Our History

Republic of Texas Campground is located on a working cattle ranch that has been in the Cunningham/Burton family for many generations. Reba Cunningham, the only daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jay Cunningham, was raised and spent her entire life making her home on this ranch. She married Randall Burton (the oldest son of Neely and Dolly Burton) in December of 1924. The Cunningham family and Burton family lived on neighboring ranches. Following the death of her parents, Reba inherited this ranch. The Republic of Texas Campground is located on the Northwest end of this ranch. Unfortunately, there were no children born to this marriage, therefore; upon Reba and Randall Burton's passing, George Burton (nephew), inherited this ranch. This portion of the Cunningham Ranch and Burton Ranch became one ranch in 1988 when George and Jeannie Burton purchased the adjoining Burton ranch.

The Burton side of this ranch was formed when Neely Burton's grandparents (Fletcher and Sarah Neely) settled in this part of the county known as Newburg, TX around 1856. *His grandmother would later be the first woman to vote in Comanche county. They had a family and scratched out a living along with some of the first families to settle in this area.

John Burton came to this area and married Fletcher Neely's oldest daughter, Mary in 1873. They began a family and started ranching as the newly formed county and community started to thrive. Neely (John and Mary Burton's second son) and Dolly had four sons, all of which lived and ranched in Comanche county. Times were really hard, therefore; they ranched and had a small mercantile store that sold mattresses, coffins, eggs, and dry goods to make ends meet. Their sons would all be involved in joint and individual ranching operations, as well as owning and operating the local Wool and Mohair warehouse (Burton Brothers).

Three of the brothers (Tom, Randall, and Bob Burton) owned and operated this ranch until the mid-1980s. Following the deaths of the two older brothers (Tom and Randall), Bob Burton continued ranching until the late 1980s. 

George and Jeannie Burton purchased the ranch from Bob and Verl Burton and moved their family to Newburg in 1988 where they continue this ranching legacy.

Our ranch has many native pecan, red oak, live oak, cedar, mesquite, and red elm trees covering the beautiful rolling hills, many ponds, and a majestic winding creek.

The ranch also has abundant wildlife. If you are an avid bird watcher or just dabble in it for personal pleasure then you are in for a real treat with the many species of birds native to this part of Texas.