Gainesville, TX

About Gainesville

• • Singer Donny Young, known as Johnny Paycheck, was born in Gainesville, Texas.
• • The nationally syndicated radio show, 'The Trading Post', originated in Gainesville.
• • Being on the Butterfield Overland Mail route in 1858 established its importance.
• • During the Civil War, 40 suspected Unionists were hanged from a single oak tree.
• • A devastating fire in 1883 destroyed much of the downtown area.
• • It was named for General Edmund P. Gaines in 1853.
• • Its population is around 17,500, similar to many small college towns.
• • The elevation is 735 feet, providing scenic views of the surrounding area.
• • Agriculture and manufacturing are mainstays of the local economy.
• • Life is peaceful and easygoing, with a strong sense of community.
• • The Dallas Cowboys, a few hours south, have won five Super Bowls.
• • Gainesville High School has a storied football rivalry with Denison High School.
• • The city is located within the Elm Fork Trinity River watershed.
• • The area was historically inhabited by Wichita and Caddo tribes.
• • In 1862, Confederate authorities hanged 40 suspected Union sympathizers in what is now known as "The Great Hanging".
• • The Cooke County Courthouse, a Romanesque Revival structure, was built in 1888.
• • U.S. Route 82 passes through the city, connecting it east to west across northern Texas.

Songs About Gainesville