Henrietta is one of the oldest settled towns in north central Texas. It sits at the crossroads of U.S. Route 287, U.S. Route 82, State Highway 148 (Texas)State Highway 148, and Farm to Market Road 1197 in north central Clay County. Clay County was separated from Cooke County, TexasCooke County (along with Montague County, TexasMontague County) in 1857 and Henrietta was named as the county seat. The naming of the town remains a mystery though several explanations have been offered. However it was named, it became the center of gravity for the fledgling county. By 1860, it remained the only town in the county, having 109 residents, 10 houses, and a general store. It sat at the far western edge of Anglo expansion in north central Texas, but Native Americans in the United StatesNative Americans remained a viable threat to current and future settlers. In 1862, Henrietta opened its post office. The Civil War saw American soldiers leave all of the south, and Henrietta again suffered from continuous attacks from local tribes. By late 1862, Henrietta was abandoned, as white settlers fled back east to Cooke and Montague counties. Remaining structures were burned. Anglos continued to attempt resettlement, and in 1865 after the Civil War, a group attempting resettlement was massacred. A Quaker group again attempted to reoccupy the former townsite but they were killed or fled. In 1870, 50 soldiers and Kiowa Indians fought a battle in the ruins of Henrietta. After the battle, white settlers returned to Henrietta, this time permanently. In 1874, the town's post office reopened and Henrietta quickly became the economic hub of north central Texas. In 1882, the Fort Worth and Denver Railway reached Henrietta on its southern side, and in 1887 it became the western most terminus for the Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway. The line was later extended to Wichita Falls, TexasWichita Falls after heavy lobbying by Wichita Falls businessmen. Henrietta became a logistical supply point for various operations in north central Texas, including mining in Foard County, TexasFoard and Archer County, TexasArcher counties. The Southwestern Railway Company completed a rail line between Archer City, Texas and Henrietta in 1910. Henrietta, though it had settlers off and on since 1857, did not incorporate until 1881. The Clay County courthouse was built in 1884, which is still in use today. By 1890, the population had reached 2100, and the town boasted a 400-seat opera house, five churches, a new jailhouse, and a school. From 1893 to 1895, it even had a college - Henrietta Normal College. It remained the economic hub of the county at the turn of the 20th century. But Henrietta's growth would wane in the 20th century as nearby Wichita Falls grew rapidly into the most prosperous economic center in the area. The Southwestern Railway line was abandoned in 1920, and the Gainesville, Henrietta, and Western Railway line was abandoned in 1969. By 1990, the population remained under 3000. In 2000, it topped 3000 for the first time since the 1970 census. It remains a "bedroom community" for Wichita Falls today. It also remains the largest city in Clay County. The play "Texas" shown at Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo, Texas is loosely based on the history of Henrietta. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta%2C_Texas