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Local Landmark Stories & local character

The geographic center of Texas is in McCulloch County

McCulloch County History & Culture

The geographic center of Texas is in northeastern McCulloch County. It sits at about 31°21' north latitude and 99°14' west longitude. That is about 16 miles northeast of Brady. Brady has long used this fact to call itself the Heart of Texas.

McCulloch County was formed in 1856 from the Bexar District. It was named for Benjamin McCulloch, a Texas Ranger and Confederate general. Brady became the county seat on May 15, 1876. A stone courthouse was completed there in 1878. The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway reached Brady in 1903. That made Brady a regional shipping hub for ranching and agriculture.

Content last revised 2026-07-11

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More stories and useful context near McCulloch County

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

Stories & local character

McCulloch County built its economy on cattle, sheep, and goats

Cattle drives, wool, mohair, and later turkey farming shaped McCulloch County's farm economy from the 1870s onward.

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Stories & local character

Cow Bayou's Swing Bridge Still Explains Bridge City

The 1940 Cow Bayou Swing Bridge is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark and part of the bridge story behind Bridge City's name.

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Practical

Drilling a water well in McCulloch County requires a permit first

The Hickory Underground Water Conservation District regulates groundwater in McCulloch County — you must file a notice and get a permit before drilling most wells.

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Stories & local character

Downtown Nacogdoches Keeps Its Old Street Life Visible

The whole downtown is listed in the National Register, and its Main Street district still gathers shops, galleries, museums, events, and the old hitch-lot market.

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Place pages in McCulloch County

BradyMelvin

Nearby county shelves

Concho (6) San Saba (5) Mason (5) Menard (6) Brown (7) Coleman (5)