Roberts County was formed from Young and Bexar Territories, created on August 21, 1876, and organized on January 10, 1889. It was named in honor of John S. Roberts, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and Oran Milo Roberts, governor of Texas from 1878 to 1882. Its county seat was Miami until October 1889, then Parnell until August 1, 1898, and Miami thereafter.