Coleman County is named for a signer of Texas independence

The Texas Legislature created Coleman County in 1858. It was carved out of parts of Brown and Travis counties. The county was named for Robert M. Coleman. He signed Texas's Declaration of Independence in 1836. He also served as an aide to General Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto.

The first county seat was Camp Colorado, a frontier military post. In 1876, the seat moved to the new town of Coleman. That town sits on Jim Ned Creek and is more central in the county. The economy started with ranching and farming. Oil and gas came in the early 1900s. The courthouse at 102 W. Liveoak Street in Coleman was first built in 1884. It was fully rebuilt in 1952, and the historic look was not kept.