Walker County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walker County
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The Walker County Courthouse in 2014
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1846 |
| Named for | Robert J. Walker, Renamed for Samuel H. Walker |
| Seat | Huntsville |
| Largest city | Huntsville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 802 sq mi (2,080 km2) |
| • Land | 784 sq mi (2,030 km2) |
| • Water | 17 sq mi (40 km2) 2.2% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 76,400 |
| • Density | 95.26/sq mi (36.78/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 8th |
Walker County is a county located in the east central section of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 76,400. Its county seat is Huntsville. Initially, Walker County was named for Robert J. Walker, a legislator from Mississippi who introduced into the United States Congress the resolution to annex Texas. Walker later supported the U.S. during its Civil War and earned some enmity for it. In order to keep the county's name, the state renamed it for Samuel H. Walker (no relation), a Texas Ranger and soldier in the United States Army.
Walker County comprises the Huntsville Micropolitan Statistical Area which is part of the Houston–The Woodlands Combined Statistical Area.
Americans James Mitchell (1795–1870) and his wife, the former Calpernia Franklin (1805–1865), immigrated to the future Walker County in 1833 and were awarded a Mexican land grant. Mitchell, who became one of the first county commissioners, established the Mitchell House and Inn on the Old San Antonio Road, also known as El Camino Real. During the 1840s, the house was a stop for weary and hungry stagecoach travelers.
Contents
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 802 square miles (2,080 km2), of which 784 square miles (2,030 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (2.2%) is water.
Major Highways
Interstate 45
U.S. Highway 190
State Highway 19
State Highway 30
State Highway 75
Adjacent counties
- Houston County (north)
- Trinity County (northeast)
- San Jacinto County (east)
- Montgomery County (south)
- Grimes County (west)
- Madison County (northwest)
National protected area
- Sam Houston National Forest (part)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,964 | — | |
| 1860 | 8,191 | 106.6% | |
| 1870 | 9,766 | 19.2% | |
| 1880 | 12,024 | 23.1% | |
| 1890 | 12,874 | 7.1% | |
| 1900 | 15,813 | 22.8% | |
| 1910 | 16,061 | 1.6% | |
| 1920 | 18,556 | 15.5% | |
| 1930 | 18,528 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 19,868 | 7.2% | |
| 1950 | 20,163 | 1.5% | |
| 1960 | 21,475 | 6.5% | |
| 1970 | 27,680 | 28.9% | |
| 1980 | 41,789 | 51.0% | |
| 1990 | 50,917 | 21.8% | |
| 2000 | 61,758 | 21.3% | |
| 2010 | 67,861 | 9.9% | |
| 2020 | 76,400 | 12.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010–2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 39,671 | 39,823 | 58.46% | 52.12% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 15,098 | 16,382 | 22.25% | 21.44% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 186 | 251 | 0.27% | 0.33% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 617 | 1,126 | 0.91% | 1.47% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 19 | 39 | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 72 | 318 | 0.11% | 0.42% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 809 | 1,883 | 1.19% | 2.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 11,389 | 16,578 | 16.78% | 21.70% |
| Total | 67,861 | 76,400 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
Cities
- Huntsville (county seat)
- New Waverly
- Riverside
Unincorporated community
Education
Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville.
School districts serving portions of the county include:
- Huntsville Independent School District
- New Waverly Independent School District
- Richards Independent School District (portion)
- Trinity Independent School District (portion)
The Gulf Coast Trades Center, a charter school, is in an unincorporated area of the county.
The Huntsville and New Waverly ISDs are assigned to Lone Star College. Areas of Walker County in Trinity ISD are assigned to Angelina College. The portion of Richards ISD in Walker County is zoned to Blinn College.
Notable people
- Eugene C. Barker
- Marilyn McAdams Sibley
- Slater Martin (Basketball Player)
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Walker (Texas) para niños
