Area Information
History: Founded as Bright Star in the late 1840’s by pioneers who camped and eventually made their homes near the more than 100 natural springs that bubbled from the land, the territory was re-charted in 1870, and due to its central location became the County Seat of Hopkins County, originally held by the town of Tarrant.

In 1871, it was decided to rename the town Sulphur Springs and market the area as a health resort due to the healing waters that flowed beneath the surface of the Northeast Texas soil.

In 1872, a railroad line was extended to Mineola, and visitors and settlers came in great numbers to benefit from the mineral springs and Sulphur baths they had heard about. In addition to its medicinal purposes, the Sulphur water and fresh water springs allowed crops such as corn and wheat to thrive, making Hopkins County an agricultural leader as early as the 1860’s.

A Courthouse was built on the east side of the public square in 1882.
In 1894, the town suffered the devastating loss of its courthouse along with the entire east block of the square. The townspeople wasted no time and built a new, fireproof courthouse of red Texas granite the following year. Horse breeders, from as far away as Montana, Maryland, California and Florida have moved their operations into the area. Annual events such as Mary Bonham’s “Day of the Horse” are drawing attention on the national level as well.
Resources: City of Sulphur Springs

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Magnetic Hills in the United States of America
The History of the Christian Fish Symbol