Anglo settlement began in this area, known as North Fork, in 1855. Stephen Bethel Strawn moved here in 1859 and in 1880 donated the right-of-way for the Texas and Pacific Railroad and laid off property for a townsite. The community’s economy was based on ranching and coal mining, and later on oil and gas resources. Immigrants came to Strawn to work in coal mining operations. The town grew quickly and residents erected homes, established a newspaper, built businesses, schools, banks, churches and civic organizations. In 1917 Strawn was incorporated as a city.