The city of Kerrville was named after a Texas Revolutionary Major named James Kerr in 1856. In the late 1840s, early residents of the area (originally known as "Brownsborough") found success in the business of shingle-making. The earliest of these settlers was Joshua Brown, who is considered an original founder of the city. Kerrville's early prosperity was also bolstered by Charles A. Schreiner, who established a family-owned empire in such industries as retail, freighting, banking, ranching, and brokering, among others.
Kerrville was incorporated in 1889 and established its first town water works company in 1894. Telephone service was provided in 1896, and the paving of city streets began in 1912. Over the years, the city's economy broadened through agriculture, light manufacturing, education, the arts, health care, and tourism. In the mid-1990s, the Wall Street Journal described Kerrville as one of the wealthiest small towns in America. Kerrville is also home to Johnny "Football" Manziel of Texas A&M University, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner.
Kerrville maintains a variety of attractions including: