Denton County

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Denton County. Sounds simple enough, just a name on a map, just a place you pass through on the way somewhere else.

But every county has a story underneath it, and this one starts with a single date carved into the record: April 11, 1846. That's the day Denton County was created, carved right out of Fannin County. And they didn't let the grass grow under their feet; by July 13 of that same year, the county was organized, with Denton named as the county seat.

Now, both the town and the county carry that name (Denton), and they carry it in honor of one John B. Denton, who lived from 1807 to 1841. Pioneer preacher.

Lawyer. Indian fighter. Three things that don't always go together, but apparently did just fine in the man they chose to memorialize.

Now here's where the story gets a little winding, the way Texas stories tend to do. The first county seat wasn't Denton at all. It was designated as Pinckneyville, back in 1846.

Then in 1848, a site was selected and called Alton. And it wasn't until 1850 that things finally settled; permanently located at Denton, where they've stayed ever since. Three names.

Four years. One county still finding its footing. That's the kind of restless, reaching energy that built this part of Texas, and the name John B.

Denton has been right there on it the whole time.

What the marker says

Created April 11, 1846 from Fannin County; organized July 13, 1846 with Denton as county seat. Both town and county are named in honor of John B. Denton 1807-1841. Pioneer preacher, lawyer and Indian fighter. First county seat designated as Pinckneyville, 1846. Site selected in 1848 called Alton permanently located at Denton in 1850.