Walker County

Created from Montgomery County in 1846, shortly after Texas became a state, Walker County was named for U.S. Senator Robert J. Walker (1801-1869) of Mississippi, a major advocate of Texas annexation. Because of Walker's Union sympathies in the Civil War, the honor was withdrawn in 1863 and the county was renamed for Captain Samuel H. Walker (1817-1847), a noted Texas Ranger who was killed in action during the Mexican War. Huntsville has always served as Walker County seat. Parts of Madison and San Jacinto counties were carved from Walker County.