Water Towers and Standpipes of the United States of America. Sponsored by "Understanding Your Home" by building inspector Mark Visser Gainesville - Texas Cooke County. Photo © Mark Visser ..... Tower Information -L Location: I-82 Tower signage: Gainesville Leopards Built: Height: Capacity: Tower Information - R Tower signage: NCTC Built: Height: Capacity: Missing tower data: Please contact us if you have more information. Area Information History: Gainesville, the county seat of Cooke County is in the approximate geographic center on Interstate 35 located approximately 67 miles north of Dallas. In 1841, W.S. Peters and associates signed their first contract with the Republic of Texas "which provided that within three years, they would bring 600 families into North-Central Texas" into what came to be known as the Peters Colony. The first settlers arrived in the area after the newly created Peters colony offered 640 acres to each head of family and 320 acres to each single man, plus land for a church in each settlement. Before acquiring their tracts of land, these settlers were first required to swear allegiance to the Republic of Texas. They had to agree to construct a dwelling, to cultivate their fields, and to fence at least ten acres within three years. When the last of the major Indian raids occurred in 1868, the county population began to increase with the arrival of the "Katy" railroad in 1879. Cattle money also financed the construction of the new county courthouse in 1878 and provided much of the tax revenue to support local schools and the building of public roads. Gainesville was incorporated on February 17, 1873 and by 1890 was established as a commercial and shipping point for area ranchers and farmers.  North Central Texas College (NCTC on water tower) Resources: Gainesville Other sites you may be interested in: Thumbnail Collection of USA Water Towers Canadian Water Towers and Standpipes Magnetic Hills in the United States of America The History of the Christian Fish Symbol Home Back to Texas Index