Schleicher County was formed from Crockett County, created on April 1, 1887, and organized on July 9, 1901. It was named in honor of Gustav Schleicher, who lived from 1823 to 1879, a pioneer German settler, member of the Texas Legislature, and member of the United States Congress. The county seat is El Dorado. The first bale of cotton was produced in 1904.