Both the city of San Augustine and San Augustine County have been called the “Cradle of Texas” (or the “Cradle of Texas Independence”) since at least the 1960s. Sam Houston was named commander of the Texian forces at San Augustine in early 1836; San Augustine was one of the first counties formed in the new Republic of Texas.
 
   
Wikipedia: San Augustine, Texas
San Augustine is a city in San Augustine County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,475 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of San Augustine County and is situated in East Texas.
 
Wikipedia: San Augustine County, Texas
San Augustine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 8,946. Its county seat is San Augustine.
 
Handbook of Texas Online
SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY. San Augustine County (G-22) is in extreme East Texas, twenty-three miles from the eastern state boundary. It is bordered by the Attoyac River on the west, Sabine County on the east, Shelby County to the north, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir to the south. San Augustine, the largest town and county seat, is just north of the county center, 31°28’ north latitude and 94°08’ west longitude, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 96, State highways 21 and 147, and Farm roads 711, 2213, and 353. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway enters the county from the east and bisects the northern portion. The county comprises 524 square miles of the East Texas Timberlands region. It is covered in pines interspersed with hardwoods, particularly oaks, and some native grasses.
(...)
Unrest still plagued the new district, however. Ayish Bayou settlers had been involved in the 1832 battle of Nacogdoches, in which they helped remove José de las Piedras, commandant of Nacogdoches. Subsequently, they sent prominent representatives, including Sam Houston in 1833, to the conventions of 1832 and 1833. Early in 1836 Houston was elected commander of the Texian forces at San Augustine—and then for all of Texas—which took an active part in the Texas Revolution. In April the town was abandoned when citizens fled toward the Louisiana border in the Runaway Scrape. They returned to their homes with news of the victory at the battle of San Jacinto. With the close of hostilities, Texans began establishing a government for the new Republic of Texas. San Augustine County was one of the first counties to be formed. In 1837 settlers chose county officials, including a chief justice, a county clerk, a sheriff, a district clerk, a surveyor, and a coroner. In most instances, war heroes were elected to those positions, replacing earlier settlers as community leaders.
     
San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce
San Augustine County
the Cradle of Texas Independence
Early settlers came into San Augustine County on the Old San Antonio Road, also known as “El Camino Real de los Tejas”, now a designated National Historic Trail.
 
San Augustine is the home of the first university, churches of all denominations, and the first American settlement in Texas. The abundant history in our area is evident in over 50 recorded Texas Historical Landmark homes and sites.
 
San Augustine is located equal distances between Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn Reservoirs and boasts unspoiled waterways for fishing and recreation. As an added bonus, our deep East Texas woods are a bird watcher’s paradise.
 
Visit San Augustine, Texas!
San Augustine, Texas, the Cradle of Texas Independence, has figured prominently in the history of the Lone Star State. There are 70 historical markers in San Augustine County, with 6 listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and 34 recorded Texas Historic Landmarks.
 
Historic churches blend comfortably into the tree-lined landscape of San Augustine, and the many historic homes & buildings portray a variety of architectural styles from Greek Revival to Victorian.
 
Several of San Augustine’s 140 historic cemeteries, both public and private, are featured here. Also featured are several other historic sites, from an 18th century mission to the county courthouse.
 
Many historical records are available to the public (some by appointment) as a result of the hard and rewarding work of history and preservation in San Augustine County.
 
Get suggested tour routes or find out more about other area attractions!

In San Augustine County visitors get more than a snapshot of the early days of the Texas Republic.
 
Texas Historical Commission
San Augustine — The Cradle of Texas
Begin your trip to San Augustine with a tour of the Mission Dolores Visitors Center. The visitors center houses an interactive and interpretive display relating to Mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Ais, one of the earliest missions established in Texas.
 
Mission Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Ais was first established in 1717 along the Ayish Bayou, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated State Archeological Landmark. Documents that interpret the archeological site and the historical significance of Mission Dolores are available to tourists or researchers in a comfortable reading room.
 
