Over 140 years ago, Charles L. Maloney and his brother-in-law, H.C. Hurley, bought an uninhabited tract of land just north of Fort Worth. This land is what we know today as Haslet, Texas. Soon after establishing roots, Maloney was approached by a Santa Fe Railroad representative asking to build the railroad through his property. Initially, Maloney denied the representative’s request, but after further thought, he realized he could benefit from it. Maloney realized he could have an easier mode of transit into Fort Worth since it was a neighboring town.
When Maloney gave the workmen the greenlight, some people asked around about what Maloney said. “He has let us go through,” was the message that was being passed around. When the railroad contractor, Joel C. Harmmond, heard of this, he decided to name the railroad stop “Has Let” in honor of not only what Maloney said but Harmmond’s hometown of Haslett, Michigan. As more settlers arrived in the area, Maloney was credited for the name since he “has let” the railroad come through in 1886.
Following the newfound Haslet name and railroad stop, the once uninhabited land began quickly turning into a larger community. After the opening of its first post office in 1887 and school in 1896, Haslet was recognized as its own town. During this time, the school continued to grow and gain more students. The population was steadily increasing giving more opportunities for grocery stores and small businesses to open. By January 6, 1961, the town of Haslet was incorporated and recognized as a city.