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County Origin Stories & local character

Ellis County was carved from Navarro County in 1849

Ellis County History & Culture

The Texas Legislature created Ellis County on December 20, 1849. It was carved from Navarro County. The county was probably named for Richard Ellis. He served as president of the Convention of 1836, the group that signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.

The county seat, Waxahachie, was set up in August 1850 on land donated by E. W. Rogers. The name Waxahachie comes from a Native American word meaning cow or buffalo. That fit the open prairie land early settlers found here.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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More stories and useful context near Ellis County

A balanced next shelf: local character first, with practical context close by.

Stories & local character

Cotton farming once made Ellis County a powerhouse in Texas agriculture

When the Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived in 1872, Ellis County shifted from cattle range to one of Texas's top cotton-producing counties.

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Stories & local character

Ellis County was the planned site of a massive cancelled physics project

The Superconducting Super Collider was being built near Waxahachie in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Congress cut funding and cancelled the project in 1993.

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Practical

Farm and ranch land can be taxed on productivity, not market value

In Ellis County, qualifying farm or ranch land is taxed on what it can produce, not what it could sell for. That can cut the tax bill by a lot.

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Stories & local character

I-35E is the main artery through Ellis County — and it can get congested

Interstate 35E runs north-south through Ellis County and is the primary route for commuters traveling to and from the Dallas area.

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Place pages in Ellis County

AlmaBardwellCedar HillEnnisFerrisGarrett

Nearby county shelves

Navarro (24) Dallas (64) Hill (12) Johnson (32) Kaufman (20) Tarrant (67)