1936 plate: Created a county largely from San Patricio in 1857 Organized in 1858. Named for General Barnard E. Bee, 1787-1853 Secretary of War and Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas. Texas Minister to the United States. First railroad in 1886. Oil discovered, 1929. County seat, Marysville, 1858. Beeville, since 1860. 1971 plate: Named for Col. Barnard E. Bee (1787-1853), who served Republic of Texas as Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and Minister to the United States. County was created by legislative act on Dec. 8, 1857; organized Jan. 25, 1858, from land earlier in Goliad, Karnes, Live Oak, Refugio, and San Patricio counties. County seat in 1858 was on Medio Creek; since 1860 at present Beeville. A cattle region since Spanish times, Bee County became important beef producer in 1865. San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad provided first modern transportation in 1886. Oil was discovered here in 1929.