How Sabine County and Hemphill Got Their Start

Sabine County was created on December 14, 1837, after Texas became independent. It was named for the Sabine River, which forms the border with Louisiana. The Ais, a tribe of the Caddo Indians, originally lived in this area. European explorers first passed through in the 1540s as part of the Moscoso expedition.

The county seat started in Milam, but voters moved it in 1858. The new town was laid out in 1859 and named Hemphill, after John Hemphill — a former Texas Supreme Court justice. Early settlers farmed cotton and corn. By the early 1900s, timber became the main industry. Today, tourism around Toledo Bend Reservoir and the national forest is a significant part of the local economy.