Click to enlarge.	Map Legend.

Physical Features: Hilly, broken by Brazos, Bosque rivers; limestone to alluvial soils; cedars, oaks, mesquites.

Economy: Agribusiness, government/services,  small industries, tourism.

History: Tonkawa, Waco, and Tawakoni Indian tribes. Settlers from England and Norway arrived in the 1850s. County created and organized in 1854 from the Milam District and McLennan County; named for Bosque (woods) River.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 78.6; Black, 2.3; Hispanic, 17.6; Asian, 0.6; Other, 0.6; Two or more races, 1.4.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 167; deaths, 224; marriages, 69; divorces, 48.

Recreation: Lake Whitney, state park, museum at Clifton, fine art conservatory; fishing, hunting; scenic routes, Norwegian smorgasbord at Norse in November.

Minerals: Limestone, gas & oil.

Agriculture: Beef cattle, forages, small grains, turkeys. Market value $78.3 million. Hunting leases.

MERIDIAN (1,462) county seat; food processing, government/services, tourism; retirement home, community college; national championship barbecue cookoff in October.

CLIFTON (3,537) retirement/health care, limestone sales, light manufacturing; hospital, nursing school; library; Norwegian historic district; Norwegian Country Christmas.

Other towns include: Cranfills Gap (272) Lutefisk dinner in December; Iredell (332); Kopperl (225); Laguna Park (1,209); Morgan (490); Valley Mills (1,193); Walnut Springs (866).

The countryside of Bosque County through a window of St. Olaf's Kierke. Photo by Mary G. Ramos.