Townapedia
Highway 82
Highway 82 · In-Correct at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0
Washington school gainesville tx demolition
Washington school gainesville tx demolition · Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Gainesville June 2017 18 (Smith Feed Store)
Gainesville June 2017 18 (Smith Feed Store) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gainesville June 2017 17 (Farmers Market)
Gainesville June 2017 17 (Farmers Market) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gainesville June 2017 16 (N Commerce Street)
Gainesville June 2017 16 (N Commerce Street) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gainesville June 2017 15 (N Commerce Street)
Gainesville June 2017 15 (N Commerce Street) · Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0

Gainesville, Texas

Gainesville is a city of 17,883 people in Cooke County, Texas.

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Population17,883 +8.8% since 2019
CountyCooke County
Elevation751 ft 229 m
Land area19.3 sq mi
ZIP code76240
Nearest airportGainesville Municipal Airport (GLE) 3 mi

Why visit Gainesville

Townapedia lists 89 museums and landmarks, 10 parks and trails, 48 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include DMAX Cinema, Butterfield Stage, Cooke County Courthouse and Gainesville.

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 94°F; January lows average 32°F.

About Gainesville

Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK combined statistical area. Its population was 17,394 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Texoma region and is an important Agri-business center.

From the Wikipedia article Gainesville, Texas (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do2

DMAX Cinema

Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi

4319 North Interstate 35, Gainesville

Th-Fr 13:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-665-9999

Butterfield Stage

Cinema and theater · 1.1 mi

201 South Denton Street, Gainesville

Tu-Fr 12:00-16:00 open "box office"; PH off

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-665-8152

Museums and landmarks89

Cooke County Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi

Historic place in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

GainesvilleCC BY 2.0

Gainesville

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi

Rail station in Gainesville, Texas

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Morton Museum of Cooke County

Museum · 1.1 mi

210 South Dixon Street, Gainesville

Tu-Fr 10:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-668-8900

Vantage Point Art Gainesville

Museum · 1.0 mi

107 West California Street, Gainesville

We-Sa 10:00-17:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-580-9155

Paige Davidson Studio

Museum · 1.1 mi

205 South Commerce Street, Gainesville

Fr 10:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps

Sante Fe Depot Museum

Museum · 1.1 mi

"by appointment"

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-668-8900

Moffett Park

Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi

Open in Google Maps

American Paint Horse Association

Monument and historic site · 0.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

Bailey, Joseph Weldon

Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Barbed Wire in Cooke County Historical Marker

Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi

Open in Google Maps

Booker T. Washington School

Monument and historic site · 0.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Butterfield Overland Stage Line

Monument and historic site · 0.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

77 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds10

Frank Buck Zoo

Park · 1.2 mi

Small Zoo in Gainesville, Texas

1000 West California Street, Gainesville

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +1-940-668-4539

Depot Park

Park · 1.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

Edison Park

Park · 1.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

Farmers Market

Park · 0.9 mi

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Jaycee Park

Park · 1.7 mi

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Keneteso Park

Park · 2.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Leonard Park

Park · 1.1 mi

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Little League Park

Park · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

Medal of Honor Park

Park · 1.0 mi

Open in Google Maps

Tom Thumb Park

Park · 1.2 mi

Open in Google Maps

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Restaurants and cafes48

Hills Café

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi

204 East California Street, Gainesville

Mo-Sa 09:30-19:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 940-612-9591

The County Seat Kitchen & Cocktails

Restaurant · Grill · 1.0 mi

105 West California Street, Gainesville

Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00; Su 12:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-641-3800

Villa Grande

Restaurant · Mexican · 1.0 mi

201 Interstate 35, Gainesville

Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-20:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-665-3410

Waffle House

Diner · American · 0.6 mi

1713 North Interstate 35, Gainesville

24/7

Open in Google Maps · +1-770-729-5993

Goodies on Commerce

Restaurant · 1.0 mi

111 North Commerce Street, Gainesville

Mo-Th 08:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-22:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-242-1123

Krootz Brewing Company

Bar and pub · 0.9 mi

315 West Elm Street, Gainesville

Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-00:00; Sa 10:00-00:00; Su 10:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-668-0307

Cracker Barrel

Diner · American · 2.9 mi

4327 North Interstate 35, Gainesville

Su-Th 06:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 06:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-612-1827

Fusion & Flame

Restaurant · Sushi, Asian · 1.0 mi

105 South Commerce Street, Gainesville

Su-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-24:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-668-6300

