Region: Prairies and Lakes
This predominantly German/Czech community, founded in l838, was named for Margaret Hallett, who gave the land for the town site. The city has been the seat of Lavaca County since l852. It is on the Lavaca River, equidistant from Houston and San Antonio. The State Championship High School Rodeo was established here in 1947. Also home to State Championship Domino and Domino "42" Tournaments, State Championship Fiddler's Frolics and annual Kolache Fest. The Wilbur Baber Memorial Complex hosts rodeos, truck and tractor pulls, junior livestock show, wild hog expos and pro bull riding. Hunters take deer, dove, turkey and wild hogs in season.
Ripley's Believe it or Not! once called Hallettsville the "13" city: in 1913 it had 13 letters in the name, 1,300 population, 13 churches, 13 newspapers and 13 saloons.