Delta County was first inhabited by European settlers in the 1820s, when the area around present-day Ben Franklin was developed. The area saw an influx of settlers in the 1830s, many coming from the southeastern United States. In 1846, control of the area was split between Hopkins and Lamar Counties by the Texas Legislature. The area continued to grow rapidly, developing into a largely agricultural area. In 1868, inhabitants of the area petitioned the state of Texas for the creation of a new county, and in 1870, the petition was granted and Delta County was formed, with its government based in the newly formed city of Cooper.