Historical Markers in
Ellis County, Texas

1889 Masonic Lodge Hall 1918 Waxahachie High School Alma Auburn Cemetery Avalon Missionary Baptist Church Bell's Chapel Cemetery Bessie Coleman Bethel Cemetery Bethel Methodist Church Boren Cemetery Bristol School Burnam Square and Cemetery Central Presbyterian Church Chambers' Creek City of Ferris Dunlap - Simpson House Eddy O. Hawkins Home Ellis County Ellis County Courthouse Ellis County Courthouse Ellis County Farm Cemetery Ellis County Woman's Building (Davis Hall) Elm Branch Cemetery Ennis City Hall Ennis National Bank First Baptist Church of Milford First Baptist Church of Ovilla First Baptist Church of Palmer First Baptist Church of Waxahachie First Christian Church of Palmer First Presbyterian Church Building First Presbyterian Church of Ferris First United Methodist Church of Ferris First United Methodist Church of Midlothian First United Methodist Church of Waxahachie Frederick Harrison Rankin Fry - Butcher House General Edward H. Tarrant George Rossan Home Getzendaner Memorial Park Graves Cemetery Greathouse Community, Church, and Cemetery H.P. and Mollie McCartney House Hancock Building Harkey - Payne House Hawkins House Homesite of Dr. D.G. Thompson Italy Colored City Hall Jack Lummus Jackson Cemetery James McDaniel Jay Justin Clarke Jefferson Dunaway Home John Marr Hardeman Joshua Chapel A.M.E. Church Katie Daffan Matthews-Atwood House Maypearl Cemetery McKinney-Aday Farm House Midlothian Cemetery Midlothian Presbyterian Church Midlothian Public Schools Milford Cemetery Milford Presbyterian Church Moore House Mount Zion Cemetery Myrtle Cemetery N. P. Sims Library and Lyceum Nash Public School Newton Cemetery Oak Branch Cemetery Oak Lawn School Old Ellis County Jail Old Lake Dam Ovilla Ovilla Cemetery Ozro Cemetery Parsons' Cavalry C.S.A. Paul Richards Park Phillip R. Pierce Presiding Elder's House Railroads in Ennis Red Oak Cemetery Richard Ellis Monument Richardson Cemetery Rockett Christian Church Rogers Street Bridge Rosemont Rutherford's Crossing Bridge Saint James A.M.E. Church Sardis Cemetery Sardis School Sardis United Methodist Church Shawnee Cattle Trail Shiloh Cemetery Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church Site of a Confederate Powder Mill Site of Grady School Site of Marvin College Site of Old Hawkins Springs Site of Polytechnic Institute Site of the Plantation of Edward H. Tarrant Smith Cemetery St. Joseph Catholic Church St. Paul Cemetery St. Paul's Episcopal Strickland-Sawyer House Telico Cemetery The H.P. Barkley Home The Mahoney-Thompson House The Mulkey-Loggins House The Sims Family of Ellis County The Southern Pacific Railroad in Ennis The Telico Church Thomas C. Neel Thomas J. Jordan Town of Ennis Trippet-Shive House Trotter House Waxahachie Chautauqua Building Waxahachie City Cemetery Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church William L. and Emma Hawkins House Williams-Erwin House
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.
Texas random facts
Ellis County, located in the state of Texas, has a rich and diverse history that dates back to the early 19th century. The county was established on December 20, 1849, and was named after Richard Ellis, president of the convention that declared Texas' independence from Mexico.

The area that is now Ellis County was initially inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Caddo and Comanche. However, in the mid-1830s, European settlers began to arrive and establish homesteads in the region. These settlers were drawn to the fertile land and opportunities for farming and ranching.

During the Civil War, Ellis County was deeply divided, with residents supporting both the Union and the Confederacy. The county was the site of several skirmishes and raids, and endured a significant amount of destruction as a result. After the war, Ellis County began to rebuild and experienced a period of growth and development.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ellis County saw the rise of industries such as cotton farming, cattle ranching, and oil production. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s further fueled the county's economic growth. Today, Ellis County remains an agricultural powerhouse, with a strong presence in the cotton and cattle industries, and is also home to a diverse range of businesses and thriving communities.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Ellis County, Texas.

  • 1849 - Ellis County is established from Navarro County.
  • 1850 - Waxahachie is selected as the county seat.
  • 1853 - The county courthouse is built.
  • 1881 - The Texas Central Railroad reaches Waxahachie, boosting the local economy.
  • 1883 - Southwestern Asylum for the Insane (now known as Terrell State Hospital) opens in Terrell, impacting the county's development.
  • 1889 - A fire destroys the Ellis County courthouse.
  • 1895 - A new courthouse is completed, designed by architect J. Riely Gordon.
  • 1921 - An oil boom begins in Ellis County, leading to increased prosperity.
  • 1934 - The Federal Correctional Institution is established in Seagoville.
  • 1942 - The Naval Air Station is established in Waxahachie during World War II.
  • 1969 - Navarro College opens a campus in Waxahachie.
  • 1987 - Bluebonnet Festival debuts in Ennis, becoming an annual celebration.
  • 2007 - Baylor Scott & White Medical Center opens in Waxahachie, providing advanced healthcare services to the county.