Coleman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,684. The county seat is Coleman. The county was founded in 1858 and organized in 1864. It is named for Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto.
History
Around 10,000 BC, indigenous peoples of the Americas were the first inhabitants. Later inhabitants included the Jumano, Lipan Apache, and Comanche.
In 1632, Father Salas led an expedition to the upper Colorado River.
In 1855, the county's oldest community, Trickham, was founded as a trading post for the ranching activities of John Chisum. Coleman County was formed from Brown and Travis Counties in 1858. The county is named for Robert M. Coleman, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
In 1876, the site was chosen for Coleman, the county seat.
The community of Santa Anna was established in 1879. It is named after the Santa Anna Mountains, which in turn, are named after Comanche Chief Santana.
In 1886, the Santa Fe Railway completed a spur to Coleman from nearby Coleman Junction (now San Angelo Junction).
In 1908, the county's first oil well came in near Trickham.
In 1914, the Santa Fe completed the Coleman Cutoff between Coleman, Lubbock, and Clovis. This linked its California lines with the Texas Gulf Coast and put Coleman on the road's main line. Coleman's distinctive brick-and-stucco Santa Fe depot was completed in 1915.
Oil was discovered north of Coleman on the J. P. Morris ranch in 1917.
Major highways
- 20px U.S. Highway 67
- 20px U.S. Highway 84
- 25px U.S. Highway 283
- 20px State Highway 153
- 20px State Highway 206
Adjacent counties
- Callahan County (north)
- Brown County (east)
- McCulloch County (south)
- Concho County (southwest)
- Runnels County (west)
- Taylor County (northwest)