Granbury Named Best Historic Small Town in America for Fourth Time

The Texas town that feels like a living time capsule is still wowing guests and residents alike with its historic charm.

by

Cue the church bells. Cue the sound of boots on limestone sidewalks. Cue the 1880s brick facades glowing gold in the late Texas sun. Granbury, Texas — a town that could’ve stepped right out of a sepia-toned postcard — just made history. Again. 

And not just any kind of history. Granbury has been named “Best Historic Small Town in America” by USA TODAY 10Best — for the fourth time. That’s right. 2019. 2020. 2021. And now, 2025. 

Maybe it’s the postcard-perfect square. Maybe it’s the clock towers, the old-fashioned gingerbread attire, and the whispers of legends long gone — but not forgotten. (John Wilkes Booth faking his death and hiding out here? Some folks will swear by it.) But Granbury’s magic doesn’t live in bricks and shadows alone. Walk the square, and you’ll feel it.  

“Where Texas History Lives.” That’s not just a slogan on a brochure — it’s a lived-in truth, spoken in every brick, every creak of the Opera House floorboards, every storyteller who swears Jesse James is buried just down the road. 

“This isn’t just our win,” says Tammy Dooley, the powerhouse behind Visit Granbury. “It belongs to everyone who’s ever strolled our square, sat through a play at the Opera House, or believed that history isn’t something to put behind glass — but something to keep alive.” 

And alive it is. With over 40 Historic Texas Landmarks, a town square that’s on the National Register of Historic Places, and a cast of characters that reads like a Western-meets-political-thriller-meets-true-crime-novel, Granbury doesn’t just preserve history. It throws open the saloon doors and invites you in for a drink. 

Each year, USA TODAY’s 10Best lets the public vote for the most historic small towns in the country. And this year, just like a greatest hits tour, the fans came through — loud and proud. Granbury hit No. 1, ahead of contenders from Kansas to Maine. 

Chris Coffman, Granbury’s City Manager, says it best: “This award is a tribute to the people who keep the spirit of this town alive. The shopkeepers. The volunteers. The local historians. Everyone who knows this place is special — and works to keep it that way.” 

And that spirit? It’s catching. One trip to Granbury, and suddenly you’re scanning real estate listings, picturing yourself sipping sweet tea under a wraparound porch, wondering if maybe you were always meant to end up here. 

Celebration, of course. Parades? Maybe. Fireworks? Wouldn’t be surprised. But definitely a plaque dedication in the works. Because in Granbury, history doesn’t just live — it throws a party. 

“We are beyond excited,” Dooley continued. “This is your win, Granbury. Let’s celebrate together — and keep sharing the magic with the world.” 

So, cue the bells. Cue the boots. And if you haven’t been to Granbury lately, well — maybe it’s time to rewrite your weekend plans. 

Because history? It’s not just back. It never left.