Polk County, Texas

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History/Timeline

Polk county front page images.

• Polk County was created and organized Mar 30, 1846 from Liberty County, by the act of the First Legislature of the State of Texas.^[1] This was one of the first of a series of 23 counties created after the USA annexed the new state. It is named for His Excellency James Knox Polk of Tennessee, President of the United States, was by act of the First Legislature of the State of Texas, approved on March 30, 1846, created out of Liberty County and embraced that portion thereof known and designated as the "Northern Division" of said Liberty County. It was one of the first of a series of 23 counties, constituted and established by the State of Texas, after annexation with the United States.^[2]

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp06

1529 a royal land grant was awarded to Pánfilo de Narváez. The Spanish tended to avoid the area.^[3]

1700s - Hasinai Indians (alliance of Caddo descent) were in the region. ^[3]

late 1700s -Alabama and Coushatta Indians crossed into the Big Thicket, (covering a lot of the area) Louisiana. These Alabama and Coushatta stayed in the county, living on land given to them in 1854.^[3]

1834 Pakana Muskogees, of Creek descent, (3rd group) settled in Polk County.^[3]

Big Thicket was discouraging to European settlers.^[3]

1831, 1834 Empresarios awarded land grants to American and Hispanic families. Few actually settled. By 1834 there were only 7 familiesrecorded in Smithfield on the Trinity River.^[3]

1841 Drew's Landing and Smithfield were busy shipping points.

1846- Polk County, was formed from Liberty Municipality (which was subdivided from Department of Nacogdoches). Polk co. was named after President James K. Polk, was one of 23 counties formed by the first state legislature of Texas in 1846. The boundaries established on March 30 closely followed those of the old northern division of Liberty Municipality,^[3]

1846 - voting in Polk county selected Livingston to be the County Seat (was formerly named Springfield). The first commissioners' court met there in September. ^[3]

Polk Co. in Texas.

1835-1860 Settlers arrived, with many on the Trinity River and along the main creeks. ^[3]

Examples- Pierre J. Menard, representing Liberty Municipality in the Consultation at San Felipe, and George T. Wood, governor of Texas 1847 to 1849.^[3]

pre-Civil War - Settlers were mostly from southern states, thus plantations were major feature of the economics and politics prior to Civil War. (Population of the county in 1860 was 8,300, with a slave majority of 4,198. ^[3]

1859 - Plantations produced 9,307 bales of cotton.The county produced 9,307 bales of cotton. ^[3]

1859-1861 Polk County supported Hardin R. Runnels against Sam Houston, majority for presidential candidate John C. Breckinridge in 1860 and secession in 1861.^[3]

1862-1865 Polk County raised 8 companies to serve the Confederacy, PLUS an Indian unit led by planter, Confederate major Alexander Hamilton Washington. ^[3]

post 1866 - the county had depended on plantation system of farming,, it was economically broken after the war.^[3]

1869 Number of farms doubled, but population decreased and the agriculture production fell sharply. Corn crops fell 30%. Cotton production fell 50%

1870-1900-- Antebellum corn production was not equaled again until 1900, and cotton not until 1940. Even the Cattle and hogs decreased 1/3

1870-1890 mules, horses, and sheep, became a source of steady income through the turn of the century. The average value of a farm including land and buildings dropped from ($7,377 to $501) .^[3]

Mar 11, 1875- adjustment to Polk County when part of Trinity County was added to Polk Co., leading to the present Polk County. ^[3]

1880-1940 - population increased steadily then peaked at 20,635. The population of Polk County grew steadily from 1880 to 1940, when it peaked at 20,635,^[3]

1881 Railways -The Houston, East and West Texas Railway was completed north across Polk County, and the tracks have been used by the Southern Pacific since 1961. Many small lines, such as the Moscow, Camden and San Augustine, were built by lumber companies during the timber boom, but most have been abandoned. The Trinity and Sabine established Corrigan in 1881, then became part of an east-west line of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas across the county in 1884. The Waco, Beaumont, Trinity and Sabine acquired the line in 1923, along with the Beaumont and Great Northern, first completed through Onalaska to Livingston in 1908.^[3]

1899- Many Pakana Muskoges moved to Oklahoma, while the rest joined the Alabama Couishtta Indians. ^[3]

1900 Lumber production occupies much of the land in Polk County. In the twentieth century the value of the lumber industry increased remarkably. The greatest increase came after World War II, but the lumber boom helped ease the impact of the Great Depression on the county. ^[3]

1903- The Livingston Telephone Company was organized on August 3, 1903, (40 telephones in service). ^[3]

1905-Livingston Power Plant began providing electricity at night from a small wood-fired steam engine.

