Hockley County was formed from Young and Bexar Territories, created on August 21, 1876, and organized on February 19, 1921. It was named in honor of George W. Hockley, commander of the artillery at San Jacinto and Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas, who died in 1851. Levelland was called Hockley City until 1912 and is the county seat.