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Hamilton County TX
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HAMILTON, TEXAS


Hamilton County Seat, Central Texas North

31°42'12"N 98°7'13"W (31.703274, -98.120359)

U.S. Highway 281
State Hwys 36 and 22
21 miles S of Hico
16 miles N of Evant
41 miles S of Stephenville
33 miles SE of Comanche
33 miles SW Meridian
85 miles SW of Fort Worth
32 miles NW of Gatesville
ZIP code 76531
Area code 254
Population: 3,012 Est. (2019)
3,095 (2010) 2,977 (2000) 2,937 (1990)

Book Hotel Here › Hamilton Hotels

Hamilton TX - Bird's Eye View, Hamilton, Texas 1933 Postmark
Bird's Eye View, Hamilton, Texas, 1933 Postmark
Postcard courtesy Dan Whatley Collection

History in a Pecan Shell

Hamilton and Hamilton County's history is studded with anecdotes and characters worthy of several books. Many of the first settlers relocated from Southern States -(particularly South Carolina and Mississippi) before the Civil War.

Both county and town were named after James Hamilton who was a former Governor of South Carolina. After moving to Texas he became part of Texas' fledgling diplomatic corps. In 1857 he drowned off the coast of Galveston during a maritime accident after first giving his life-vest to a woman and child.

This spirit of selflessness is also reflected in local 19th Century heroine Anne Whitney - a schoolteacher who died protecting her charges when Comanches attacked her one-room schoolhouse.

A timeline of significant events in Hamilton's history:

1858: County organized
1861: post office opened
1896: Population reaches 1,100
1899: Hamilton is flooded. Wide spread destruction - slight loss of life
1907: The Stephenville, North and South Texas Railway entered Hamilton
1954: another flood causes greater damage than the first
1980: population reaches high water mark of 3,189

Hamilton TX Street Scene
Hamilton Street Scene
Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, July 2009

Hamilton, Texas
Landmarks / Attractions


  • Hamilton County Courthouse

  • Hamilton County Jail

  • Hamilton County Museum: In the old jail at 113 Henry Street

  • Hamilton Churches

  • Bullman Bridge
    One of the few remaining bowstring bridges in Texas
  • The Hamilton County Genealogical Society Library: 209 W. Henry Street
  • Pecan Creek Park: A deep-shaded park conveniently located between downtown and the library

  • Hamilton Hotels

  • Hamilton County courthouse,  Hamilton Texas old photo
    Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2012
    Hamilton County Courthouse
    Recorded Texas Historic Landmark


    Hamilton County jail, Hamilton, Texas
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2003
    Hamilton County Jail


    Hamilton Texas post office mural Texas Rangers in Camp by Ward Lockwood
    Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2010
    "Texas Rangers in Camp"
    Hamilton WPA Mural by Ward Lockwood


    Hamilton Texas - St. Mary's Episcopal Church
    Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, August 2005
    Churches in Hamilton


    Bullman Bridge in Hamilton County, Texas
    Photo courtesy Kate Johnson
    Bullman Bridge


    Hamilton TX - Old Cotton Gin
    Old Cotton Gin
    Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, July 2009
    See Cotton & Cotton Gins


    Hamilton TX - Old Hamilton Guest Hotel
    Former Hamilton Guest Hotel
    Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, July 2009
    See Rooms with a Past


    Hamilton TX - old Fire Station Bldg
    Old Fire Station
    Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, July 2009


    Hamilton TX - Old Gas Station
    Old Gas Station
    Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, July 2009
    See Texas Old Gas Stations

    Hamilton Texas water tower
    Hamilton water tower
    Photo courtesy Jim & Lou Kinsey
    More Texas Water Towers



    Hamilton, Texas Chronicles
  • Hamilton celebrates Armistice Day Cartoon by Roger T. Moore



  • A spotted longhorn near Hamilton, Texas
    A longhorn on the road to the closed Rock House church NE of Hamilton.
    Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, 2004

    A Sunday Drive:

    A drive through the farm roads and highways within the triangle of
  • North - Stephenville, on US 377
  • West - Brownwood on US 377 through Comanche
  • East - Waco via US 84 through Goldthwaite, Gatesville, or
  • East - Hillsboro via FM 218 and Hwy 22 through Hamilton and Meridian

    will take you through the old towns of:
  • Shive, Fairy, Indian Gap and Pottsville in Hamilton County
  • Norse, Cranfills Gap and Energy in Bosque County
  • Priddy, Star and Mount Olive in Mills County
  • Gustin, Lamkin, Proctor and Comanche in Comanche County


  • Hamilton Chamber of Commerce:
    204 E. Main - 254-386-3216



    Hamilton, Texas Forum
  • Subject: Hamilton
    My Grandpa was Luther Coldiron. He had a hamburger place there in Hamilton in the 1930s. He also had some rock tourist courts on Coke Street. I was only three or four years old but I remember how hot it was then. We lived in one of his cabins, I remember it had a cement floor. He made the best burgers in town. His wife was named Jessie and he died before she did. I remember the rock, sand and rattlesnakes. Someone there may remember him. - Vonnie Balusek, February 23, 2006



  • Take a road trip

    Central Texas North

    Hamilton, Texas Nearby Towns:
    Hico | Stephenville | Gatesville | Fort Worth

    See Hamilton County

    Book Hotel Here:
    Hamilton Hotels | More Hotels

    Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact us.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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