Hackberry took its name from the nearby Hackberry Mine, established in the 1870's. The original townsite and mill stood up the hill next to the ranchhouse, but after the railroad arrived in 1881 the town shifted down to both sides of Truxton Wash. Its economy changed from mining to the railroad, and it became an important shipping center for sheep and cattle. The water tank recalls its former role as a watering stop for steam locomotives before diesel replaced them in the early 1950's. Landmarks include the school built in 1917 and closed in 1994, the cemetery, and an old miner's cabin.