McMullen County was created in 1858 and organized in 1862, then abandoned during the Civil War because of bandit activities in the thicket area. It was reorganized in 1877 with Tilden as county seat. The county was named for John McMullen (1785-1853), who with James McGloin founded the Irish Colony at San Patricio and who served as President Pro Tempore of the General Council that governed Texas in 1836 on the eve of the Republic. Of Texas's 254 counties, 42 bear Indian, French, or Spanish names; 10 commemorate colonizers such as McMullen and Stephen F. Austin; 12 honor Washington and other American patriots; 96 were named for men who fought in the Texas war for independence, signed the Declaration of Independence from Mexico, or served as statesmen in the Republic of Texas; 23 bear the names of frontiersmen and pioneers; 11 honor American statesmen who worked for the annexation of Texas; 10 honor leaders in Texas since statehood, including jurists, ministers, educators, historians, and statesmen; and 36 honor men prominent in the Confederacy during the Civil War. Rockwall and 8 others have geographical names, while San Jacinto and Val Verde were named for battles, Live Oak and Orange for trees, and Mason for a fort.