-- from the North Texas History Center, courtesy of NTHC's acting director Bryan Lean

1840-1859: The Shawnee Trail (west Collin County) was at its height as a cattle drive trail. That trail is today's Preston Road.

1861: Collin County's vote against secession from the Union was 948 to 405. Reasons for residents to stay in the Union were as diverse as fear of Indian attacks once Federal troops were pulled out and religious beliefs. A little over 10 percent of the county population were listed as slaves in the 1860 census.

Civil War Reunion at Kirkpatrick House, Circa 1900-1908
The Kirkpatrick house is on Parker St in McKinney. Kirkpatrick held annual Confederate reunions from 1883 to 1941. Elder R. C. Horn is in the center, back row, in the white suit with book. His biography of his pioneer and Civil War exploits is available from the North Texas History Center.

1872: The Houston and Texas Central Railroad came to Collin County, helping to create a cash crop economy, including cotton.

Workers in a Collin County cotton field (undated).

Collin County Courthouse Under Construction, 1874
Collin County was formed in 1846 with Buckner as the first county seat. State law dictated that the seat of the county had to be within three miles of the center of the county. Buckner did not fit this requirement. Most of the settlers and businesses moved to McKinney in 1848 and, by 1849, virtually nothing existed in the former county seat.

     
Cotton Wagons in McKinney, Circa 1885
Horse-drawn wagons loaded with cotton bales line up on what is probably Virginia Street heading east toward the railroad freight depot. Note the dirt street, the Houston & Texas Central Railroad steam engine, and hundreds of bales lined up on the freight loading dock. Once the farmer has unloaded his wagon, the team is parked behind the fence and the driver goes off to the bank or stores to spend his earnings.

1911: The Texas Textile Mill Company begins operations in McKinney. For decades it was the largest single employer in the County.

Workers for the Texas Textile Mills in McKinney, Frank W. Smith, Supt.
This was probably taken during World War II, based on the high percentage of women employees.

Mrs. McGee's 1917 Home Demonstration Club, McKinney
McGee and seven girls stand at a makeshift table outdoors. They appear to be eating sandwiches. In the distance, you can see a farmer harvesting in the field.

1923: Collin County was the "densest rural county" in the state of Texas.

Today: Collin County is 9th on the list of Texas counties with the fastest-shrinking farmland and is one of the top 15 fastest-growing counties in the United States.

Binding and Mowing with Horse Teams at Watkins' Farm, McKinney.
Nine men and six horse teams with binders and sickle bar mowers in a grass field. The shadow of the photographer and tripod-mounted camera is visible in the foreground of this undated photo.