Hemphill County was formed from Young and Bexar Territories, created on August 21, 1876, and organized on July 5, 1886. It was named in honor of John Hemphill, 1809-1862, first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Texas, Adjutant General of the Somervell Expedition, a member of the first State Constitutional Convention, and a member of the United States Congress. The county seat is Canadian.