[6] Lake Pat Cleburne, the reservoir that provides water to the city and surrounding area, is also named after him.

The location featured water from West Buffalo Creek, making it a stop for cattlemen from the Chisholm Trail.

[7] In August 1886, the Texas Farmers' Alliance met at Lee's Academy[7] and adopted a 17-point political resolution, commonly known as the Cleburne Demands, which was the first major document of the agrarian revolt occurring at the end of the late 19th century.

[9] Cleburne was primarily an agricultural center and county seat until the Santa Fe Railroad opened a major facility there in 1898.

[11] On May 15, 2013, Cleburne was hit by a powerful tornado that cut a mile-wide path through part of the city and damaged about 600 homes and two schools.

The troupe provides family-friendly musicals and comedies, and has been the recipient of numerous awards for theatrical excellence since opening in November 2006.

Historic Downtown Cleburne has 7 Antique Malls, numerous Boutiques and Restaurants , The Published Page, a large independent bookstore, and Songbird Live , a music venue all in a 5 block radius to their Courthouse.

[25] Cleburne State Park is in a hilly area 12 miles (19 km) west of the city center.

Major employers include Walmart, which maintains a Supercenter retail outlet and a distribution center.

Local government is also a major employer, providing 348 jobs, and Johnson County has 598 employees in the city.

Johns Manville, Texas Resources Harris Methodist Hospital, Greenbrier rail service (operating at the rail yards previously occupied by Burlington Northern Santa Fe), Supreme Corporation of Texas, and Broan-Nutone are among other major private-sector employers.

A recent natural gas boom has now brought related companies to the district and surrounding areas.

Elementary-level schools serving the Cleburne area are Adams, Coleman, Cooke, Gerard, Irving, Marti.