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Texas
| Counties
HILL COUNTY,
TEXAS
31° 59' 24"
N, 97° 7' 48" W (31.99, -97.13) |
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Hill County
History
By Sam
Fenstermacher
In 1852 doctor Josephus Murray Steiner and Elijah Sterling Clack Robinson
devised a plan to stimulate land speculation by creating a new county.
This new county would be created by subdividing Navarro
County. As a result of some help from Governor Bell, a special
session of the Texas Legislature was called and a bill to divide Navarro
County was signed into law on February 7, 1853. Hill County was
named for Dr. George Washington Hill who had served as Secretary of
War for President Sam
Houston, and also had been elected to the state legislature from
Navarro County in 1851.
During a special session of the Hill County Commissioners Court on
August 23, 1853 a parcel of land near the center of the county was
donated to form the county seat. The county seat was originally called
Hillsborough but the town's name was changed to Hillsboro
in 1854 when the Post Office declared names ending in “borough” should
be changed to “boro”.
In 1881 the railroads arrived in Hillsboro
and along with them came jobs and prosperity. As a result of the railroads,
county population grew after 1881 and well into the early decades
of the Twentieth Century. Because of the available rail transportation
and jobs, German and other European immigrants came to the county
to settle. Cotton also contributed
to the prosperity of Hill County, but after the 1930's cotton
production declined probably because of the Depression, and the advent
of synthetic fabrics.
As a result of the exit of the railroads from the area in the 1930's
followed by the demise of agriculture and then manufacturing, population
declined in the county until the 1970's. Today agriculture, manufacturing,
and retail operations all contribute to the prosperity of Hill County.
Hillsboro's location
at the convergence/split of Interstate Highway 35 East and West provides
plenty of traffic for the the Prime Outlet Mall and many other local
retail establishments.
In 1981 Hillsboro was one of the first Texas towns selected by The
Texas Historical Commission for the Main Street Program. Hillsboro's
special status as a Main Street Community makes it eligible for grant
money and other planning and assessment services through the THC.
The Texas Main Street Program's purpose is to encourage economic development
through historic preservation and renovation of buildings and property.
The Hillsboro Main Street Program's mission is to create, restore,
and inspire the quality growth of downtown Hillsboro.
© Sam
Fenstermacher |
Hill County
Town List
Cities, Towns &
Ghost Towns: History, attractions, landmarks, architecture, monuments,
museums, cemeteries, bridges, parks, vintage & contemporary images,
area destinations, hotels,
and forum.
County Seat - Hillsboro
Book Hotel Here -
Hillsboro Hotels |
Hill County
1907 postal map
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Hill County
1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Hill County
1940s map
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and recent
or vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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