Teaching with and through Maps

Background Knowledge and Content

Hearne, Texas: Past, Present, and Future

City of Hearne, Texas - Figure 1²

Hearne “The Crossroads of Texas”³

When the first Europeans arrived, thousands of years before the land was granted to José Francisco Ruiz, Hearne was the home of various indigenous groups including the Tawakoni, Tonkawa, and Waco tribes. Additionally, the Comanche, Kiowa, and Lipan-Apache were also in Hearne.  Artifacts belonging to the Paleo-Indian (10,000-6,000B.C.) and Archaic (6,000-200B.C.) were found confirming they had a presence in Hearne. They would hunt the large buffalo herds that grazed up the prairie and Brazos rivers.

José Francisco Ruiz, Mexican commander of Fort Tenoxtitlán, was granted the land by the Hearne family in 1830. In the 1840s Code Brown operated a tavern and stage stop in the area. Passengers traveling between Houston and Port Sullivan stopped there for refreshments, and the tavern functioned as the local post office and general store. During the 1850s Robertson County grew rapidly. The Hearne family, gentlemen planters of the Old South, moved in 1852 to the region, where they acquired 10,000 acres. There they operated large cotton plantations.

Hearne is often associated with its "Crossroads of Texas" nickname due to its two major rail lines and highways intersecting there (see figure 1). Its development from a railroad town to a significant agriculture center is a story of transformation, resilience, and community.  Hearne is on the Missouri Pacific and the Southern Pacific railroads, U.S. highways 79 and 190, and State Highway 6, twelve miles southwest of Franklin and nine miles south of Calvert in southwestern Robertson County.

Hearne owes its name to the Hearne family's early settlement in the area and Christopher Columbus Hearne's foresight and initiative in securing the railroad's presence, which was crucial for the region's development. Christopher Columbus Hearne, determined to construct a railroad through the county, offered railroad promoters right-of-way and townsite land. However, the Civil War erupted before the railroad reached Hearne's plantation, and work halted. Eventually, Hearne's widow deeded 700 acres to the Houston and Texas Central Railway.

Railroad construction resumed in 1867 and finally arrived at the new Hearne depot in April 1868. Soon large homes, a hotel, general stores, several saloons (initially housed in tents), and a drugstore lined the streets of Hearne. Soon thereafter churches organized, a Masonic hall was built, and Daniel Brady established a cotton gin. A post office opened in 1869. In 1870 the International-Great Northern negotiated a right-of-way across Robertson County on an east-west axis. The two lines intersected at Hearne. The cotton gin and two railroads established Hearne as the regional center for cotton marketing. The town incorporated in 1871 and in 1885 had four churches, schools, two gristmill-cotton gins, two hotels, and a newspaper, the Hearne Enterprise. The Hearne Democrat was published by J. Felton Lane in 1911.

The term "Hearne Family Plantations" likely refers to the plantations historically owned and operated by the Hearne family in the United States, particularly in the South. The Hearne family, of Anglo-Norman origin, is documented to have been involved in agriculture, including cotton plantations, in the 17th century. In the 1850s, they are noted to have purchased 10,000 acres and operated cotton plantations in what is now Hearne, Texas.

Agricultural Development⁴

Hearne is located in the Blacklands agricultural statistical district of Texas. This district is characterized by its fertile, dark-colored soils and is known for a variety of agricultural activities including cattle, corn, wheat, and grain sorghum.

Hearne was once a major cotton-producing region.  Farmers like Goodland Farms produce staple crops such as soybeans, milo, rice, and cotton.  JDC Farms specializes in sustainable farming practices and produce corn, cotton, sorghum, wheat, onions, and bell pepper.

Hearne has a Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter at Hearne High School. They are active in various agricultural education and leadership activities, including competitions, community events, and career development opportunities. Hearne FFA has participated in the State Fair of Texas, showcasing their achievements and thanking their sponsors.

FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. FFA develops members’ potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success. Members are future farmers, chemists, veterinarians, government officials, entrepreneurs, bankers, international business leaders, teachers and premier professionals in many career fields. FFA is a student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It is one of the three components of agricultural education.

Climate⁵

Activities in Hearne can contribute to and can be impacted by climate change. During our science class, students will discuss the interaction between the Earth’s systems and human activities.  They will learn how transportation, energy consumption, industry, and agriculture impact climate.  Extreme heat, droughts, and changes in rainfall patterns, can have a devastating impact on water consumption for Hearne’s farms and cattle ranches.

Hearne has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. The temperature typically ranges from 40°F to 96°F throughout the year, rarely dropping below 27°F or exceeding 101°F. The hottest month is July, with average highs of 95°F and lows of 73°F. The area is also prone to high humidity, especially during the summer months.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Summer - Hot and humid, with average daily highs above 89°F from late May to late September. Winter - Short, cold, wet, and windy, with average daily highs below 67°F from late November to late February.
• Rainfall - Hearne experiences relatively consistent rainfall throughout the year, with an average of 2.85 inches in July, according to World Weather Online. 
• Humidity - The area experiences high humidity, especially during the summer months, which can make the heat feel more intense.
• Wind - The average wind speed in Hearne is relatively consistent throughout the year, with slightly higher speeds in the spring and lower speeds in the fall