Clifton, city in Bosque County, Texas, United States
Clifton is a small city in Bosque County, about 35 miles northwest of Waco, surrounded by the limestone cliffs that inspired its original name Cliff Town. The town is home to roughly three thousand people, stretches several miles across the landscape, and is built along the Clear Branch Creek.
Clifton was founded in 1852-1853 when several families, including Frank Kell and Joseph Kemp, settled near the limestone cliffs. The community grew throughout the 1800s, was officially incorporated in 1901, and recovered from a major fire in 1906 that destroyed the business district but led to the town's rebuilding and expansion.
Clifton was named the Norwegian Capital of Texas in 1997, celebrating the heritage of families who settled here in the 1850s. The Presbyterian Church, which has served the community since 1861, and local gatherings reflect how residents honor their roots and maintain connections to the town's founding traditions.
Clifton is about half an hour's drive from Waco and within a couple of hours of larger cities like Fort Worth and Dallas. Its proximity to regional airports and major highways makes it easy to reach from most places, whether arriving for a quick visit or planning a longer stay.
In the early 1990s, Clifton hosted an exotic animal preserve southwest of town where visitors could see creatures from different parts of the world. This unexpected feature made the town a notable destination for tourists and showed how the community found creative ways to draw people to the area.
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