Sabine County covers most of the western shore of Toledo Bend Reservoir. It all began here, along the Sabine River, a wide, fast-moving stream that has flowed south to the Gulf of Mexico longer than man can remember. Spanish explorers came here in the 1700's, awarding land grants as early as 1794. In 1835, shortly before Texas won its independence from Mexico, the county became a port of entry for new settlers arriving from the United States. Gaines' Ferry shuttled horses, wagons and settlers across the river at Pendleton.
History seems to seep from every crack and crevice in Sabine County.
The courthouse square at Hemphill, one of the most unusual in East Texas, is surrounded by quaint buildings, antique stores and gift shops. On the corner of the square, domino players regularly gather beneath an ancient cedar tree. Sabine County residents have a deep reverence for their landmarks. Among them are the historic McMahan's Chapel, the oldest Protestant church still in existence, and the Gaines-Oliphint House, recognized by Texas as the oldest standing log cabin in the state. Long before Hemphill became the county seat in 1858, Milam was the center of Sabine County.