Center was named for its location at the center of Shelby County. In 1866 Center was elected as the county seat. In 1822, the courthouse was burned and in November 1855 it was replaced with the most handsome courthouse in Texas. Shelby County Courthouse was inspired by castles in Ireland. The city of Center operates under Home Rule Charter with a Council-Manager form of government. Annually, the city celebrates a county-wide Watermelon Festival in July and the East Texas Poultry Festival in October. Center made national news twice in the 1920s for the lynching of black murder suspects without a trial.
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