Travel from Mission Dolores north on Broadway, east on Main Street and south to 205 S. Congress to the Ezekial W. Cullen House, headquarters of the Ezekial Cullen Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and former home of one of the most prominent citizens during the Republic of Texas period. The outstanding architectural feature of the home, built in 1839 by master builder Augustus Phelps, is the use of the Texas Star centered over the double-door molding. The simple one-story Greek Revival-style house is one of the loveliest of its kind in Texas today. Furnishings in the Cullen House reflect the time period. One room is dedicated to the paintings of Seymour Thomas, the famous portrait artist born and reared in San Augustine.
 
Contact Information: Travel History’s Trail maps featuring most of the 65 historical markers in San Augustine County can be found at the San Augustine County Chamber of Commerce, 611 West Columbia Street, San Augustine, TX 75972; 936/275-3610.
 
Texas Online
SAN AUGUSTINE
Pop. 2,430
Alt. 304
General
Known as “The Cradle of Texas,” history walks the street here. Located on historic “El Camino Real” (the Royal Highway, now Texas 21 in this area). Sam Houston walked here; Davy Crockett was feted on his way to the Alamo; and J. Pinckney Henderson, Texas’ first governor, lived here when San Augustine was the eastern gateway to Texas. Several church congregations lay claim as Texas’ oldest: Presbyterian, Episcopal and Methodist (24 miles east, five miles north of Milam). All features are too numerous to list here, but the chamber of commerce can provide details and directions for drive-by views of many cites. Chamber is open Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. 611 west Columbia Street.
 
23 January 1927, Port Arthur (TX) News, pg. 3, col. 2:
He is a native of Texas, born and raised in San Augustine, a town he looks upon as the cradle of Texas history.
   
27 May 1962, Galveston (TX) Daily News, “Historical Homes To Open For Third Tour,” pg. 4C, col. 7:
HISTORICAL HOMES and places of interest to Texans and visitors will be open in the third annual tour at San Augustine, “The Cradle of Texas.”
 
Sponsored by the Ezekiel Cullen Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the tour will be staged June 2 and 3 from 1:30 to 5 p.m. It starts from the Ezekiel Cullen Home, which is tour headquarters.
     
19 May 1964, Dallas (TX) Morning News, section 1, pg. 9:
YOU CAN find nearly anything in modern drug stores. And the drug store of R. N. Stripling in San Augustine, ““the cradle of Texas history,” is going the others one better. 
   
OCLC WorldCat record
From the kitchens of San Augustine : “the cradle of Texas”
by Junior Study Club (San Augustine, Tex.);
Type:  Book; English
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Bev-Ron Pub. Co., ©1964.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
San Augustine, the cradle of Texas.
by San Augustine County Development Association.;
Type:  Book; English
Publisher: San Augustine, Tex. : San Augustine County Development Association, [1965?]
 
OCLC WorldCat record
San Augustine : the cradle of Texas, organized in 1833, incorporated 1837
by Watt Harris
Type:  Map; English
Publisher: Austin, Tex. : W. Harris, [1982?]
 
OCLC WorldCat record
The cradle of Texas Presbyterianism : a history of Memorial Presbyterian Church, San Augustine, Texas
by William E Lytch
Type:  Book; English
Publisher: Franklin, Tenn. : Providence House Publishers, ©1993.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
The cradle of Texas : a pictorial history of San Augustine County
by Charla Jones
Type:  Book; English
Publisher: Austin, Tex. : Eakin Press, ©1997.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
San Augustine County, Texas marriage books : cradle of Texas
by Emily Woodall-Ivey
Type:  Book; English
Publisher: Broaddus, Tex. (Rt. #1, Box 165, 88 Forecastle Dr., Broaddus 75929-9743) : E. Woodall-Ivey, ©1998.