History:
Edenites refer to their city as a garden, "The Garden of Texas." One would think the name came from the Bible but actually the founding father was Frederick Ede, hence the name Eden.
Paraphrasing from county historian Emsy H. Swaim: Early inhabitants of this area were the Jumano and Apache Indians. Later the Comanche Indians lead a war of extermination against the Apaches. The Eden area was part of the SpanishTerritory and traversed extensively by Spanish explorers, treasure seekers and priests.
The first settlers in the county were reported to be the Rich Coffey family who located near the mouth of the ConchoRiver during the Civil War. The first surveys made in ConchoCounty were in 1847 with J.J. Giddings being the deputy surveyor for Fisher and Miller who had obtained permission from Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas, to settle emigrants in the central part of Texas. The Commissioner for the Fisher and Miller Colony issued 3,488 land certificates for their colonies. These certificates contained 1,735,200 acres of land.
The City of Eden is located within the Giddings survey tract. Giddings was later killed by Indians in Arizona. After the battle of San Jacinto, the state of Texas was divided into three districts: Brazos, Bexar and Nacogdoches. The current area of ConchoCounty was first located in BexarCounty, then San Saba County, then McCullochCounty. The Act creating ConchoCounty was dated February 1, 1858. The first election of county officials was held on March 11, 1879. On February 10, 1882, Fred Ede dedicated the plat to the Original Town of Eden. The Town of Eden was incorporated as the City of Eden on February 4, 1911. The first building in Eden was constructed of logs and was the home of John Hardin. The home was built on Hardin Creek which bears his name. This creek runs about one-half mile west and south of the public square. Brady Creek runs through the county about two miles south of Eden.
Fred Ede was appointed as the first post master of Eden in 1883. The first bank in Eden was built in 1906 and still stands in the same location. The first telephone service and switch board were installed in Eden in 1907. During the Great Depression, ConchoCounty distinguished itself by not having a single foreclosure on its farms and ranches. Mr. Swaim attributes this fact to the efforts of Concho's two banks, Eden and Paint Rock and the the high quality of the county's citizens.