Region: Panhandle Plains
The town of Henrietta was originally established before the Civil War;
however, the city ceased to exist when early settlers abandoned their homesteads
for areas farther east protected by military posts. In 1873, both the city and
county were reorganized by the Texas Legislature, and Henrietta was designated
county seat. According to legend, a group of citizens from the nearby town of
Cambridge stole the courthouse records for a brief period and claimed Cambridge
as county seat. A group of "cowboys" from Henrietta roped the safe with records
intact and dragged the "courthouse" back to Henrietta. It served as the only
court of justice for a 300-mile area until 1879.
The Immigrant Trail, the famous wagon train route of westward-bound pioneers
in the late 1800s, crossed Clay County south of Henrietta. The trail has been
mapped, and stones indicate its crossings at highway locations.
Today, Henrietta serves as a retail center with an economy based on
agriculture, farming and light industry.
A red granite monument at the northwest corner of the courthouse square
stands as a war memorial with names of veterans who lost their lives in WWI,
WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Each year, the community hosts Turkey Fest (featuring the World Championship
Turkey Invitational) on the third weekend in April, and the Pioneer Reunion
Rodeo on the third weekend in September.
Hapgood Park offers an RV park for overnight visitors. Off U.S.
287.