When Mexico obtained its independence from Spain in 1821 Coahuila and Texas were joined and Nacogdoches was in the Department of Bexar. Nacogdoches Municipality established at time of Mexican independence in 1821, became a Department in 1831. (in 1834, a third Department, Brazos was added, in addition to Bexar), Nacogdoches County created 3/17/1836. Immediately after the Texas Revolution, the municipalities within the Nacogdoches Department: Liberty, Jefferson, Jasper, Sabine, San Augustine and Shelby, were established as counties. In April, 1846 the county was further subdivided into what would eventually become all or part of 20 other counties: Anderson, Angelina, Camp, Cherokee, Dallas, Delta, Gregg, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Kaufman, Raines, Rockwall, Rusk, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood. The House favored Nacogdoches as the capital of the Republic. The Senate wanted San Jacinto. Houston was a compromise in 1836. -Handbook of Texas Online: Nacogdoches County