KING COUNTY, TEXAS
King County is located in the Rolling Prairie region of Northwest Texas. The center point of the county is 33 degrees 38 feet north latitude and 100 degrees 15 foot west longitude, midway between Lubbock and Wichita Falls. The county was named for William Philip King, who died at the Alamo. King County embraces 944 square miles of hilly, broken county with extensive grasslands and dark loam to red soils. Elevations range from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above sea level. Haystack Mountain and Buzzard Peak are the highest points in the county, which is drained by tributaries of the Wichita and Brazos rivers. Average temperatures range between a minimum of 27 degrees Farenheight in January and a maximum of 99 degrees Farenheight in July. The average annual rainfall is 21.6 inches.

The area that is now King County was occupied by Apache Indians until the early eighteenth century, when Comanches moved into the region. Comanches of the Wanderers band controlled the area until the late nineteenth century. Their tepees were easily moved and set up as they roamed the area hunting buffalo and other game, as well as several plants the group used for food. Like other Comanche bands, the Wanderers were fierce warriors, skilled horsemen, and relentless raiders. In the 1870's the United States Army pushed the Indians out of the area and opened the region to settlement. In 1891, the county was organized, with the small town of Guthrie designated as the county seat. By 1900 the county had fifty-three farms and ranches, encompassing more than 480,232 acres. The population for the county had grown to 490.

Much of King County history centers on the great ranches that were established in the area during the 1880's and 1890's. The current QB Ranch was part of one of the great ranches of the county known as the Four Sixes. The Four Sixes Ranch occupies some 208,000 acres of King County and continues to be a primary economic mainstay of King county.

In 2004 the estimated population of King County was 323, down 9.27% from the 2000 census. King County is listed as the Third Smallest County in the nation, by population.

THE FOUR SIXES RANCH
The untamed, rugged land of Texas became home to legendary ranchers and cowboys as and windy as the state itself. Across the wide-open country, prosperous land and cattle operations were established. Among them was the Four Sixes Ranch. Totaling one-third million acres, the ranch has a storied history that began with a poker game and a winning hand of four sixes - reputedly, but not so. In true Texas fashion, it does make a good story, though.

The real history of the Four Sixes began with Samuel Burk Burnett, who became one of the most influential and prosperous cattlemen in Texas. Before the age of 20, he purchased a herd of cattle wearing the 6666 brand. The origin of the 6666 brand and why it was used is unknown. But it had nothing to do with a card game. The element of luck always associated with Burk Burnett is not unfounded. His land, which supported thousands of cattle also held some of the state's richest oil reserves.

Burk Burnett developed an important and strong relationship with Comanche Chief Quanah Parker. Through long friendship, Parker and Burnett made positive strides to accommodate the needs of cattlemen and Comanche on the South Plains during a critical time in Texas frontier history. This unique relationship proved to be a pivotal point in the expansion of the cattle industry.

Today, the Four Sixes Ranch is a forerunner in the cattle industry. Four Sixes properties in Texas and Montana represent both the present and the past. This is largely due to the foresight of Burk Burnett and the management and support of his descendants, who value their heritage and the prominent ranch's place in the history of texas and the American West.

The QB Pasture was part of the Four Sixes and was deemed too rough, rugged and wild to serve as pasture land for the Four Sixes famous horse and cattle operations. It was called the quail and buck pasture as the habitat was better suited for wild game. Since 1905 the ranch has only allowed for limited family hunting with the exception of a few family friends such as President "Teddy" Roosevelt who hunted coyotes and wolves on the property. In addition to it's high-grade livestock, the Four Sixes has won fame as a setting for several Marlboro cigarette television ads during the 1960's with certain ranch employees posing as the "Marlboro Man". Portions of the movie Mackintosh and T.J. which starred Roy Rogers was filmed at the old 8 camp in 1975.

For more information about the history of the Four Sixes, please visit the handbook of Texas website.