Indigenous peoples were the first inhabitants of the area. Later known tribes in the area included Tonkawa, Lipan Apache and Comanche.
1721 The Aguayo expedition is said to have passed through the county.
1756 A presidio is established by Don Pedro de Terreros with the assistance of elements of the Spanish Army, at the confluence of Lucy Creek and Arroya Cavalto. The effort was abandoned not long after, but the site remained as a base of operations by Thomas Isaac Cox, a member of Terreros' original expedition, for the purpose of obtaining hundreds of Texas mustangs for use by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
1853 Moses Hughes and his invalid wife, Hannah, became the first permanent settlers, seeking to take advantage of the medicinal springs.
1854 John Patterson was the first man to cultivate land in the county.
1855 Elizabeth and George W. Scott laid out the town of Burleson, named for her father. The town was later renamed Lampasas, when it becomes the county seat.
1856 The Sixth Texas Legislature formed Lampasas County, named after the Lampasas River, from parts of Travis, Bell, and Coryell Counties. Burleson, renamed Lampasas, is made the county seat.
1858 The northeastern corner of Lampasas County became part of Hamilton County.
1859 The Lampasas Guards were organized to ward off Indian attacks.
1860 Lampasas County's population was 1,028. About 15 percent were slaves.
1861 Indian raids increased in Lampasas, as able-bodied men were off fighting in the war.
1872 Townsen’s Mill was built by Perry and Jasper Townsen. This steam mill cut "rawhide" lumber and ground wheat and corn.
1874 Henry A. Chadwick and son Milam built a sawmill, flour mill and cotton gin.
1875 The Farmers' Alliance was born in Lampasas in reaction against the cattle rustling and illegal land dealings prevalent in the county.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 183
U.S. Highway 190
U.S. Highway 281
Adjacent counties
Hamilton County
Coryell County
Bell County
Burnet County
San Saba County
Mills County
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,762 people, 6,554 households, and 4,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile. There were 7,601 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 86.75% White, 3.10% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 6.49% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. About 15.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 6,554 households, of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were nonfamilies. About 21.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08. In the county, the population was distributed as 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males. The median income for a household in the county was $36,176, and the median income for a family was $41,395. Males had a median income of $30,320 versus $20,637 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,184. About 10.70% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.70% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.
