Yoakum County was created on Aug. 21, 1876, from Bexar County and named for Henderson Yoakum, who wrote a classic on early Texas history, making it the only Texas county named for an author. Indian activity and frontier hazards slowed growth, and only itinerant buffalo hunters and scattered ranchers were here until after 1900. The county was organized Sept. 7, 1907, and by 1910 the population reached 602 as a result of the sale of state lands. The discovery of oil in 1935 brought industry and more people. In Plains, the county seat, a Bonus Shack typical of cabins used by homesteaders serves as a historical museum.