Hawkins Ranch
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture, Cattle ranching, Energy |
| Founded | January 1, 1846 in Matagorda County, Texas, United States |
| Founder | James Boyd Hawkins |
| Headquarters | Matagorda County , United States |
| Products | Cattle (Hereford-Brahman hybrid), corn, cotton, formerly sugarcane |
Number of employees | 37 (convict laborers in 1876) |
The Hawkins Ranch, also referred to as Hawkins Plantation, is both a historic landmark and an operational cattle ranch located in Matagorda County, Texas. Originating in 1846 as a sugarcane plantation reliant on enslaved African American labor, it evolved following the American Civil War to utilize wage workers alongside convict labor. By approximately 1890, the enterprise had redirected its primary activities toward cattle ranching.
History
Established by James Boyd Hawkins in 1846, the plantation was home to 101 enslaved African Americans by the year 1860. During the Civil War period, Confederate General John B. Magruder conducted inspections of nearby coastal defenses and made visits to the plantation. Post-war labor practices included a combination of paid employees and convict laborers, with 37 convicts employed by 1876. An African American insurrection was reported in proximity to the plantation in 1887.
By the mid-1890s, sugarcane farming was discontinued and replaced with crops such as corn and cotton, alongside cattle raising. The introduction of barbed wire played a significant role in facilitating this shift toward livestock management. The property also saw the establishment of infrastructure including gas wells and trails. The ranch primarily raises Hereford-Brahman hybrid cattle.
In 1919, Hamill and Associates conducted oil exploration on the land but did not discover commercially viable reserves. Subsequently, Orbit Petroleum operated gas wells on the site. Production was temporarily suspended by the Texas Railroad Commission due to damage from Hurricane Rita in 2005, with operations resuming in 2007.