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Texas Counties
Texas is divided into two hundred and fifty-four counties, more than any other state. Texas was originally divided into municipalities, a unit of local government under Spanish and Mexican rule. When the Republic of Texas gained its independence in 1836, there were 23 municipalities, which became the original Texas counties. Many of these would later be divided into new counties. The most recent county to be created was Kenedy County in 1921. The most recent county to be organized was Loving County in 1931Rains County, Texas
Rains County Education, Geography, and History
Rains County is a county located in the state of Texas. Based on the 2010 census, its population was 10,914. Its seat is Emory. The county (and county seat) are named for Emory Rains, a Texas state legislator.
Etymology - Origin of Rains County Name
Emory Rains, an early legislator and surveyor of the future county
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Rains County History
Rains County is a county located in the US state of Texas. Its seat is Emory. The county is named for Emory Rains, a Texas state legislator.
Handbook of Texas Online
The first American of European descent to colonize the territory was probably James H. Hooker of Tennessee. In
the 1840s Hooker arrived from Missouri and settled in the area of southwest Rains County, establishing Hooker's Mill
on the Sabine River. The site coincides with that of the Tawakoni-Yscani village visited by Fray Calahorra, but
there is no evidence to indicate the Indians were still living there eighty years later. Hooker's homestead was
originally in Hunt County and is now submerged by Lake Tawakoni. Another early immigrant, William Garrett of
Tennessee, settled in the northwest section of the county. Other settlers, mostly from the South, soon followed.
They founded such communities as Rice's Point, Sabine Pass, Springville, and Pilgrim Rest. The remaining Indian
tribes were resettled to north central Texas in 1855. Four years later the remaining Caddos and Wichitas were moved
to Oklahoma. The first pioneers found much of the area covered by a dense forest, with impenetrable cane brakes in
the stream beds and river bottoms. Cotton was, from the first, the principal cash crop. After harvest the farmer
might have to wait for months for good weather and dry roads to take his several bales to market. The journey by
oxcart to Shreveport could take weeks even under good conditions. After 1850 most of the area that later became
Rains County fell within the boundaries of Wood County, which was represented in the state Senate by Emory Rains,
an early pioneer who had served in the Congress of the Republic of Texas. In
1866 Rains lobbied for the bill that established Rains County. On June 9, 1870, the legislature approved "an Act to
create and provide for the organization of the County of Rains." The bulk of the new county was taken from Wood
County. The western section, including the sites of the first settlements, came from Hunt County, and a narrow strip
of land in the north was carved from Hopkins County. The act provided that the citizens should choose a county seat,
to be named Emory. Springville, the largest and most centrally located community, was designated the temporary place
of business for the five appointed commissioners and was later selected as the permanent county seat and renamed
Emory. By 1857 the town had a store, tanning yard, and gin. Until at least the early 1880s, when rail service was
first brought to Rains County, most of the inhabitants did their business in Mineola in adjoining Wood County. A log
house in Emory was used initially as a temporary county courthouse. In 1872 a two-room wooden courthouse was
erected. Seven years later the small building burned, along with all of the county records. The seat of government
was moved back into the original log house until 1884, when a new brick courthouse was completed. In 1908 the
courthouse was again destroyed by fire, but this time the records were saved More at
Steven R. Davis, "RAINS COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcr01),
accessed January 24, 2016. Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 259 square miles (670 km2), of which, 232
square miles (601 km2) of it is land and 27 square miles (69 km2) of it (10.36%) is water.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Hopkins County (north)
- Wood County (east)
- Van Zandt County (southwest)
- Hunt County (northwest)
Education
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