How a Texas frontier village transformed into a railroad hub and record-breaking baking site

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Nestled along the Colorado River, Smithville evolved from a small settlement of seventeen families into a bustling railroad center. Beyond its industrial roots, this Texas town gained international fame for a massive culinary feat, proving that even modest communities can leave a significant mark on the global stage.

The development of Smithville began in the early 19th century when Thomas Jefferson Gazley arrived in 1827 to build the first house and store. The area, situated on the south bank of the Colorado River in Bastrop County, grew as more families settled nearby. By the late 1800s, the arrival of the railroad acted as a primary catalyst for expansion. Murray Burleson, a local businessman, successfully lobbied for a terminus, and by 1894, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad established central shops in the town. This infrastructure development supported a period of rapid growth, making Smithville the largest town in Bastrop County for nearly five decades.

As the town matured, it established essential services, including banks, cotton gins, and medical care, eventually incorporating as a city in 1895. Today, the community maintains its connection to this history through the James H. Long Railroad Museum. The town also preserves cultural artifacts from the New Deal era, such as a 1939 mural titled The Law, Texas Rangers, housed in the local post office. These historical layers reflect the town's transition from a frontier outpost to a modern municipality operating under a Council-Manager government structure.

Smithville is perhaps most unusually remembered for a 2006 event where it secured a Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread man. The massive creation measured over 20 feet in length and weighed more than 1,300 pounds. The baking process required substantial quantities of staples, including hundreds of pounds of flour, dozens of gallons of molasses, and hundreds of eggs. While the record was eventually surpassed by an IKEA display in Norway, the oversized baking pan remains a permanent monument in the city's railroad park, serving as a quirky reminder of the town's ambition.

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