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About Cleburne

Cleburne History


 

 

Cleburne was near the earliest Johnson County road, an old wagon trail that was used by soldiers traveling from Fort Belknap to Fort Graham. The location had an excellent water source on West Buffalo Creek that attracted travelers, including cattlemen from the nearby Chisholm Trail.

During the Civil War the site was used as a bivouac for Johnson County units marching off to war. This temporary facility, known as Camp Henderson, became a permanent settlement on March 23, 1867, when it became necessary to choose a new, centrally located county seat to replace Buchanan. The town was named in honor of Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne, under whom many of the men had fought during the Civil War. ."

Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "CLEBURNE, TX," http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/CC/hec2.html (accessed March 31, 2006).