Houston County
Houston County, Texas, is home to the Caddo Indians, Tejas Indians, Cherokees, and Other Native American Tribes
Houston County is a large county in Texas that is located east of Waco and west of Leon County. It is situated in the East Texas Timberlands region. The area was inhabited by humans for thousands of years and was home to Caddo Indians and Tejas Indians, Cherokees, and other Native American tribes. Houston County
The earliest human inhabitants arrived in the Archaic Period between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago. Some of these early people were part of the tribes of the Caddo, or Caddo-Tejas, who lived in the area around present-day Houston. There are remains of these ancient cultures in the area, and evidence of the arrival of the Caddo is also found in the area today.
The first county in the Republic of Texas was named Houston. The territory that would become Houston County was part of the Northwest Territory, along with portions of Henderson, Polk, and Trinity counties. The population of Houston County increased slowly from 25,452 in 1900 to 30,017 in 1930.
Agricultural development in Houston County took off after the Houston and Great Northern Railroad was built through the area. This railroad helped new residents settle and form new towns along the tracks. In addition, the timber industry continued to thrive. Since World War II, Houston County has been the leading agricultural producer in the region.
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Houston County began to develop a more diverse farming economy. Farmers in the area planted to corn, oats, rye, and sorghum. Cotton was also a big crop, although yields declined after 1929. By 1982, Houston County ranked 90th among 254 Texas counties in total agricultural receipts.
At the same time, Houston County had five large processing plants. Most of these facilities were located in the Stewart-Houston Industrial Park. Additionally, a cement plant opened in Coreen, due to the rich limestone deposits in the area.
Despite its early history, Houston County did not see much violence during the Reconstruction era. The influx of new settlers and the construction of the Houston and Great Northern Railroad changed the economy of the region. When these two industries began to prosper in the 1940s and 1950s, the population of Houston County rose, although the population remained relatively small.
A number of schools were established in the county during the early 1900s. Those schools included a school system, a vocational center, and a number of districts. Many of these communities had a post office, but most of the communities were small. One of the largest towns was Crockett.
The majority of the county's residents were White. However, there were a number of Black farmers. Most of them worked on land on shares. They were given one-third of the crop. Unlike other counties, the Blacks of Houston County fared better than the rest of the population.
In addition to the agricultural and lumbering industries, Houston County was a major shipping port for local farm products. Several cities had post offices, including Augusta, Cumberland City, and Randolph. These towns served as rail and river ports and shipped the products of farms in the surrounding area.