Most people assume Johnson City (population 1,191) is named for its legendary native son, Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States. It’s actually named after his grandfather’s nephew James Polk Johnson, even though he never achieved quite the same success as LBJ.
The Johnson family, however, is an ideal representation of the determined, down-to-earth folks who settled in this rugged part of the state more than 150 years ago and whose descendants remain on the rocky yet endearing terrain. A visit to this small town, especially the incredible LBJ Ranch, reveals the gritty and tenacious nature of the region, reflected in the no-nonsense approach of LBJ himself. This was truly far away from Camelot.