Houston

Formed January 1, 1871 (91^st county)

Houston County (8,281), Erin (1,224), Tennessee Ridge (1,324)

The red brick Modern courthouse was built in 1956.  There were 1872 and 1883 versions earlier.  The courthouse is on Main Street at Averitt Street.  Main Street is Tennessee State Highway 49.  Burkhalter, Hickerson & Associates are the building designers.  The grounds have veterans’ memorials.  The county was formed on January 1, 1871 from parts of Dickson, Montgomery, Humphreys, and Stewart counties as the 91^st county.  Arlington was the first county seat until 1878 when Erin became the county seat.  Houston County is named for Texas President Sam Houston.  The county seat was named for Ireland. 

Houston County government consists of a county mayor, a sheriff, a law director, an assessor, and a clerk (executive).  It has 13 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two Circuit Court Judges, One Chancery Court Judge, One General Court Judge, and One Juvenile Court Judge serve Houston, Cheatham, Dickson, Humphreys, and Stewart counties and a court clerk serves Houston County (judicial.)  The county is in the northwest part of the state.  Nashville, Tennessee is east and Memphis, Tennessee is southwest of the county.  The Tennessee River forms its western border.  The county center is 4.2 miles Southeast of Erin.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Stewart, Montgomery, Dickson, Humphreys, and Benton counties. 

The area of the county is 200 square miles.  It is 88 out of 95 in the state.  It ranks 89 out of 95 in population in the state.  It has a density of 41.4 persons per square mile making it 75 out of 95 in the state.  Houston County has 30.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  The county looks like a fat pistol pointing west.  Erin is located slightly north of center in the county.  Tennessee Ridge is located in the western third of the county and extends into Stewart County.  Erin is the county seat and Tennessee Ridge is the largest city.  Erin is 14.8% of the county population while Tennessee Ridge is 16.0% of the county population.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.