Chambers County was carved out of Jefferson and Liberty counties and named in honor of Thomas Jefferson Chambers, the first and only superior judge of Texas before the revolution.
The county held its first court session underneath a peach tree in Wallisville, the initial county seat. Commissioners Court moved inside when a frame building was erected in 1859. The structure burned along with the county records on Dec. 2, 1875. County business was then conducted on the top floor of a hotel for about a year until another wooden courthouse was completed. In the summer of 1886, a stone and brick courthouse and jail were built for just over $7,300.
In 1907, the county seat was relocated to Anahuac, thanks to an election initiated by opponents of a Wallisville law that prohibited hogs from running free. Regarding its unique name, most agree that Anahuac (pronounced “anna-whack”) is of Indian origin.
Anahuac is one of the oldest settlements in Texas. The area was established in the 1830s by the Mexican government as the capital of Texas. In fact, Texans first opposed the Mexican government at Fort Anahuac, situated on a high bluff at the mouth of the Trinity River. This resistance later climaxed with Texans winning their freedom from Mexico in 1836.
The county set up shop in Anahuac in a wooden building until a stone courthouse was completed in 1912. A courthouse fire erupted on April 28, 1935; thankfully, bystanders saved the records.
County officials moved into the lower floor of the jail until the present courthouse, a limestone structure designed in a Moderne style, was completed in 1937 for $276,000.
The area’s rich history is on display at the Chambers County Museum at Wallisville, which includes a genealogy library and research center filled with approximately 2,000-2,500 books. The museum also boasts some 700 vertical files on pioneer families of the county.
Chambers County is home to the Texas Rice Festival, which takes place at the Winnie-Stowell Park in Winnie the first weekend of October. The annual festival celebrates the rice harvest and draws locals from all over Southeast Texas.
The Texas GATORFEST, an annual festival held in Anahuac, honors the American Alligator. Each year, thousands of visitors flock to Fort Anahuac Park for a weekend of family friendly fun and entertainment.
Finally, the area is known for its natural beauty. Prolific wildlife and beautiful waterways and estuaries attract a cross section of tourists including bird watchers, hunters, and fishermen. For example, the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge includes the Shoveler Pond Auto-Tour loop, the Butterfly Garden, and the Skillern Tract, all perfect for wildlife watching including excellent views of alligators!
For more information on area attractions, scan here: https://www.anahuacareachamber.com/things-to-do-in-anahuac