Houston

Formed June 12, 1837 (26^th county)

Houston County (23,732), Crockett (6,950)

The Modern masonry structure, built in 1939, is at the intersection of Texas State Highways 7/21 (Goliad Street) and Texas State Highway 19/United States Highway 287 (4^th Street.)  The building’s designer was Blum E. Hester.  The building was renovated in 1976.  Five courthouses have been in Crockett since the county was founded on June 12, 1837, the last dated 1883.  Houston County was cut from Nacogdoches County as the 26^th county.  The county was named for Texas President Sam Houston.  Harris County seat is also named for him.  Davy Crockett is the namesake of the county seat.  He is the source of Crockett County’s name too. 

Houston County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Houston, Anderson, and Henderson counties, One District Court Judge serves Houston and Anderson counties, and One County Court Judge serves Houston County.  The county is on the edge of the eastern pine area northwest of Houston, Texas and southeast of Dallas, Texas.  The Trinity River is the western border and the Neches River is the eastern border of the county.  The county center is 3.1 miles Northeast of Crockett.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Anderson, Cherokee, Angelina, Trinity, Walker, Madison, and Leon counties. 

The area of the county is 1237 square miles.  It is 40 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 104 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 19.19 persons per square mile making it 136 out of 254 in the state.  Houston County has 41.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 287 goes north to south from Anderson County to Trinity County.  The county is shaped like a megaphone pointing west.  Crockett is located in the western half of the county.  Crockett is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 29.3% of the county population.