As early as the 1820s, hunters, trappers and settlers were moving into the Red River Valley area. The founders of Fannin County can be counted among the families who in 1835 charted the steamboat "Rover" at Memphis, Tennessee.
For the next several weeks steamed their way down the Mississippi, up Red River, through the Great Raft at Caddo Lake until finally landing on Texas soil.
Fannin County was created in 1837, and was one of the original counties of the Republic. It was named for famed Texas hero James W. Fannin. In all, 26 present day Texas counties were created from the original Fannin County. Soon after Texas entered the Union in 1845, Fannin County was reduced to its present dimensions. Bonham was originally named Bois d'Arc. In 1843 it was renamed for Alamo hero James Butler Bonham and established as the new center of government for Fannin County. By the start of the Civil War, Bonham was considered a leading trade and agricultural center of the north Texas area.
The annual average temperature is 64.4 degrees. The average high is 82.4 degrees with an average low temperature of 38 degrees. Annual average rainfall is 39.95 inches with an average annual snowfall of 2 inches.
Bonham schools are fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The district offers a broad-based curriculum and a full range of extra‑curricular activities.
Higher education facilities in the area include Grayson County College in Denison, Austin College in Sherman, East Texas State University in Commerce, Paris Junior College and Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.
Northeast Medical Center is a 165-bed facility. Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center offers 78 medical beds, 225 domiciliary beds and 100 nursing home beds.
Bonham offers about 30 special events throughout the year, including monthly Trade Days, "Spring Fling," Western Week, a rodeo, crafts fair, bluegrass festival and many more.
Fannin County Museum Of History has artifacts displayed in a historic 1910 Texas and Pacific Railway Depot, which help tell the story of nearly 2 centuries of Texas legend. The Sam Rayburn Library and Museum exhibits photographs, letters, political cartoons, art and personal memorabilia relating to important events in the life and times of Sam Rayburn. In addition, the library and museum houses a number of artifacts that were originally part of the furnishings of the White House.
The Sam Rayburn House Museum was the home of Sam Rayburn, a congressman for 48 years and speaker of the house for 17 years.
There is hunting and hiking on the 14,000-acre Caddo National Grasslands with the 750-acre Lake Coffee Mill, 450-acre Crockett Lake and Lake Fannin. You’ll also enjoy fishing in 3 government lakes, city lakes, Bonham State Park Lake, Lake Texoma and more.
There is also horseback and lake trail riding on scenic equestrian trails in north Fannin County.
Two country clubs offer golfing, and Legacy Ridge provides a master plan residential 18-hole golf course community.