Graham, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Graham, Texas
City
Post office
Location of Graham, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Young
Area
• Total	5.62 sq mi (14.56 km2)
• Land	5.60 sq mi (14.50 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	1,066 ft (325 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,732
• Density	1,553.7/sq mi (599.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76450
Area code(s)	940
FIPS code	48-30392
GNIS feature ID	2410628
Website	City of Graham, Texas Official Website: http://www.cityofgrahamtexas.com/

Graham is a city in Young County, Texas. It is the biggest city in the county and also its county seat, which means it's where the local government is located. In 2020, about 8,732 people lived in Graham.

History of Graham, Texas

How Graham Was Founded

Graham was first settled in 1871 by two brothers, Gustavus A. and Edwin S. Graham. They were from Louisville, Kentucky. After the American Civil War, they moved to Texas. They bought a very large area of land, about 125,000 acres (506 km2), in Young County.

The brothers helped to rebuild the area. Many people had left during the war. In 1872, the Graham brothers bought a local saltworks. They officially started the town of Graham and opened the Graham Land Office. The saltworks didn't make money because it was too expensive to ship the salt. So, they closed it after a few years.

Early Growth and Development

New families started moving to Graham. The Graham brothers worked to sell homesites and improve the town. A post office opened in 1873. In 1874, Young County was reorganized, and Graham became the county seat.

The town's newspaper, The Graham Leader, started printing in 1876. It is still published today. The first temporary courthouse was also built that year. Other early businesses included places to grind grain, cut wood, process cotton, and make bricks. There were also two hotels and several stores.

Important Events in Graham's Past

On February 15, 1877, an important meeting happened in Graham. This meeting led to the creation of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. This group was formed to help control ranching and stop cattle rustling. This was when people stole cattle.

Important ranchers like James C. Loving, Col. C. L. (Kit) Carter, and C.C. Slaughter helped start this group. A large limestone courthouse was built in 1884. It was replaced by a new one in the early 1930s. Part of the old 1884 building still stands on the courthouse square.

From 1879 to 1896, Graham was home to a federal district court. Judge A.P. McCormick oversaw this court. His area covered all of Texas north and west to New Mexico.

Graham's Growth and Modern Times

By 1900, Graham became an official town. Railroad service began in 1903. This helped the town connect to other places. More railroads came in 1921, but they were later closed.

Public Square in Graham, around 1915–1920

Graham's population grew slowly until 1917. That's when oil was found nearby. The population quickly grew from 878 people in 1900 to 2,544 in 1920. By 1966, Graham had many services. These included 17 churches, seven schools, a hospital, a radio station, two libraries, three parks, and two newspapers. The population reached its highest point in 1980 with 9,170 people. It has slowly gone down since then.

Geography of Graham

Location and Landscape

Graham is located in the southeastern part of Young County, Texas. It covers an area of about 5.592 square miles (14.48 km2). The city is in the western Cross Timbers area of North Texas. This area is also known as the western part of the Palo Pinto Mountains.

Waterways and Drainage

Creeks in the area generally flow into the Brazos River. Dry Creek, on the east side of town, flows into Salt Creek. Salt Creek then flows south into the Brazos River. Flatrock Creek drains the rural areas to the southeast. It also flows into the Brazos River. Small ponds along Flatrock Creek are used for animals and fishing.

Climate in Graham

Population of Graham

2020 Census Information

The 2020 United States census showed that 8,732 people lived in Graham. There were 3,470 households and 2,357 families in the city.

Fun Places to Visit in Graham

Graham has some interesting spots. The town square is said to be the largest of its kind in the country. This is shown in a mural on the courthouse.

As of 2019, Graham still has a working drive-in theater. You can watch movies from your car!

The Graham Municipal Airport (ICAO code KRPH) is located within the city. It has two paved runways for planes.

Education in Graham

Public schools in Graham are part of the Graham Independent School District. Students attend Graham High School, and their sports teams are called the Steers.

In 2010, North Central Texas College opened a learning center in Graham. This campus offers many college courses. It also has programs for vocational nursing, oil and gas technology, and health certificates. Graham High School and North Central Texas College also work together. They offer dual-credit courses for high school juniors and seniors. This means students can earn high school and college credits at the same time.

Famous People from Graham

Many notable people have connections to Graham:

• Owen J. Baggett, a B-24 Liberator crew member in World War II.
• Rex Brown, bassist for the heavy metal band Pantera.
• Bob Estes, a golfer who won four times on the PGA Tour.
• Frank Shelby Groner (1877–1943), a former president of the College of Marshall.
• Bob Lilly, an NFL Hall of Fame football player who lived in Graham after retiring.
• William D. McFarlane, a U.S. Congressman from 1933 to 1939.
• Robert McFarlane, who was a National Security Advisor to President Ronald Reagan.
• Dean Smith, an Olympic gold medalist sprinter in 1952.

Gallery

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  Coca-Cola bottling plant

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  Graham Drive-In

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  Graham Memorial

See also

In Spanish: Graham (Texas) para niños