This North Texas town is the Best Historic Small Town of 2025, list says
A North Texas town just made a national list for its storied history.
USA TODAY’s 10BEST list for the Best Historic Small Towns of 2025 was recently released. The 10 towns on the list were nominated by a panel of experts that includes travel writers, newspaper editors and USA TODAY editors, and were then voted on by USA TODAY readers.
The 10 historic small towns all have populations of less than 25,000 people, and all have multiple historical landmarks.
“The United States has a fascinating history, and exploring the places which most affected it is much more engaging than simply reading about it,” USA TODAY wrote in its ranking. These 10 historic small towns feature “fun and affordable ways to dive into our nation’s past,” USA TODAY wrote.
Only one Texas town made the list. Drum roll, please...
Granbury, Texas voted as Best Historic Small Town
Voters said Granbury’s multiple historic landmarks is where “Texass history comes alive.”
“It’s a small town that’s worth a detour off the beaten path.” voters said. Specific mention was given to the Hood County Courthouse and Historic Granbury Square, the Hood County Jail Museum, the Yeates-Duke 1858 Working Museum and the newly-restored Grand Opera House.
Oh, and Jesse James is said to have been buried in Granbury.
This is the fourth year Granbury has won the USATODAY 10BEST Best Historic Small Town award. The town previously won in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Other Historic Small Towns
The rest of the towns on the list have “small populations with big histories,” USA TODAY wrote. Here’s the full list:
- 1. Granbury, Texas
- Abilene, Kan.
- Worthington, Ohio
- Ludington., Mich.
- Ruston, La.
- Newport, Ky.
- Mackinac Island, Mich.
- Castine, Maine
- Eureka Springs, Ark.
- Astoria, Ore.
