Granbury is the county seat of Hood County in north-central Texas, set along the Brazos River about 35 to 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth. The city pairs one of Texas's most celebrated historic courthouse squares with a substantial lake-oriented residential market, making it both a heritage tourism destination and a growing commuter and retirement community within the Dallas–Fort Worth region. The city traces its origins to the mid-19th century, when it was established as the Hood County seat and laid out around a central square and log cabin courthouse. It was named for Confederate General Hiram B. Granbury. Over time the square evolved into a dense ring of commercial buildings, and today much of downtown Granbury is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving one of the most intact 19th-century courthouse squares in the state. The square remains the economic and cultural center of the city, filled with shops, restaurants, theaters, and community events. Granbury's modern identity is also shaped by the water. Lake Granbury, formed when the De Cordova Bend dam across the Brazos River was completed in 1969, created miles of shoreline that spurred marinas, parks, and large residential developments such as Pecan Plantation and DeCordova Bend Estates. The lake supports boating, fishing, kayaking, and lakeside recreation, and it anchors the area's appeal for retirees and second-home buyers. The city's population was about 10,958 at the 2020 census, and Hood County counted about 61,600 residents, with both continuing to grow. The economy rests on tourism tied to the square, health care, retail, and the residential growth of the lakefront communities, along with a steady flow of commuters to Fort Worth. Public education is provided by Granbury Independent School District, serving about 8,000 students. For homebuyers, Granbury offers historic in-town homes, lakeside and golf communities, and new subdivisions, all within reach of the metroplex's larger employment and cultural centers.