 Named for Samuel Bronson Cooper, the area was first settled in 1895 by settler and developer John Henry Kirby.In 1902, he started the "Kirby Lumber Company", which at one time controlled more than 300,000 acres (1200 km²) of East Texas pinelands and operated thirteen sawmills.That same year, a post office and weekly newspaper - the Bronson Bulletin, were established.