County History

Bonham Is Named for an Alamo Defender and Has Been the County Seat Since 1843

Bonham, the county seat of Fannin County, was founded as Fort Inglish in 1837 and renamed in 1844 for James Butler Bonham, who died at the Battle of the Alamo.

Fannin County History & Culture

Bailey Inglish built a blockhouse near the current town in 1837, one of the earliest settlements in North Texas. The community was first called Bois d'Arc. In 1844, it was renamed Bonham to honor James Butler Bonham, a South Carolinian who died defending the Alamo in 1836.

Fannin County itself was created in December 1837 and named for James Walker Fannin Jr., another Texas Revolution figure executed at Goliad. Bonham became the county seat in 1843. The county grew fast in the late 1800s, reaching a population of over 51,000 by 1900, driven by cotton farming and railroad connections.

Source to confirm: TSHAOL — Bonham, Texas

More Fannin County notes

Property Tax

Fannin County Has Two Separate Tax Offices

The appraisal district sets your property value, but a separate tax assessor-collector office handles registration and some other duties — and in Fannin County, the tax assessor does not collect property taxes.

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Homestead Exemption

Apply for Your Homestead Exemption at the Fannin CAD

If you own and live in your home in Fannin County, you can apply for a homestead exemption that lowers your taxable property value.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farm and Ranch Land Can Qualify for Lower Taxes in Fannin County

Land used for farming, ranching, or other qualifying agriculture can be taxed on its productive value rather than its market value, which is often much lower.

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New Lake

Bois d'Arc Lake Is Texas's Newest Major Reservoir

Bois d'Arc Lake opened to the public in April 2024 and sits northeast of Bonham — it is the first major new reservoir built in Texas in more than 30 years.

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