Hill County was formed in 1853 and named for a Republic of Texas official

The Texas Legislature created Hill County on February 7, 1853. It was cut from Navarro County. Hillsboro was chosen as the county seat that same year. The county is named for Dr. George Washington Hill, who served as secretary of war under President Sam Houston.

Earlier, Waco and Tawakoni peoples used the area as hunting grounds. European contact came later, with Pedro Vial — a Frenchman hired by Spain to scout routes — passing through in 1786. The area was remote frontier territory until Anglo settlers arrived in force in the 1850s.