How Coryell County Got Its Name

The Texas legislature created Coryell County in 1854. It was named for James Coryell, an early settler and frontiersman who held land in the area. That same year, Gatesville was laid out on land donated by Richard G. Grant. Gatesville has been the county seat ever since.

The county covers about 1,031 square miles in central Texas. Elevations range from roughly 600 to nearly 1,500 feet. The land shifts between Grand Prairie grasslands and cedar-covered hills.

Three things have shaped the local economy over the years: farming and ranching, Fort Cavazos (the Army post formerly called Fort Hood), and state correctional facilities. The TSHA Handbook entry listed below covers the full history.