Young

Formed January 1, 1856 (117^th county)

Young County (17,867), Graham (8,729)                

The limestone and concrete Modern courthouse was built in 1932 and sits on the square at 3^rd and Oak.  Graham has been the only county seat for the three courthouses (1876, 1884, and 1932) since the January 1, 1856 founding.  The county was taken from parts of Bosque and Fannin counties as the 117^th county.  Withers & Thompson designed the current courthouse.  Young is named for William Cocke Young who was a hero of both the Mexican War and the Civil War.  Graham gets its name from two local landowning brothers, Gustavus A. and Edwin S. Graham. 

Young County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Young and Stephens counties and One County Court Judge serves Young County.  The county is located in north central Texas, northwest of Abilene, Texas and south of Wichita Falls, Texas.  The county center is 14.9 miles Northwest of Graham nearer Newcastle.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Archer, Jack, Palo Pinto, Stephens, Throckmorton, and Baylor counties. 

The area of the county is 922 square miles.  It is 110 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 130 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 19.4 persons per square mile making it 135 out of 254 in the state.  Young County has 68.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 380 crosses east to west from Jack County into Throckmorton County.  The county is square with the Brazos River crossing the county from northwest to southeast.  Graham is in the southeast quarter of the county.  Graham is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 48.9% of the county population.