Johnson City was established on the Pedernales River in 1878-79 & named for James Polk Johnson, one of the original Johnson family settlers who were LBJ’s ancestors. Because of its location on the north-south route between Blanco & the Colorado River, the history of Johnson City, however, dates much farther back to Spanish times in the late 1500s. The topography & the conditions of early day travel by horse, or horse & wagon, had long established this section of the Pedernales Valley as a natural stopping place & cross-roads. There were facilities in Blanco in the southern part of the county, but because renegade Indians still roamed the area making travelers apprehensive, settlers in the northern part of the county began planning a new northern city. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Although the county seat moved here from Blanco in 1891 (because it was more central), the community was not incorporated until the mid 1950s. A series of disastrous fires in the 1940s slowed the growth of the town for a time. For example, the elementary school, which was once the high school that LBJ graduated from in 1924, burned down in 1944; and on Dec 31st, 1948 another disastrous fire consumed the drug store, a dental office, the Masonic Lodge & the hardware store.

Johnson City, current population about 1200, became a tourist attraction during LBJ’s vice-presidency & presidency, & it still continues to attract tourists as well as weekend shoppers to its galleries & eclectic shops. LBJ later deeded the family property to the government creating what is now the LBJ National Historical Park. ( http://www.nps.gov/lyjo)