Farmersville is a city located in

Collin County, Texas Collin County is a county in the northern part of the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Dallas- Fort Worth- Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and a small portion of the city of Dallas is in the county. At the 2020 United States c ...

, United States. The population was 3,612 at the 2020 census, with the larger Census County Division (CCD) having a population of 12,344.

History

Farmersville originated in 1849 as a settlement on the Jefferson-McKinney Road, and near Republic of Texas National Road - now known as US Highway 380 and Texas State Highway 78, respectively. The settlement was named by two of the original settlers - William Pickney Chapman & John Hendrex - after the chief occupation of many of the residents. After 1854, additional settling families including the Yearys and several families of Sugar Hill (approximately 2 miles northeast) began relocating to Farmersville. H.M. Markham, practicing here by 1855, is said to have been Collin County's earliest physician. The First United Methodist Church was organized in 1856. On March 4, 1859, William Gotcher donated land for the public town square, now the anchor of Farmersville’s commercial district. Records indicate a school operated in town as early as the 1860s. The First Baptist Church of Farmersville was organized on May 14, 1865. The town was incorporated on June 2, 1873, with John S. Rike elected as the first mayor, with a City Council composed of aldermen James Church, Ben King, John Murchison, Tom Tatum, and John P. Utt. Jeff Hines served as the first town Marshal. Institutions from the 1880s that are still in operation include the ''Farmersville Times'', the oldest newspaper in Collin County, and the First Bank (now Independent Financial), as well as the two churches mentioned above. On June 15, 1945,

Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, and songwriter. He was widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated enli ...

, the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, came home to a hero's welcome in Farmersville. Thousands of celebrants filled the square to listen to him speak, and the event was noted in the July 16, 1945 edition of ''Life Magazine''. A Texas Historical Commission plaque notes the event on The Square. As the town became a trade center, agriculture kept pace. Farmersville in the 1930s was known as the "Onion Capital of North Texas", annually shipping over 1,000 carloads of

onion An onion (''Allium cepa'' , from Latin ), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus '' Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onion which was classifie ...

. Along with some small industry, cantaloupe, cattle, corn, cotton, and maize crops remained important. On May 8, 2021, in honor of

and on the 76th anniversary of VE Day - commemorating the end of fighting in the European Theater of Operations during World War II - a "Sister City Pact" between Farmersville and Holtzwihr, France was signed. This ceremony was to cement the common bond between the two cities and recognize Murphy's heroism at the Battle of Holtzwihr on January 26, 1945.. Previously, on January 29, 2020, the people of Holtzwihr erected a memorial to the men who fought and died with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division under command of the 1st French Army. Murphy was selected and memorialized as the soldier who best exemplified the courage, valor and sacrifice the soldiers made in their battle with the Nazi enemy.

Geography

Farmersville is located in northeast Collin County, approximately 45 miles from Dallas. U.S. Route 380 crosses the south side of the city, leading west to

McKinney McKinney is a city in and the county seat of Collin County, Texas, United States. It is Collin County's third-largest city, after Plano, Texas, Plano and Frisco, Texas, Frisco. A suburb of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, McKinney is about ...

and east to Greenville. Texas State Highway 78 passes through the west side of Farmersville, leading north to Blue Ridge and southwest to

Garland A garland is a decorative braid, knot or wreath of flowers, leaves, or other material. Garlands can be worn on the head or around the neck, hung on an inanimate object, or laid in a place of cultural or religious importance. In contemporary times ...

. The northern portion of

Lavon Lake Lavon Lake is a freshwater reservoir located in southeast Collin County, Texas, on the East Fork of the Trinity River near Wylie, off State Highway 78. It is commonly called Lake Lavon for commercial and recreational purposes, but Lavon Lake is ...

is at the western most city limits, north and south of U.S. Route 380. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, Farmersville has a total area of , of which is land and , or 4.18%, is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Farmersville has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,612 people, 1,396 households, and 799 families residing in the city.

