Henrietta’s history of farming in the Texas frontier
Henrietta is a small rural town close to the Texas-Oklahoma border that’s proud of its pioneering origins. In the late 1870s, settlers hunted buffalo along the prairielands while farmers raised cattle and harvested corn and cotton. Though more homes, roads and churches have been built in the decades since, Henrietta still holds on to its country charm with wildlife, a large state park and lots of land. “There’s a reunion every September to honor the pioneers who came before,” says Scott Williams, a local broker with Williams Realty & Auction Service. “There’s a great sense of pride and history in Henrietta.”
Family-owned restaurants, boutiques and convenience stores
Several restaurants and small businesses are along the main highway, including a few boutiques like Ranch Swag and Cow Palace Couture. “It’s more mom-and-pop-type of shops,” Williams says. “There’s textiles, thrift shops and resale stores.” Bull Malarkey’s Restaurant is a family-owned establishment that offers ribeye steaks, burgers and sandwiches inside its country-themed dining room, while Open Table Eatery & Catering specializes in breakfast tacos, nachos and Mexican stir-fry. Jefe’s Mexican Restaurant has been serving its signature margaritas and sopapillas since 2008, and Lillie’s Coffee roasts its own beans through its Amarillo-based partner. Groceries are available at stores including Spring Market, Stuckey’s, Bread & Butter Stop, Allsup’s and Dollar General.
Brick and vinyl homes with large lots and low prices
Many of Henrietta's homes are older, some built in the 1970s. Often the lots have wooden or metal fences, and it's common to see ATVs and Jet Skis in driveways. Fixer-upper properties with brick exteriors or vinyl siding range between 800 and 1,700 square feet and cost between $25,000 and $100,000. Traditional, contemporary and ranch-style homes have covered patios, carports and one-to-two-car garages and range from $100,000 to $400,000. Two-story homes with four bedrooms, vaulted ceilings and 1-to-10-acre lots are between $400,000 and $700,000. The median sale price is $165,000, which is lower than the state and national median.
Historical attractions, city parks and Lake Arrowhead
The Clay County 1890 Jail Museum & Heritage Center has artifacts and historical exhibits documenting the community's frontier past in the former county lockup. Some churches also date to the town's earliest days, including First Baptist Church Henrietta, which was founded in 1876. Henrietta City Park has a playground, pool and pickleball courts, and Hapgood Park has baseball fields and a dog park. Travelers come from all over to see the Dinosaur Parade display south of town by Texas Best Smokehouse. The 524-acre Lake Arrowhead State Park is about 20 miles away and has recreational activities including boating, fishing and camping.
A new high school for Henrietta ISD
The Henrietta Independent School District serves over 900 students and earns a B-plus on Niche. B-rated Henrietta Elementary School teaches kindergarten through fifth grade. Henrietta Middle School has a 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio and earns a B-plus. Henrietta High School earns a B-plus and began construction on a new campus in 2025 that will be completed by the following school year.
Wild turkey hunts, rodeo and pioneer-themed parades
The Clay County Pioneer Reunion has been held since 1932 and features rodeo events, Texas barbecue and parade floats along Main Street. The annual Turkey Fest is held in April and has pie-eating contests and bounce houses along with wild turkey hunts. "Hunting is big in the county," Williams says. "There will be six to eight teams that show up every spring for the hunting contest."
Texas highways to Wichita Falls
U.S. routes 82 and 287 converge just outside town, not far from where Texas State Highway 148 joins 82. TAPS Public Transit provides rides around town and to surrounding counties for a small fee. The Clay County Memorial Hospital offers a range of services, including an emergency room. It's about a 25 mile drive to the Wichita Falls Regional Airport, which has connecting service to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
