WELCOME to Kaufman

By Russell Slaton

Kaufman, the seat of Kaufman County, has experienced explosive growth in the past decade while still retaining its rural roots. A bypass of State Highway 34 on the eastern edge of the city was completed in 2016. Kaufman County’s Pet Adoption Center run by the Humane Society of North Texas opened in 2022. The Kaufman County Justice Center opened in 2022 with state-of-the-art courtrooms, moving many county offices from the downtown courthouse, which was built in 1955.

Kaufman is the oldest community in the area of the Three Forks of the Trinity River that has been continuously inhabited. The Three Forks (West Fork, Elm Fork and East Fork) region was known as a rich, fertile area which served as an Indian hunting ground and at the end of the 1830s contained the largest Indian village east of the Brazos River.

Kaufman was first called “King’s Fort,” which was named after Dr. William P. King, who established the fort in 1840 as a protection for a group of surveyors. The community was later renamed as “Kingsborough” after five years of growth. In 1851, the community was finally renamed Kaufman after it became the county seat. Kaufman County was named after U.S. Representative and noted Texas patriot David S. Kaufman.

Kaufman Independent School District serves the area and has more than 4,000 students. KISD is a public school district that has been recognized multiple times by the Texas Education Agency. Those looking to continue their education can enroll at a local branch of Trinity Valley Community College. One of the most progressive two-year institutes in Texas offers a long list of training and education built around nursing and other medical technician fields.

One hidden gem of Kaufman is the Kaufman Poor Farm, a valuable tool to engage citizens in the farming heritage of the area. The farm, established in 1883, is believed to be the only one left in Texas that is still owned by the county. The property includes a stock pond, original buildings and old jailhouse. It also has several examples of farm equipment that helped fuel the area’s agricultural economy.

Kaufman, which has plenty of room to build, has four-lane highway access to Dallas which allows a quick commute. Kaufman is still surrounded by mini-ranches, working agricultural land and rural estate living. Top-growing industries around this community of 6,797 includes manufacturing, construction and retail trade.