Cleburne

Cleburne was founded near Buffalo Creek as Camp Henderson in 1862 and incorporated in 1871, changing its name to honor Patrick R. Cleburne. Ready access to fresh water and being located at the center of the county accounted for the town's early growth. Water access played a key role in luring the Santa Fe shops, where it became the largest employer for the next century. The population grew steadily until the Great Depression, when it contracted until the postwar boom after 1945. The city from then on saw steady growth as people moved to the DFW Metroplex.

Cleburne is crisscrossed with many railroads, thus sees much freight move through, which BNSF Railways controls. Industry makes up a large portion of the economy and is concentrated in the north of town in the industrial parks, many using the railroads.