Fort Richardson was constructed in 1867 as part of the occupation of Texas following the Civil War. In 1871, Fort Richardson became one of the primary launching points in the push to rid the plains of Indians that were raiding from north of the Red River. The fort was abandoned in 1878 after The Red River War and the annihilation of the southern buffalo herds forced the Indians back onto the reservation. Fort Richardson State Park is located just south of Jacksboro, Texas.