| Settlement of present Red River County began about 1814 when the
Anglo-Americans began to move into the region then occupied by the Caddo,
Kickapoo,
Shawnee and Delaware Indians. Burkham Settlement was founded in 1814 by James
Burkham,
Posey Benningfield, and others. In 1816, Claiborne Wright made a settlement north of Red
River at Pecan Point. Jourdan J. Ward and his three sons crossed the river from Pecan
Point to locate in the Riverview area. Jonesboro, founded ca. 1817, became the largest of
the early settlements.
As created by the Republic of Texas in 1836, the original county, which extended east and west along the south bank of the Red River approximately three hundred and fifty miles and from north and south fifty to one hundred miles, contained all or parts of thirty-nine present counties. The creation of the other counties between 1836 and 1847, reduced the area of Red River county to its present size. |
Bell tower being removed from Court House during renovation. |