Walker

Formed March 1, 1846 (56^th county)

Walker County (67,861), Huntsville (38,548)

The Modern tan brick and steel courthouse of Walker County was built in 1970.  It is on a square at the intersection of 11^th and Sam Houston.  United States Highway 190 is 11^th Street through the city.  The building’s designer was Joiner, Coburn & King.  An Annex was added in 1993.  All five courthouses (1848, 1853, 1861, 1888, and 1970) have been in Huntsville since the county’s March 1, 1846 founding.  Walker County was carved from Montgomery County as the 56^th county.  The county was originally named for Robert J. Walker, Texas legislator but was later changed to honor Samuel Walker, Texas Ranger and Mexican War hero.  Huntsville got its name from early settlers from Huntsville, Alabama.  Hunt County has a different namesake. 

Walker County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Walker, Grimes, Leon, and Madison counties, One District Court Judge serves Walker, Leon, and Madison counties, and Two County Court Judges serve Walker County.  The county is in southeast Texas north of Houston, Texas.  The Trinity River is the northeast border of the county.  The county center is in Huntsville 1.4 miles West-Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Houston, Trinity, San Jacinto, Montgomery, Grimes, and Madison counties. 

The area of the county is 801 square miles.  It is 204 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 50 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 84.72 persons per square mile making it 47 out of 254 in the state.  Walker County has 59.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 45 crosses north to south from Madison County to Montgomery County.  United States Highway 190 enters jointly with Interstate Highway 45 from Madison County, splits at Huntsville, and exits to the east to San Jacinto County.  This rectangular county adds a dome on the northern border.  Huntsville is located a little east of center.  Huntsville is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 56.8% of the county population.  This county is in the Huntsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.