Local History
Why Van Zandt County is called the Free State
Van Zandt County has long carried the nickname 'Free State of Van Zandt,' rooted in several historical acts of independence.
The nickname has at least three claimed origins. The first comes from 1848. That year, Van Zandt County split from Henderson County. The debts stayed with Henderson. Van Zandt started with no debt. Critics called it a 'free state' as a joke.
A second story comes from 1861. About 350 residents did not want Texas to leave the Union. They said: if Texas can leave the country, Van Zandt can leave Texas.
A third story is from the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. Some residents said they were independent from state and federal control. Whether any of these stories are fully accurate, they all point to the same thing — a long local pride in being independent. The Texas State Historical Association lists all three versions in its Handbook of Texas entry.
Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook — Free State of Van Zandt