County Seat: Houston * County Population: 4,731,145 (2020 Census)
The Historic Harris County Courthouse was built in 1910 in a Beaux-Arts style as designed by Lang, Winchell & Barglebaugh. The county rededicated the courthouse in August 2011 following a $53.6 million restoration project that returned the courthouse to its original grandeur.
County business is conducted in a modern county capitol completed in 1953 and other buildings including a county annex. The historic temple of justice, now a National Register Property, still functions as a civil courts building.
The five-story, granite and brick courthouse was dedicated on Texas Independence Day in 1911. During the ceremony Judge William Hamblen stated, “At the time of the founding of Houston, 1836, I doubt if there was on the face of this nation a building that would compare in architectural beauty and mechanical embellishments with our courthouse. So far as I am concerned, having lived in that day, I know of none…”
Harris County, originally named Harrisburg, was founded in 1836 and honors John Richardson Harris, an early settler of the area. The county was renamed Harris in 1839. The county seat pays homage to Sam Houston, who led the Texas Army to victory at the Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836. He also served as president of the Republic of Texas and was both a U.S. senator and governor of Texas.
Dozens of Fortune 500 companies have headquarters in Harris County, which has long been recognized as the Energy Capital of the World with thousands of energy-related firms on location.
Harris County is also the proud home of Texas Medical Center, boasting a vast array of hospitals, clinics, medical schools, and research institutions employing hundreds of thousands of workers.
The county is host to an impressive listing of professional athletic teams including the Houston Astros (baseball), Houston Texans (football), Houston Rockets (basketball), Dynamo (soccer), and Houston Aeros (hockey).
When it comes to exploring the county seat, the following are among the most visited attractions: the Arboretum, AVEVA Stadium, PNC Stadium, the Fertitta Center, Hermann Park, Houston Sports Hall of Fame, Memorial Park, Minute Maid Park, NRG Stadium, Sam Houston Park, the San Jacinto Monument, and the Toyota Center.
The downtown streets are not as overwhelmed as some might think thanks to the Tunnel System, an interconnected series of restaurants, shops, etc. servicing those who wish to avoid the characteristic Houston weather while walking around in air-conditioned comfort over the course of several miles.
Finally, Houston has long been synonymous with space travel. Space Center Houston at NASA’s Johnson Space Center includes a five-story plaza featuring a full-size shuttle mock-up, complete with a flight deck. A popular highlight for adults is the tram tour that transports visitors to various buildings throughout the Space Center. Guests are invited into the viewing room of the original Mission Control where they are able to take in full-size mock-ups of the original Apollo rockets.