Gonzales County, the "Cradle of Texas Independence" is rich in Texas history. As the capital of Green DeWitt's colony, the area was settled in 1825. It was here on October 2, 1835, that the first shot was fired in the Texas revolution, when the Mexican army demanded that settlers give up the small cannon they had been given for protection against the Indians. The settlers answered "Come and Take It" and fired the cannon, thus stating the war for independence from Mexico.

Gonzales County is one of the leading agricultural counties in Texas. Although fairly diversified, the majority of agricultural income comes from poultry and beef cattle. Gonzales county ranks in the top five counties in the state for both poultry production and volume of beef cows.