Part of the grant to Stephen F. Austin in 1821, Austin County was created as a municipality under the Mexican government in 1828 and became a county of the Republic of Texas on March 17, 1836. It was named in honor of Stephen Fuller Austin, 1793-1836, pioneer empresario and founder of Anglo-American Texas. San Felipe de Austin, the capital of Austin's colony from 1824 to 1836, served as the seat of the provisional government of Texas from 1835 to 1836. The county seat was San Felipe de Austin from 1837 to 1848, and Bellville has served as county seat since then.