Huntsville is a city in and the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Walker CountyWalker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 61,758. The 2006 Census estimate placed the county's population at 63,304. Its county seat is Huntsville....
,
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 35,078 at the
2000 censusThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is the center of the Huntsville
micropolitan areaUnited States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the Census Bureau and the Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
.
Huntsville is located in the
East TexasEast Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
Piney Woods on the
Interstate 45Interstate 45 is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico....
corridor between
HoustonHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest city within the state of Texas. As of the 2008 U.S. Census estimate, the city has a population of 2.2 million within an area of 600 square miles . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of...
and
DallasDallas , with a population of 1,279,910, is the third-largest city in Texas and the 8th-largest in the United States. The city is the main economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area that according to the March 2009 U.S. Census Bureau release, had a population of...
. Huntsville is home to
Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first such institution of its type in the State of Texas...
, the
Texas Department of Criminal JusticeThe Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain oversight of community...
, Huntsville State Park, the HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas located inside
West Hill Mall, and the Texas Prison Museum. It also served as the residence of
Sam HoustonSamuel Houston was a 19th century American statesman, politician, and soldier. Born on Timber Ridge, just north of Lexington in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Houston was a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as President of the Republic of Texas, Senator...
(the noted Texas general, elected leader, and statesman), who is recognized in Huntsville by the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and also by an enormous statue on
Interstate 45Interstate 45 is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico....
.
Huntsville has offices of the
Texas Department of Criminal JusticeThe Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain oversight of community...
, which also has offices in
AustinAustin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 15th-largest in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in the nation...
. The
Huntsville PrisonTexas State Penitentiary at Huntsville or Huntsville Unit is a Texas state prison located in Huntsville, Texas, United States. The facility is operated by the Correctional Institutions Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, administered as within Region I...
, also known as the "Walls Unit" due to the large, imposing walls surrounding the facility, houses the state's execution chamber. Due to escapes from the prison, the male
death rowDeath row is a term that refers to the section of a prison that houses individuals awaiting execution. It is also used to refer to the state of awaiting execution, even in places where a special section of a prison does not exist ....
was relocated to the
Polunsky UnitPolunsky Unit is a prison in Livingston, Texas that became the home of Texas's death row male prisoners from 1999. Formerly death row inmates were held at the Ellis Unit from 1965 to 1999, and at the Huntsville Unit, from 1928 to 1965.-External links:*...
near
Livingston, TexasLivingston is a town in Polk County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,433 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Polk County. Livingston was settled in 1835 as Springfield. Its name was changed to Livingston and became the county seat of Polk County in 1846. There are 6,612 people ...
; the female death row is located at the
Mountain View UnitMountain View Unit is a state prison housing female offenders in Coryell County, Texas, located on FM 215 near Gatesville. In addition to its other functions, Mountain View Unit houses the state's female death row inmates....
near
Gatesville, TexasGatesville is a city in Coryell County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,591 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coryell County....
.
In reference to its prison, "Huntsville" is the title and subject of a
country musicCountry music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
song by
Merle HaggardMerle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band "The Strangers" helped create the Bakersfield Sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies, and a...
, on the album, Someday We'll Look Back.
History
The city had its beginning about 1836, when Pleasant and Ephraim Gray opened a trading post on the site. Ephraim Gray became first postmaster in 1837, naming it after his former home town,
HuntsvilleHuntsville is a city, centrally located in the northern most part of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is located in Madison county and extends west into neighboring Limestone county. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison county, and the fourth largest city in Alabama. The 2000 census estimated...
in Madison County,
AlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States of America. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its...
. (Incidentally, "Madison County" is also the name of an adjacent Texas County.)
Huntsville became the home of
Sam HoustonSamuel Houston was a 19th century American statesman, politician, and soldier. Born on Timber Ridge, just north of Lexington in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Houston was a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as President of the Republic of Texas, Senator...
, who served as President of the
Republic of TexasThe Republic of Texas was an independent state in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1845.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
, Governor of the State of
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
, Governor of
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
, U.S. Senator, and Tennessee congressman. General Houston led the Texas Army in the
Battle of San JacintoThe Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texas Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen minutes...
- the decisive victory of the
Texas RevolutionThe Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was a military conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836. However, a war at sea between Mexico and Texas would continue into the 1840s...
. Houston has been noted for his life among the Cherokees of Tennessee, and - near the end of his life - for his opposition to the
American Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
, a position which was a very unpopular in his day. Located in Huntsville are two of Houston's homes, his grave, and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum. Houston's life in Huntsville is also commemorated by his namesake
Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first such institution of its type in the State of Texas...
, and by a statue. (The towering statue, "Tribute to Courage" by artist David Adickes, has been described as the world's largest statue of an American hero, and is easily viewed by travelers on
Interstate 45Interstate 45 is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston on the Gulf of Mexico....
.)
Huntsville was also the home of
Samuel Walker HoustonSamuel Walker Houston was a prominent African-American pioneer in the field of education. He was born into slavery on February 12, 1864, in Huntsville, Texas, to Joshua Houston, a slave owned by Sam Houston....
(1864-1945), a prominent African-American pioneer in the field of education. He was born into
slaverySlavery is a form of forced labor in which people are considered to be the property of others. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation...
on February 12, 1864 to Joshua Houston, a slave owned by
Sam HoustonSamuel Houston was a 19th century American statesman, politician, and soldier. Born on Timber Ridge, just north of Lexington in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, Houston was a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as President of the Republic of Texas, Senator...
. Samuel W. Houston founded the Galilee Community School in 1907, which later became known as the Houstonian Normal and Industrial Institute, in
Walker County, TexasWalker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 61,758. The 2006 Census estimate placed the county's population at 63,304. Its county seat is Huntsville....
.
In 1995, on the grounds of the old Samuel W. Houston Elementary School, the
Huntsville Independent School DistrictHuntsville Independent School District is a public school district based in Huntsville, Texas .In addition to Huntsville, the district serves the city of Riverside as well as rural areas in central Walker County. The current Superintendent is Dr. Richard Montgomery.-Middle School :Originally built...
, along with the Huntsville Arts Commission and the high school's Ex-Students Association, commissioned the creation of
The DreamersThe Dreamers is a sculpture crafted by artists Larry Zink and Monica Taylor, designed to underscore contributions made by the black community.Completed in 1995, the sculpture stands on the grounds of the Samuel W...
, a monument to underscore the contributions made by the black community in the growth and development of Huntsville and Walker County.
Geography
Huntsville is located at (30.711254, -95.548373).
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 31.2 square miles (80.9 km²), of which, 30.9 square miles (80.0 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (1.09%) is water.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 35,078 people, 10,266 households, and 5,471 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,135.1 people per square mile (438.3/km²). There were 11,508 housing units at an average density of 372.4/sq mi (143.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.78% White, 26.14% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.91% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.22% of the population.
There were 10,266 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.1% under the age of 18, 29.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 152.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 163.8 males. The prison population is included in the city's population, which results in a significantly skewed sex ratio.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,075, and the median income for a family was $40,562. Males had a median income of $27,386 versus $22,908 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $13,576. About 13.1% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The City of Huntsville is served by the
Huntsville Independent School DistrictHuntsville Independent School District is a public school district based in Huntsville, Texas .In addition to Huntsville, the district serves the city of Riverside as well as rural areas in central Walker County. The current Superintendent is Dr. Richard Montgomery.-Middle School :Originally built...
, the first location for
Austin CollegeAustin College is a private liberal arts college affiliated by covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church and located in Sherman, Texas, an hour north of Dallas....
and is also the home of
Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is a public university located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first such institution of its type in the State of Texas...
.
External links