The settlement was first known as the Chriesman Settlement, in honor of
Horatio Chriesman (1797–1878). In 1839, the second oldest Presbyterian church in Texas was established here by Reverend
Hugh Wilson (1794–1868). A year later, in 1840, the
Republic of Texas established a post office and renamed it 'Gay Hill' in honor of Thomas Gay and William Carroll Jackson Hill, who owned the general store. A decade later, in 1854, a Mason lodge was formed here. Later, a Baptist church was also established. From 1853 to 1888, Reverend
James Weston Miller (1815–1888) served as the director of the
Live Oak Female Seminary, a defunct women's college. The
Red House is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Texas. ==Demographics==