[5] Haskell was once the site of a watering place known as Willow Pond Springs.

Thomas F. Tucker settled the site in 1879 upon the encouragement of his brother, a member of Randolph B. Marcy's 1849 expedition, and named it Rice Springs.

[6] In 1906, the Texas Central Railroad reached Haskell from Stamford.

[6] U.S. Route 277 passes through the eastern side of the city, leading northeast 98 miles (158 km) to Wichita Falls and south 54 miles (87 km) to Abilene.

U.S. Route 380 runs through the center of Haskell as North 1st Street, leading east 162 miles (261 km) to Denton and west 107 miles (172 km) to Post.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2), all land.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,089 people, 1,043 households, and 730 families residing in the city.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.