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Texas
| Counties
HARRIS COUNTY,
TEXAS
29°
51' 36" N, 95° 23' 24" W (29.86, -95.39)
Population: 4,698,619 est. (2018) 4,092,459 (2010)
Total area: 1,777 square miles (4,600 km2)
1,703 square miles (4,410 km2) land
74 square miles (190 km2) water |
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Harris County
History
(Historical Marker
on Old Harris County Courthouse grounds, San Jacinto St., Houston)
HARRIS COUNTY
Inhabited during the 17th century by Karankawa and Orcoquiza Indians,
and considered in 1756 by Spain for site of Presidio de San Agustin
de Ahumada, this region was settled permanently in 1822 by the colonists
of Stephen F.
Austin. In 1824 John R. Harris (1790-1829) received title to 4,428
acres of land in Buffalo Bayou-Braes Bayou Junction area, and started
village named for his family for Harrisburg, Pa., founded by his grandfather.
Colonial settlements in the vicinity were Cedar Bayou, Lynchburg,
Midway, Morgan's
Point, New
Kentucky, and Stafford's Point. First step toward local government
was taken when Stephen
F. Austin and the Baron de Bastrop met (1824) with colonists at
the house of William Scott, Midway, to explain colonization laws.
Harrisburg, a town by 1826, was one of the original and most influential
colonial municipalities, with a major role in Texas War for Independence,
which won freedom in 1836.
The county of Harrisburg (later Harris) was created Dec. 30, 1836.
The capital of the Texas Republic was within its boundaries for several
years. In the Civil War, it was a command and ordnance center (1863-65),
of Trans-Mississippi Department, Confederate Army. It has since grown
into a center for world commerce.
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Harris County
Town List
Cities, Towns &
Ghost Towns: History, attractions, landmarks, architecture, monuments,
museums, cemeteries, bridges, parks, vintage & contemporary images,
area destinations, hotels,
and forum.
County Seat - Houston
Book Hotel Here - Houston
Hotels |
Harris County
Vintage Maps
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Harris County
1907 postal map
(Click on image to enlarge)
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Harris County
1920s map
(Click on image to enlarge)
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
Harris County
1940s map
(Click on image to enlarge)
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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