Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney, Texas is the oldest and largest monthly trade days in North Texas. With roots back to the old county-wide market that began in the 1870s in McKinney: It is located in the historic Buckner Community which was the first County Seat of Collin County.
Third Monday McKinney Trade Days has 18 acres of parking, 2 ATMs, clean restrooms, 3 shopper entrances and exits, as well as a heated and air-conditioned Mall.
At Third Monday McKinney Trade Days, you will find a mix of fair-style food vending, antiques, trendy apparel and accessories, garage sale items, a great variety of home and outdoor decor, pet supplies, health and beauty products, and more.
Parking
Parking is $5 on Saturday and Sunday until 4 pm. Parking is FREE on Fridays and Sat-Sun AFTER 4 pm.
Visit https://www.collincountyhistory.com/buckner.html for a detailed history.
Third Monday Trade Days was originally the site of the town of Buckner. In the 1843 the land, which belonged to a Kiowa tribe was granted by Texas to John McGarrah. McGarrah created Fort Buckner to protect settlers against unfriendly native american tribes. He also created the first trading post in the area to trade furs and goods. The small trading post/post office for Buckner actually sat across the street, south of the market location. The ruin was there for some time into modern days. Originally, Buckner itself encompassed about 13 acres. Buckner was what they called a "family fort" rather than the large fort we generally think of.
The Kiowa tribe lived peacefully alongside the Buckner settlers. Kiowa Chief Spotted Tail and his tribe protected and helped the settlers thrive. Chief Spotted Tail was deemed a local hero in 1871 when he helped bury the dead from the small pox outbreak which he later succumbed to as well. He is buried in the tiny cemetery on Third Monday property.
Buckner was named the first county seat of Collin County in 1846 but only two years later it was determined that Buckner was located slightly outside of the 3 mile limit from the center of Collin County and legislation took the title of county seat title and gave it to a town named they named McKinney after the first settler, Collin McKinney, just 3 miles east of the fort.
Over time, people moved their homes and businesses to Mckinney and Buckner reverted to agricultural uses. Legend has it that the name, "Third Monday Trade Days" was coined from the fact that trading days at the fort revolved around the THIRD MONDAY of every month because thats when the "hanging judge" came to the area to make his legal determinations and the gulity were hung. Picnics, trading between settlers, and festivals were held around this event.
Once the Fort was abandoned and the population lived in Mckinney, first monday trade days was held at the square around the courthouse in the 1880s to buy, sell and trade stray livestock. In the 1960s the Third Monday Trade Day market was created (using the frontiers traditional market date) and ran continuously until 2022.
History courtesy of J. J. Jensen - The Wonderful Nightmare
The land surrounding this historic cemetery was part of a gant obtained by John McGarrah, a member of the Peters colony who arrived in this area in 1843. McGarrah founded a trading post near this site and soon the Fort Buckner settlement was established. It would later become the first county seat of Collin County.
David William O'brien (1808-1885) came to Collin County with his family in 1857. He eventually acquired the part of the McGarrah land which included this cemetery. The Buckner Cemetary, which was established on the O'brien land, has also been referred to as O'brien cemetery over the years
Although there may be earlier unmarked graves, the oldest documented burial is that of Franklin O'brien (1851-1870). Many early pioneers of Collin County are interred here, including victoms of Smallpox epidemic in the 1870s. According to local tradition, a Kiowa indian named Spotted Tail also lies here in an unmarked grave.
The only physical remnant of the Buckner community, this cemetery serves as a reminder of the early history of Collin County
History courtesy of Texas Histrical Commission - Buckner Cemetery Marker