field notes of surveys made in the county. With the disappearance of open land the importance of the office decreased, and in many counties the office has remained vacant. An independent surveyor is often contracted to fulfill the functions of the office.

Bibliography

Guide to Texas Laws for County Officials (Austin: Texas Department of Community Affairs, 1988). Dick Smith, The Development of Local Government in Texas (Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard University, 1938).

Visit the Texas State Historical Association website to learn more. 

Additional Information 

For more complete information about the responsibilities of a county surveyor and other county officials, see the "2023 Guide to Texas Laws for County Officials (PDF)."

Access the Gillespie County Development Requirement Information Brochure (PDF). 

For more information about subdivisions of land, manufactured home rental communities, or right-of-way permits, please contact County Engineer Melissa Eckert at 830-307-6196 or visit the Engineering Department page.