George's Creek

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George's Creek is north of U.S. Highway 67 between Cleburne and Glen Rose in northeastern Somervell County. At the time of its founding the community was in Johnson County; the site subsequently became part of Hood County, and, in 1875, of Somervell County. The site is in the Brazos overlooked by a sharp escarpment. The countryside is heavily wooded with live oak, cedar, post oak, Spanish oak, and some mesquite. Barnard's Knob, Berry's Knob, and Comanche Peak break the horizon to the northwest. The town developed as a companion community to Fort Spunky in the 1850s on a tributary of the Brazos River called George's Creek. George Barnard, who founded several Indian trading posts along the Brazos River, bought several thousand acres of land in the area, including the little creek bearing his name. His brother Charles Barnard had a trading post four miles to the north of George's Creek on the Brazos until the United States government moved the Indian tribes to Fort Graham. The George's Creek community survived the decline of the trading post and continued to exist until World War II.

The first settlers, J. H. Chambers and Norv Randle, came in 1854. An influx of families starting a new life after the Civil War brought growth to the community; most of the new residents were farmers. The business center included a cotton gin, a school, a church, a cemetery, and a copper and sulfur mine operated during the Civil War. A post office was opened in 1876, but rural delivery replaced it in 1939. Later businesses included a blacksmith shop, photographers' studios, a shoe shop, a barbershop, a doctor's office, and a telephone exchange. With the coming of the automobile and paved roads, most of the people of the community moved to the cities. The small farms were incorporated into large cattle ranches, especially George's Creek Ranch, a spread of several thousand acres.

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Dorothy Leach | © TSHA

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Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

George's Creek is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

George's Creek is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • [Georges Creek]

Location

Latitude: 32.29403200
Longitude: -97.63780250

Has Post Office

No

Is Incorporated

No

Population Count, 2014

43