Los Dos Primos Mexican Food

Restaurant · Mexican · 2.8 mi

4321 North Interstate 35, Gainesville

Su,Tu-Th 08:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-24:00; Mo 08:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-252-4026

Starbucks

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.0 mi

502 West California, Gainesville

Open in Google Maps · +1 940-612-1758

Main Street Pub & Steakhouse

Bar and pub · 1.1 mi

216 West Main Street, Gainesville

Mo-Sa 11:00-20:30

Open in Google Maps · +1-940-668-4040

RibCrib

Restaurant · Barbecue · 1.0 mi

101 North Interstate 35, Gainesville

Open in Google Maps

36 more on the map.

History

Founded in 1850, the city of Gainesville was established on a 40-acre (16 ha) tract of land donated by Mary E. Clark. City residents called their new community "Liberty", which proved short-lived, as Liberty, Texas, already existed. One of the original settlers of Cooke County, Colonel William Fitzhugh, suggested that the town be named after General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. Gaines, a United States general under whom Fitzhugh had served, had been sympathetic to the Texas Revolution.

The first hint of prosperity arrived with the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach in September 1858, bringing freight, passengers, and mail. In 1860, Cooke County voted against secession. In 1862, during the Civil War, the Great Hanging at Gainesville, a controversial trial and lynching of 40 suspected Union loyalists, brought the new town to the attention of the state and came close to ripping the county apart. In the decade after the Civil War, Gainesville had its first period of extended growth, catalyzed by the expansion of the cattle industry in Texas. Gainesville, only 7 miles (11 km) from the Oklahoma border, became a supply point for cowboys driving herds north to Kansas. The merchants of Gainesville reaped considerable benefits from the passing cattle drives.

From the History section of Gainesville, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay9

Churches and places of worship26

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Shopping8

Gas and EV charging13

Schools, colleges and libraries22

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Healthcare3

Map of Gainesville

230 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

40°60°80°100°January: 2.2 in of rainFebruary: 2.6 in of rainMarch: 3.6 in of rainApril: 3.9 in of rainMay: 5.6 in of rainJune: 4.6 in of rainJuly: 2.9 in of rainAugust: 2.8 in of rainSeptember: 3.9 in of rainOctober: 4.4 in of rainNovember: 3.0 in of rainDecember: 3.1 in of rainJanuary: 53°FFebruary: 58°FMarch: 66°FApril: 74°FMay: 80°FJune: 88°FJuly: 94°FAugust: 94°FSeptember: 87°FOctober: 76°FNovember: 64°FDecember: 54°FJanuary: 32°FFebruary: 35°FMarch: 43°FApril: 51°FMay: 60°FJune: 69°FJuly: 73°FAugust: 72°FSeptember: 65°FOctober: 54°FNovember: 43°FDecember: 34°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan53°F32°F2.2 in1.3 in
Feb58°F35°F2.6 in0.3 in
Mar66°F43°F3.6 in0.6 in
Apr74°F51°F3.9 in0.0 in
May80°F60°F5.6 in0.0 in
Jun88°F69°F4.6 in0.0 in
Jul94°F73°F2.9 in0.0 in
Aug94°F72°F2.8 in0.0 in
Sep87°F65°F3.9 in0.0 in
Oct76°F54°F4.4 in0.0 in
Nov64°F43°F3.0 in0.1 in
Dec54°F34°F3.1 in0.3 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Gainesville 5 Ene Hcn (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$58,809median household income
$177,000median home value
$1,038median monthly rent
36.5median age
19.4%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
57.6%of homes are owner-occupied
22.2 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1824%18 to 3423%35 to 6436%65 and over17%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Cooke County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe ice storms.

  • 2024-05-17: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2021-02-19: Severe Winter Storms (Severe Ice Storm)
  • 2021-02-14: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
  • 2020-03-25: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2015-05-29: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds And Flooding (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Gainesville Municipal Airport (GLE) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 3 miles away.

  • Denton 29 mi south, about 47 min by car
  • Celina 30 mi southeast, about 48 min by car
  • Denison 34 mi east, about 54 min by car
  • Corinth 35 mi south, about 56 min by car
  • Frisco 38 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • Ardmore 39 mi north, about 1 h by car
  • Anna 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • McKinney 41 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • Lewisville 42 mi south, about 1 h by car
  • Flower Mound 42 mi south, about 1 h by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.