Both the town and county are named for Gail Borden, the Texas patriot, surveyor, editor, and trustee of Texas Baptist Education Society that founded Baylor University. Borden also invented condensed milk and was the founder of Borden Foods. Established as ranch supply point in 1891, the town is the county seat and the only town in Borden County. It remains a cow town without bank, theater, railroad, hotel, doctor or lawyer. The courthouse is the one large building on main street.