Henrietta is a city and the county seat of Clay County, Texas, located in the rolling ranchland of North Texas, about 20 miles east of Wichita Falls. It is part of the Wichita Falls metropolitan statistical area. At the 2020 census, the city reported a population of 3,111. The town's history reaches back to the Texas frontier. In 1860, Henrietta was the only town of consequence in Clay County, then home to just ten houses and a general store, and it represented part of the far western edge of settlement in North Texas. Clay County itself was founded in 1857 and named for the statesman Henry Clay. The town grew as a ranching and agricultural center, serving the surrounding cattle country that still defines the region's economy and character. Today, Henrietta functions as the governmental and commercial center of Clay County, with the county courthouse, schools, and local businesses anchoring daily life. The 1890 Jail Museum-Heritage Center preserves the area's frontier past, with a historic sheriff's residence, jail cells with a gallows, Old West artifacts, and ranching and agricultural displays that document early Clay County. The Henrietta Independent School District operates the town's public schools, which serve as central community institutions. The local economy is rooted in county government, agriculture, ranching, and services, and the town draws a notable share of retirees alongside working families. Housing is modest and affordable, with most residents owning their homes, and the community's quiet pace and Western heritage shape its identity. Wichita Falls, about 20 miles to the west, provides the region's larger employment, shopping, medical, and higher-education resources. Henrietta appeals to families, retirees, and those seeking a quiet, affordable rural lifestyle with strong community ties. Its ranching heritage, small-town pace, and proximity to Wichita Falls make it a comfortable and rooted place to live in North Texas.