Editing Young County, Texas (section)

===County established===

Young County was established by the [[Texas Legislature]] in 1856 from [[Bosque County, Texas|Bosque]] and [[Fannin County, Texas|Fannin]] Counties and organized later that same year. Belknap became the county seat. Many of the citizens abandoned the area during the [[American Civil War]] due to Indian depredations. In 1865, the county's government was dissolved, and the county records were transferred to Jacksboro. The county was reorganized in 1874, and the county records were brought back from Jacksboro. This time, the new town of [[Graham, Texas|Graham]], platted in 1873, was chosen as the county seat.

Gustavus and Edwin Graham began the town of Graham<ref>{{cite web | title=Graham, Texas | publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. | url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasTowns/Graham-Texas.htm | access-date=May 5, 2010}} Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.</ref> in 1872, and opened the saltworks in 1869. An 1876 area rancher meeting in Graham, regarding cattle rustling, became the beginnings of what is now known as the [http://www.thecattlemanmagazine.com/ Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association]. In 1891, a group of investors formed the Graham Mining Company in hopes of mining gold, silver, and coal in the area.

Between 1874 and 1910, railroad lines contributed to the county economy and facilitated transportation, including the [[Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad|Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway]],<ref>{{cite web | title=CPI, Pac Railroad| publisher=American Rails |url= http://www.american-rails.com/chicago-rock-island-and-pacific.html|access-date=May 5, 2010}} American Rails</ref> the Wichita Falls and Southern,<ref>{{Handbook of Texas | name=Wichita Falls and Southern Railroad| id=eqwue| author=Anderson, H Allen| retrieved=May 5, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association.</ref> and the Gulf, Texas and Western Railroad.

Federal programs came to the assistance of farmers and ranchers during the [[Great Depression]]. The [[Work Projects Administration]] restored old Fort Belknap in 1936. In the 1930s, Young County also joined 65 other counties to form the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation District.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas | name=Young County | id=hcy02| author=Leffler, John| retrieved=May 5, 2010}} Texas State Historical Association.</ref> Oil exploration and production opened the 20th century, and had Lindy Lou No. 1 well come in. Actual production of [[petroleum]] began in 1920, and boom towns sprang up around the county. By 1990, {{convert|3431000|oilbbl}} had been produced.