Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. Gainesville is approximately fifty-six miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth and about thirty-two miles south of the Oklahoma border.
The city gained its name from General Edmund P. Gaines, a hero of the War of 1812. .
Get Started! Fast Withdrawal Slots Bonuses:
Gainesville was established on October 6, 1850, on a site selected by George Washington Glasscock who bought the land from Barzillai Quisenberry. The first county courthouse was built in 1852; it was replaced in 1900.
In 1866, Gainesville was designated as the county seat of Cooke County. The town continued to grow as a center for livestock and cotton raising, and by 1890 it had four churches, two academies, two newspapers, and a population of 2,000.
In 1904 Gainesville had three banks, two cotton gins, three weekly newspapers, an ice factory, an opera house, twelve physicians, eight real estate agents, two railroads and two stage lines. On April 15, 1896 Gainesville became the first municipality in Texas to adopt the commission form of government with five commissioners elected at large.
In 1908 Gainesville had five banks with deposits totaling $1 million; 30000acres were devoted to crops; there were 22000 people living in the town and surrounding area; over 100 businesses operated within the town limits; there were six churches; there were two high schools with an enrollment of 600 students; and there was one newspaper in operation.
Gainesville is home to Lake Ray Roberts which offers many outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking. The city has nineteen parks that cover over 1120acres including Meerscheidt Recreation Center which has an Olympic size public swimming pool. Frank Weltner Sr.
Aquatic Park located inside Leonard Park offers swimming lessons and hosts swimming competitions. Moss Lake located just outside the city limits in Cooke County offers fishing and camping as well as hiking and picnicking along its nature trails.
The WinStar World Casino is located about 80 miles south of Gainesville in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
