Graham

History

The site was first settled in 1871 by brothers Gustavus A. and Edwin S. Graham, primary shareholders in the Texas Emigration and Land Company of Louisville, Kentucky. The brothers moved to Texas after the Civil War, and after buying in then-vast Young County, helped to revitalize the area, the population of which had become badly depleted during the war. During that same year as when Graham was settled, the Warren Wagon Train raid occurred about 12 miles north of the city. In 1872, the Graham brothers purchased a local saltworks, established the town of Graham, and set up the Graham Land Office. The saltworks were not a profitable venture, as the salt was too expensive to ship, and were closed in a few years. New families started to arrive, and the brothers began promoting the sale of homesites and doing civic improvements. On February 15, 1877, the city was the site of the organizational meeting of the group that became the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, created to police ranching and put a stop to cattle rustling. Founding officers included pioneer ranchers James C. Loving (son of Oliver Loving), Col. C. L. (Kit) Carter, and C.C. Slaughter. A three-story limestone courthouse was built in 1884, and it was replaced by a new courthouse in the early 1930s. The 1884 structure's east door still stands on the courthouse square. From 1879 to 1896, Graham was the seat of a federal district court overseen by Judge A.P. McCormick; his jurisdiction extended over all of Texas north and west to New Mexico. she was responsible for the establishment of the Eden Home for the aged. but was up to 8,732 by the 2020 census.

Geography

Graham, the county seat of Young County, is located in the southeast portion of the county, and has an area of 5.592 sq mi (14.48 km2). Geographically, Graham is located in the western Cross Timbers area of North Texas. Locally, this is known as the western portion of the Palo Pinto Mountains. Creeks drain the area generally into the Brazos River; Dry Creek on the eastern side of town flows into Salt Creek towards the south and into the Brazos. Flatrock Creek drains the rural areas to the southeast and also flows into the Brazos just below where Salt Creek enters. Small impoundments located along Flatrock Creek are used for stock tanks and fish ponds.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  426
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  263
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  257
• Black-crested Titmouse

  Baeolophus atricristatus (Cassin, 1850) · Aves
  228
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  196
• White-eyed Vireo

  Vireo griseus (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  155
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  146
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  139

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2024-03-06
  13 km ESE of Olney, Texas
• M 2.7 — 2018-12-21
  7 km W of Chico, Texas
• M 2.8 — 2017-06-21
  2 km NW of Sanctuary, Texas
• M 2.5 — 2014-01-28
  3 km NNW of Pelican Bay, Texas
• M 3.1 — 2014-01-13
  2 km ESE of Reno, Texas
• M 3.3 — 2013-12-23
  1 km S of Reno, Texas