History
Cut, Carve, Create 🪵
November 8, 2025
HISTORY
Log Jam Fest marks the first step in creating new tradition for Cleveland. Inspired by our roots in timber and rail, this festival celebrates the history that shaped our city while bringing our community together to make history of our own.
1832
1836
1878
1900
1935
2025
Cleveland’s story is deeply rooted in the tall pines and sturdy timber that first gave rise to our community. Families began settling in the area by 1832.
By 1836 Texas land grants brought more pioneers to the region.
Founded as a proud logging and railroad town, Cleveland began when Judge Charles Lander Cleveland deeded 63.6 acres to the Houston, East and West Texas Railway. The station was named in his honor, and the town quickly grew from the strength of the forest and the determination of those who worked thhe land and laid the tracks. These early industries not only shaped our economy, but also created a spirit of resillience, grit, and opportunity that continues to define us today.
By the turn of century, Cleveland had become a true railroad junction, with additional rail lines fueling the growth of the timber industry. Logging camps, sawmills, and businesses thrived, making Cleveland a hub for commerce and opportunity.
For generations, Downtwon Cleveland was the beating heart of the community, a place where families gathered, businesses trived, and neighbors came together to share milestones, both big and small. That identity was strengthened when Cleveland officially incorporated as a city in 1935, giving the community the structure to continue growing.
Log Jam Fest was created to honor that legacy while looking boldly toward the future. By celebrating Cleveland’s roots in logging and rail, and by embracing the community spirit that once made downtown the center of it all, this festival serves as a new tradition designed to bring people together again. Log Jam Fest is more than a celebration, it’s part of a renewed effort to restore Downtown Cleveland as the epicenter of our community and to showcase the heritage proudly reflected in our City’s new brand and logo.