Hamilton, TX

Hamilton has been Hamilton County's seat since the town took shape around a public square, and its most recognizable building is the native-limestone county courthouse on East Main. The first courthouse opened in 1878, burned in 1886, and the 1887 replacement gained wings and a bell tower in 1932. After restoration, the building remains both a working courthouse and a downtown landmark. The former 1938 county jail now houses the Hamilton County Historical Museum, with an old candle factory next door being developed as a museum annex.

The rest of the city sits along the routes crossing central Texas: U.S. 281 and State Highway 36 meet near the center, the Leon River drains the area, and Hamilton Municipal Airport is on the south edge. Hamilton Independent School District serves local students. The town's outline is easy to read from these pieces: courthouse square, county museum, highway junction, airport, and Leon River, all gathered in a county seat of about three thousand.