In April 1825 empresario Green DeWitt was given permission by the Government of Mexico to settle 400 families between the Guadalupe and Lavaca Rivers. Most pioneers settled at the mouth of the Lavaca or established farms along the banks of the Guadalupe River.According to research, ARTHUR BURNS and family established the first home in the county on Irish Creek. This area was latter called Irish Creek Settlement. It is documented that colonists who held grants in the county by 1827 were: Byrd Lockhart, Jose Antonio Valdez, George W. Davis Valentine Bennett, Churchill Furlshear, Joseph D. Clements, John James Tumlinson, and Green DeWitt.

    In 1840, a courthouse was built at Cameron, by 1850 Clinton served as the county's main center, but finally in 1876, Cuero was permanently named as county seat.

     Before the Civil War, grazing stock was the primary business in DeWitt County. After the war, agriculture and industry prospered. Corn, Cotton, and tobacco ,as well as sweet potatoes were grown. The livestock industry continue to grow. The development of "The Chisholm Trail" from Dewitt County northward encouraged more cattlemen to raise beef. The first cattle drive northward occurred on April 1, 1866. Also occurring at this time in history was the railroad. The Gulf, Western Texas and PAcific was the first railroad to enter DeWitt County. It extended to San Antonio. Three major "railroad communities" were established because of this link: CUERO, THOMASTON, and BURNS STATION. Soon a second line the SAAP ( San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway) extended from CUERO, YORKTOWN and NORDHEIM to San Antonio in 1887 and led to the development of Yoakum, a community to the north.

DeWitt County Courthouse

            County was created 1846 with Cameron as seat of government.  In 1850 Clinton became seat, and served until 1876 when the two-story frame courthouse was moved to Cuero.  That building burned in April 1894.  Present structure was built between June 1894 and May 1896 under supervision of architects A. O. Watson and Eugene Heiner.  Interior was renovated in 1957, but exterior remains unchanged.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark—1966