Niles City, three miles north of the business center of Fort Worth in central Tarrant County, was incorporated in February 1911. The town was called "the richest little city in the state of Texas" because of the high value of several corporations within its boundaries. It was named in honor of Louville Veranus Niles of Boston, Massachusetts, a large stockholder in the Fort Worth Stock Yards Company; Niles was given credit for the fact that the Swift and Armour packing companies located their plants in the vicinity. The Fort Worth Stockyards, including the Live Stock Exchange Building and the packing plants, all located within the Niles City corporate limits, were valued at over $12 million in 1911.

Because of these historic facts, the band decided on the name to reflect a wealth of musical richness and diversity, and to commemorate an area in Texas steeped in country music tradition.