Education

The city is served by the Farmersville Independent School District.

Collin College Collin College is a Public college, public community college district in Texas. Established in 1985, the district has grown as the county has grown from around 5,000 students in 1986 to more than 60,000 credit and noncredit students. Formerl ...

operates a branch campus in Farmersville.

Media

The ''Farmersville Times'' is a weekly newspaper published in the city. The newspaper was established in 1885, and is part of C&S Media Publications Inc.

Notable people

* Stevie Benton, bassist for American heavy metal band

Drowning Pool Drowning Pool is an American rock band formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1996. The band was named after the 1975 film '' The Drowning Pool''. Since its formation, the band has consisted of guitarist C.J. Pierce, drummer Mike Luce and bassist Stevie ...

, resided in Farmersville and attended Farmersville High School * Gussie Nell Davis (1906-1993), educator and founder of Kilgore College Rangerettes, the first all-girl drill team to perform on a collegiate football field, and recognized as the best in the world * Reid Dillon, guitarist for Flatland Cavalry - a country and Americana band formed in Lubbock, TX - Farmersville High School Class of 2013 * Herb Ellis (1921–2010), jazz guitarist, born in Farmersville * Jim Haislip (1891-1970), Pitcher, Major League Baseball for the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

Monty "Hawkeye" Henson Monty Henson, sometimes known as Hawkeye Henson (born October 22, 1953), is an American former professional rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, exp ...

, three-time PRCA world champion saddle bronc rider and world famous rodeo cowboy, born in Farmersville * Jim Hess, former college coach and NFL scout * Tex McDonald (1891-1943) - (born Charles C. Crabtree) - Right Fielder, Major League Baseball for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

Boston Braves The Boston Braves were a Major League Baseball club that originated in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, and played from 1871 to 1952. Afterwards they moved to History of the Atlanta Braves#Milwaukee, Milwaukee (and became the Milwaukee Braves). ...

Pittsburgh Rebels The Pittsburgh Rebels were a baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1913 to 1915. The team was a member of the short-lived Federal League. The team was originally called the Pittsburgh Stogies after an earlier Pittsburgh team tha ...

, and the Buffalo Buffeds/Blues * John Monroe, infielder, Major League Baseball for the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

and

* Loren Murchison, double gold medalist in the 4x100m relay at the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, on teams that set world records in the finals each time *

, United States' most decorated combat soldier of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, spent his childhood in

Kingston, Texas Kingston is an unincorporated community located in Hunt County, Texas, United States. Kingston is probably best known as the birthplace of Audie Murphy Audie Leon Murphy (20 June 1925 – 28 May 1971) was an American soldier, actor, an ...

and surrounding areas, and lived in Farmersville before his enlistment * Nick Nicholson (American football) (1925-2010), head football coach,

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Christian research university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 (High Research Spending and Doctorate Production) institutio ...

* Archie J. Old, Jr. (1906-1984), Lieutenant General, United States Air Force, flew 43 combat missions against Germany during World War II *

Tex Watson Charles Denton "Tex" Watson (born December 2, 1945) is an American mass murderer who was a central member of the "Manson Family" led by Charles Manson. Watson is often described as the tactical ringleader of the Tate-LaBianca murders on August ...

, murderer and member of the

Manson Family The Manson Family (known among its members as the Family) was a Intentional community, commune, gang, and cult led by criminal Charles Manson that was active in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The group at its peak consisted of a ...

, best known for his involvement (with

Susan Atkins Susan Denise Atkins (May 7, 1948 – September 24, 2009) was an American convicted murderer who was a member of Charles Manson's "Family". Manson's followers committed a series of nine murders at four locations in California over a period ...

) in the stabbing murders of Sharon Tate and her unborn child, grew up in Copeville and attended Farmersville Independent School District

Notes

References

External links

City of Farmersville official website

Texas State Historical Association
{{authority control Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex Cities in Texas Cities in Collin County, Texas Populated places established in 1849 1849 establishments in Texas