Bosque

Formed February 4, 1854 (96^th county)

Bosque County (18,226), Meridian (1,391), Clifton (3,467)

The white limestone Renaissance Revival courthouse, built in 1886, is located in the middle of this crossroads town.  Texas State Highways 22 and 6 intersect in Meridian and the courthouse is just north of this intersection at Main and Morgan streets.  The building’s designer was J. J. Kane; however, the original design has been altered several times.  The building was remodeled in 1935 and restored in 2003 and 2007.  Four courthouses, including ones in 1854, 1860, and 1875, have served the county since its founding on February 4, 1854.  Meridian has been the only county seat.  Bosque County was carved from Milam and McLennan counties as the 96^th county.  The county’s name means “woods or forest” in Spanish.  Surveyor George Bernard Erath sited Meridian on the 98th meridian. 

Bosque County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Bosque, Comanche, and Hamilton counties and Two County Court Judges serve Bosque County.  The county is in the center of the state west and north of Waco, Texas.  The Brazos River provides the east border.  The county center is 6.8 miles South of Meridian.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Johnson, Hill, McLennan, Coryell, Hamilton, Erath, and Somervell counties. 

The area of the county is 989 square miles.  It is 77 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 129 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 18.4 persons per square mile making it 139 out of 254 in the state.  Bosque County has 43.4% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The basic rectangle shaped county is skewed 45 degrees.  Meridian is located near the center.  Clifton is in the southeast quarter of the county.  Meridian is the county seat and Clifton is the largest city.  Meridian is 7.6% of the county population while Clifton is 19.0% of the county population.  The county is pronounced BOSS-KEE.

Valley Mills