In 1880 the Southern Pacific Railroad, extending its line to the west, passed south of Castroville because the town refused to grant the railroad a bonus. Hondo became the county seat in 1892. Castroville citizens voted that year to disincorporate their town, and it remained unincorporated until 1948. In 1908 the Castroville school had 172 white students, twelve black students, and four teachers. In 1915 the old courthouse was converted into a school with three large classrooms.