Cleburne Grew Fast After the Railroad Arrived in 1881

Cleburne was named for Confederate General Patrick Cleburne, under whom many early settlers had served. It was incorporated in 1871. When the Santa Fe Railroad built its central machine shops in Cleburne in 1898-1899, the town's population jumped sharply.

By 1920, Cleburne had over 12,000 residents. The railroad shops remained a major employer for decades. Today the city has around 30,000 people and serves as the commercial and government center for the county. The TSHA Handbook entry on Cleburne covers the full history.