Houston County, Texas

Houston County, Texas
The Houston County Courthouse in Crockett is located at the intersections of Texas State Highway 21 and U.S. Highway 287.
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1837
Named for	Sam Houston
Seat	Crockett
Largest city	Crockett
Area
• Total	1,237 sq mi (3,204 km2)
• Land	1,231 sq mi (3,188 km2)
• Water	5.7 sq mi (15 km2), 0.5%
Population
• (2010)	23,732
• Density	19/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district	8th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.houston.tx.us

Houston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,732. Its county seat is Crockett. The county is named for Sam Houston, a president of the Republic of Texas and Governor of Texas. Houston County was one of forty-six prohibition or entirely dry counties in the state of Texas, until voters in a November 2007 special election legalized the sale of alcohol in the county.

Houston County was the first new county created under the 9-year Republic of Texas on June 12, 1837. The original boundaries of Houston County also included all of present-day Anderson and Trinity Counties, and portions of present-day Henderson and Polk Counties.

Houston County bears no relationship, save its namesake, with the City of Houston, which is located approximately 100 miles (160 km) to the south, in Harris County.

A county historical museum is located in a former railroad depot, located on First Street in Crockett.

Samuel Cartmill Hiroms (1836–1920) was born in present-day Polk County, his parents having been among Stephen F. Austin's "Old 300" families. Hiroms was an educator and a surveyor who served in the Confederate Army. He and his second wife, the former Emily Ann Johnston (1853–1948), settled in the Creek Community of Houston County. Their homestead was adjacent to what is now the Austonio Baptist Church on State Highway 21 in Austonio, Texas.