About Hearne

HEARNE

Crossroads Of

TEXAS

A B O U T H E A R N E

Hearne lies approximately 15 miles north of El Camino Real (King's Road), in historic Robertson County. Robertson County was established as a county in 1837 and is one of the oldest counties in Texas. The county was carved out of the Old Robertson Colony, granted to Sterling Clack Robertson under the Mexican Colonization Laws and named in his honor. The Old Robertson Colony, though not as famous, was larger than the Stephen F. Austin colony.
The early days of Robertson County were filled with savage Indians, and it was not unusual to attend church with rifles in hand as protection against Indians, and thieves. This, along with several superstitious occurrences, earned the county the nickname of "Booger County."

Hearne was established in 1868 at the crossroads of two major highways and two rail lines. It quickly became a cotton and rail center. Large plantations bloomed in the fertile farmlands of the Brazos de Dios (Arms of God) River. Farmers in the area built their own rail line to bring the cotton to the large gins in town. Today, the gins are all automated and located outside of town, but cotton is still a major money-maker for the area farmers.

During World War II, Hearne saw a boom as Camp Hearne, a large prisoner of war (POW) camp was established northwest of the city. After the war, when all prisoners were expatriated, the Camp closed. Even today, prisoners and guards come back to the area to see old friends and re-live their times together.

In the early 1950s, the U.S. Air Force constructed a pilot training airport in the vicinity of the POW camp site. When the Air Force closed the facility, the city assumed control of the site and it became the Hearne Municipal Airport.

Today, oil and gas are making a big comeback in the area, as well as cotton and soybean production. Increased traffic on State Highway 6 is bringing more new people through Hearne at a record rate. "Winter Texans" - business people driving from Houston to Dallas and tourists wanting off the "beaten track" are coming through Hearne in ever-increasing numbers. We are gearing-up to meet their demands!

Additional information about Hearne is available at: Handbook Of Texas Online, Hearne-On-The-Brazos, Robertson County Post Offices, History Of Robertson County by John Walter Baker, & Historical Recollections Of Robertson County by Richard Denny Parker.

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