Anderson

Formed March 24, 1846 (59^th county)

Anderson County (57,922), Palestine (18,538)                

The domed Beaux Arts courthouse was built in 1914 and sits on a hill south of Lacy Street, between Dechard and Fannin, north and east of United States Highway 287.  Although many Texas courthouses are built of limestone, the Capitol style is somewhat unique.  The architects were Charles H. Page and Brother.  The building was restored in 1986.  Anderson County was organized on March 24, 1846 from Houston County as the 59^th county.  Fort Houston was the first county seat until 1847 when Palestine became the seat.  Three previous courthouses (1847, 1856, and 1886) were also located in Palestine.  Anderson County was named for Kenneth Lewis Anderson who was Vice President of Texas from 1844 until annexation.  He is also the namesake for the Grimes County seat.  Minister Daniel Parker named the county seat for Palestine, Illinois. 

Anderson County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Anderson, Henderson, and Houston counties, One District Court Judge serves Anderson, Freestone, Leon, and Limestone counties, One District Court Judge serves Anderson and Houston counties, and One District Court Judge and Two County Court Judges serve Anderson County.  The county is situated in east central Texas where pine trees are abundant.  The county center is in Palestine 1.8 miles Northwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Henderson, Cherokee, Houston, Leon, Freestone, and Navarro counties. 

The area of the county is 1071 square miles.  It is 54 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 58 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 54.1 persons per square mile making it 71 out of 254 in the state.  Anderson County has 36.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 79 crosses the county from Cherokee County on the east to Freestone County on the southwest.  United States Highway 84 comes from Cherokee County and goes with United States Highway 79 into Freestone County.  United States Highway 287 enters from the northwest, Freestone County and exits to the south, Houston County.  The county is shaped like a lazy “S” and Palestine is slightly south and east of the center.  Palestine is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 32.0% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced PAL-IS-STEEN.  This county is in the Palestine Micropolitan Statistical Area.