Dennis Phillips publisher@robconews.com Robertson County News An extensive historical review has confirmed that the Robertson County News will mark its 136th year of continuous publication on Jan. 1, 2026, firmly establishing its origins in the late 19th century and resolving a debate that has lingered for more than a decade. The finding follows nearly 11 months of in-depth research conducted by publisher Dennis Phillips, who examined early publication records, filing dates, mastheads, and archival copies through the Library of Congress and other recognized newspaper repositories. The research focused on the origins of the Hearne Democrat, the oldest predecessor title in the paper’s lineage, and its evolution into the modern Robertson County News. According to the Library of Congress newspaper directory, the Hearne Democrat lists its dates of publication as 1889 to present, with Hearne identified as its place of publication. That bibliographic entry serves as the most authoritative federal record for newspaper history in the United States and was central to establishing the paper’s verified age. Historic mastheads and surviving front pages from early editions reveal some inconsistency in branding, with the Hearne Democrat alternately described as “Established 1889” and “Established 1890.” Such discrepancies are common among 19th-century weekly newspapers, particularly those that began publication late in a calendar year and formalized branding in subsequent issues. Based on filing records and the earliest verifiable copies, Phillips determined that the paper’s continuous publication can be accurately traced to 1889, making Jan. 1, 2026, the beginning of its 136th year. The Hearne Democrat played a central role in the development of Robertson County journalism. For extended periods, it was the county’s sole newspaper, serving as the primary source of local news, public notices, court records, and community information. Historical references, including those compiled by the Texas State Historical Association, identify the Hearne Democrat as a key civic institution in Hearne, with early 20th-century publication attributed to J. Felton Lane during a formative era for the town and county. Over time, additional newspapers emerged in Robertson County, including titles centered in Franklin and other communities. Among them was the Franklin Advocate, which became a major part of the county’s journalistic landscape. By the early 2000s, multiple local papers were operating under various ownership structures, reflecting broader trends in small-market newspaper consolidation across Texas and the nation. In 2005, the Hearne Democrat and the Franklin Advocate were formally consolidated under the ownership of American Consolidated Media, creating the Robertson County News as the unified countywide publication. The consolidation brought together the reporting legacies, subscriber bases, and archives of both papers under a single name, while preserving their historical continuity. The Robertson County News later transitioned through additional ownership phases, including corporate stewardship and eventual return to local ownership under Phillips Publishing LLC. Throughout those changes, the paper continued to publish without interruption, maintaining the lineage that began with the Hearne Democrat in the 19th century. Branding over the years has sometimes referenced alternate “since” dates, including 1893, which appeared in some directories and marketing materials. Phillips noted that those dates reflect later milestones in the paper’s evolution rather than its true origin. By grounding the publication’s history in Library of Congress records and original archival evidence, the research establishes 1889 as the definitive starting point for the newspaper’s continuous run. With the conclusion of the research, the Robertson County News now moves forward with a verified historical foundation, recognizing 136 years of service to Hearne, Franklin, and all of Robertson County.