CUSTOMER SUCCESS
Preserving Bastrop County’s Legacy Through Leadership and Action
Bastrop County, Texas, is a place where history lives in the details—handwritten deeds, record books bound in leather, and the quiet stories of generations past. Nestled just southeast of Austin, this historic county traces its roots back to the early 1800s.
Over the decades, its growth and evolution have been carefully chronicled by the Bastrop County Clerk’s Office, a vital institution that not only manages today’s records but also protects the legacy of those who came before.
That responsibility now falls to the Honorable Krista Bartsch, Bastrop County Clerk, whose stewardship has ushered in a new era of preservation and access.
“I have worked in the Bastrop County Clerk’s Office for 27 years, the last three and a half of those as County Clerk, and I love the history of this office. Bastrop became a county in 1837, and to be able to have these books—some that have been around that long—preserved and available for future generations is something I am proud to be able to do for this County.”
Hon. Bartsch understands that these aren’t just pages in a vault—they’re the foundation of property rights, family legacies, and civic trust. Since taking office, she’s led with a clear vision: to modernize access while honoring the historical value of every volume.
Digitizing and Fully Indexing Land Records for Enhanced Access
in September 2024, that vision took shape with the completion of a major land record digitization initiative. Revolution Data Systems scanned and fully indexed Bastrop County’s land records from 1973 to 1984—over a decade of critical records that are now preserved and searchable through the Harris Aumentum recorder software platform.
What was once locked in aging volumes is now at the fingertips of county staff and constituents alike, streamlining research and reducing wear on fragile books.
Preserving Bastrop’s Oldest Deed Records
But Hon. Krista Bartsch didn’t stop there. In October 2024, she launched a second initiative to preserve Bastrop County’s earliest deed books—some dating back to 1880. These historical volumes are being gently restored, stabilized, and secured in custom binders to ensure their survival for future generations.
Then in November, the Clerk’s Office began a third project focused on scanning and indexing Mechanic’s Lien Books 22 through 43, further expanding the digital archive and supporting more efficient public access.
But Hon. Krista Bartsch didn’t stop there. In October 2024, she launched a second initiative to preserve Bastrop County’s earliest deed books—some dating back to 1880. These historical volumes are being gently restored, stabilized, and secured in custom binders to ensure their survival for future generations.
Then in November, the Clerk’s Office began a third project focused on scanning and indexing Mechanic’s Lien Books 22 through 43, further expanding the digital archive and supporting more efficient public access.
“If another County Clerk is considering a records preservation project, I would tell them to move forward with it. Those records are a big piece of the County’s history, and counties who still have the original historical records are lucky to have them.
“They do take up a considerable amount of space in the office, which is something I have had to work out, but I would do the projects again and will continue to work on getting more of them done.
“Everything in our office is currently done digitally, and I like knowing the history of the office is still available in those old books.”
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