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Walker County, Texas

Coordinates: 30°44′N 95°34′W / 30.74°N 95.57°W / 30.74; -95.57
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Walker County
County
The Walker County Courthouse in 2014
The Walker County Courthouse in 2014
Map of Texas highlighting Walker County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°44′N 95°34′W / 30.74°N 95.57°W / 30.74; -95.57
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1846
Named forSamuel H. Walker
SeatHuntsville
Largest cityHuntsville
Area
 • Total802 sq mi (2,080 km2)
 • Land784 sq mi (2,030 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  2.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total67,861
 • Density87/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.co.walker.tx.us

Walker County is a county located in the east central section of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 67,861.[1] Its county seat is Huntsville.[2] 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, a Texas Ranger and soldier in the United States Army.

Walker County comprises the Huntsville [Micropolitan Statistical Area]] as well as 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.[3]

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.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,964—
18608,191106.6%
18709,76619.2%
188012,02423.1%
189012,8747.1%
190015,81322.8%
191016,0611.6%
192018,55615.5%
193018,528−0.2%
194019,8687.2%
195020,1631.5%
196021,4756.5%
197027,68028.9%
198041,78951.0%
199050,91721.8%
200061,75821.3%
201067,8619.9%
2019 (est.)72,971[5]7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1850–2010[7] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 61,758 people, 18,303 households, and 11,384 families residing in the county. The population density was 78 people per square mile (30/km²). There were 21,099 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.12% white, 23.88% black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.42% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 14.11% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,303 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.80% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.80% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 18.00% under the age of 18, 23.00% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 18.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 151.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 161.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,468, and the median income for a family was $42,589. Males had a median income of $27,634 versus $22,579 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,508. About 10.60% of families and 18.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.10% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville.

School districts serving portions of the county include:[9]

The Gulf Coast Trades Center, a charter school, is in an unincorporated area of the county.[9][10]

Government and infrastructure

Ellis Unit, a prison in unincorporated Walker County

The headquarters of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), the Texas agency that operates adult state correctional facilities, are in Huntsville.[11][12]

Walker County has the highest number of state prisons and jails of all of the counties in Texas.[13] Several TDCJ prisons for men, including the Byrd Unit,[14] the Goree Unit,[15] the Huntsville Unit,[16] and the Wynne Unit, are in the Huntsville city limits.[17] The Holliday Unit, a transfer unit, is in Huntsville.[18] In addition the Ellis Unit and the Estelle Unit are in unincorporated areas of Walker County.[19][20] The Huntsville Unit houses the State of Texas execution chamber.[21]

Politics

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 65.1% 12,884 30.8% 6,091 4.1% 821
2012 65.0% 12,140 33.5% 6,252 1.6% 293
2008 60.7% 11,623 38.3% 7,334 1.0% 189
2004 65.7% 11,710 33.5% 5,977 0.8% 135
2000 63.1% 9,076 34.4% 4,943 2.5% 355
1996 49.3% 7,177 41.8% 6,088 8.9% 1,302
1992 41.8% 6,662 35.3% 5,619 22.9% 3,643
1988 58.9% 8,473 40.5% 5,826 0.6% 92
1984 67.2% 8,809 32.5% 4,263 0.2% 28
1980 51.9% 5,657 44.7% 4,869 3.5% 380
1976 48.9% 4,974 50.2% 5,105 0.9% 92
1972 63.2% 5,082 36.6% 2,940 0.2% 19
1968 33.6% 1,946 41.3% 2,391 25.1% 1,452
1964 35.1% 1,557 64.9% 2,877 0.1% 2
1960 48.6% 1,750 50.9% 1,832 0.6% 21
1956 59.9% 1,991 38.7% 1,287 1.4% 48
1952 47.7% 1,897 52.3% 2,078 0.0% 1
1948 22.2% 570 56.1% 1,439 21.7% 555
1944 7.1% 145 80.4% 1,638 12.5% 254
1940 9.2% 218 90.8% 2,158
1936 3.9% 69 96.0% 1,715 0.1% 2
1932 4.4% 83 95.2% 1,811 0.5% 9
1928 39.5% 488 60.5% 747
1924 10.1% 201 89.8% 1,792 0.2% 3
1920 23.5% 404 45.7% 788 30.8% 531
1916 28.6% 315 69.2% 763 2.3% 25
1912 30.9% 323 60.3% 631 8.8% 92

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated community

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Texas Historical Marker east of Caldwell
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  7. ^ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Education Service Center, Region VI Archived November 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." (Map) Educational Service Center 6. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  10. ^ "We can be reached at: Archived December 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine" Gulf Coast Trades Center. Retrieved December 8, 2011. "Gulf Coast Trades Center / Raven School 143 Forest Service Rd. 233 New Waverly, TX 77358"
  11. ^ "Huntsville Prison Blues." National Public Radio. September 10, 2001. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  12. ^ "LIVINGSTON NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STATE’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY Archived January 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. July 28, 2005. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  13. ^ Horswell, Cindy. "For hard-hit economy of Liberty County, crime officially pays." Houston Chronicle. 29 June 1995, A30, Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  14. ^ "Byrd Unit Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  15. ^ "Goree Unit Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  16. ^ "Huntsville Unit Archived March 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  17. ^ "Wynne Unit Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  18. ^ "Holliday Unit Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  19. ^ "Ellis Unit Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  20. ^ "Estelle Unit Archived January 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  21. ^ "Death Tow Facts Archived November 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  23. ^ "Marilyn McAdams Sibley". Huntsville Item online. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
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