Walker County’s first Commissioners Court meeting was conducted July 27, 1846, in the upper story of the home of Harvey Randolph; the home was used by the court until the first courthouse was completed in 1853.
Pleasant Gray, founder and settler of the county seat of Huntsville, donated the site for the first official temple of justice, a brick building that eventually burned in January 1888.
The next courthouse, completed in March 1889 for $22,494, was destroyed by fire on Dec. 24, 1968.
The present county capitol was completed in September 1970 for $821,164. Joiner, Coburn & King designed the Modern style courthouse, built of brick and steel.
The 1st Texas Legislature of the new State of Texas established Walker County, carved from Montgomery County in 1846. The legislature also designated Huntsville as the county seat.
Walker County was originally named for Robert J. Walker, a senator from Mississippi who later became secretary of the treasury under President James K. Polk. While serving in the Senate, Walker introduced legislation, which eventually was adopted, acknowledging the independence of Texas. He was also very active in promoting the annexation of Texas to the United States.
The citizens of Walker County later regretted honoring Robert J. Walker, who took a stand against the Confederacy during the Civil War. Consequently, the legislature passed a resolution that read: …whereas the said Robert J. Walker, ungrateful to the people who honored him and nurtured him in political distinction, has deserted that people…be it resolved…that the county of Walker, in this state, be, and the same is, hereby named Walker County in honor of Capt. Samuel H. Walker, the first distinguished Texas Ranger, who fell in Mexico, while gallantly fighting for the rights and honor to the State of Texas…”
The county seat of Huntsville was named for Huntsville, Ala., former home of Pleasant and Ephraim Gray, the town’s founders.
The county’s original boundaries have been changed three times: in 1853 with the creation of Madison County; in 1858 when a portion of Trinity County was added to Walker County; and in 1870 when a portion of Walker County was incorporated into San Jacinto County.
The county seat of Huntsville is the headquarters of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and is home to Sam Houston State University.
Huntsville is also the home of Big Sam, the world’s tallest statue of an American hero anywhere in the world. Other attractions include Huntsville State Park, Sam Houston National Forest, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, and HEARTS Veterans Museum.
Historic downtown features murals by world-renowned artist Richard Haas, and the New Zion Missionary Baptist Church BBQ, featured in GQ magazine as one of the top 10 places in the world to fly in for a meal.
COUNTY JUDGE
Colt Christian
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Precinct 1
Danny Kuykendall
Precinct 2
Ronnie White
Precinct 3
Bill Daugette
Precinct 4
Brandon Decker