1907 Several local businessmen bought the plant in 1907 and initiated daylight service in 1909. Livingston Municipal Light Department still operates.^[3]

1920 Polk County has a rural population, less dependent on farming. Many farms lay fallow or grew hay, ^[3]

1928 Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation was enlarged by the federal government in 1928, is Located east of Livingston on U.S. Highway 190. (3 creeks are named for Coushattal chiefs( 1) Long King, 2) Long Tom, and 3) Tempe. ^[3]

1936 -The rails from Corrigan east were abandoned in 1936, and from Livingston west in 1949

post World War II, U.S. highways 59 and 287, through Livingston and Corrigan, were paved, and U.S. 190 from Livingston to Woodville, in neighboring Tyler County, was hard-surfaced by 1949. Only 2,551 motor vehicles were registered in Polk County in 1944; in 1990 the total of 28,311 reflected the effect of highway development in the county.^[3]

1940-1960 population 16,194.

1980 Population had increased to 24,407.

The population of African Americans decreased 40%, in the 1870s, then increased until 1950.

Indian residents of Polk County have remained steady at a few hundred.

There are no large towns within the county; of the incorporated areas, Livingston increased from 1,851 inhabitants in 1940 to 5,019 by 1990, when Corrigan had 1,794 residents, Onalaska 728, Goodrich 239, and Seven Oaks 171.

1981- 16,380 tons hay was produced in 1981. ^[3]

1982 Rural population increased, (agriculture has been minor in the economy of Polk County). From a peak in 1929 of 2,300 farms employing 3,191 people, the number of active farming operations fell to 456 in 1978 before recovering to 530 employing less than 200 in 1982. No cotton production has been reported since 1969, ^[3]

1930-1940 jobs in the timber and related service industries double. Manufactures, mostly lumber, totaled $859,657 in value in 1900, then $2.9 million in 1939. ^[3]

1977 timber industry in Polk County produced $64.4 million in manufactures and employed almost 1,000 people. ^[3]

1980s -Several private and municipal companies provided phone service to the county in the 1980s. ^[3]

1982 Timber prices rose, thus by 1982 only 9% of the farmland was cultivated, but farmsteads averaged $264,994 in value.^[3]

1982 Oil and gas production increased (1.8 billion cubic feet of gas-well gas were produced)

1990 County production of peaches, blueberries, and vegetables. Polk County was the leading Texas county in lumber products and Christmas trees. Crude oil production was 1,256,622 barrels.

Transportation facilitated the development of industry improvement in transportation. Early commerce depended on a few roads or the Trinity River; ^[3]

2000 rural households get electricity from Gulf States Utilities or Texas Power and Light Company. Entex, Incorporated, sells natural gas to county residents.^[3]

Story of Swartwout

A banker from New York backed several colonies. In 1838 the small town, Swartout began on the East bank of the Trinity River. Sam Houston was even an early shareholder, when the community and its future looked horizonless..

Before Polk county was formed, the Masons opened a school there in the 1840s. It had a ferry landing and was on a stage line, as well as had a hotel. Its Trinity River traffic boosted it into a river port for cotton warehousing and shipping.and the town was on a stage line.

Liberty County was established and Swartwout was a sub county seat for Liberty's northern division. Then Polk County was formed in 1846. Swartwout was on the ballot for county seat. However sufficient voters did not vote for the town as the new county seat. After this the town continued thriving on the river trade.. When the railroads were built they by passed Swartwout, they delivered the second blow for the town.. Its post office was open 1846 to 1875. .

A marker was put in place in 1936, then that was moved when Lake Livingston Reservoir was built. Nothing is left of the old town of Swartwout, however a community is near the old Livingston Dam. A submerged Texas Ghost Town. http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasGhostTowns/Swartwout-Texas.htm

Government Offices

Polk County has had five courthouses: 1846, 1847, 1854, 1884 and 1923

1st Courthouse, 1846 The county’s first courthouse cost $10.00, and was a one-room log cabin built by Texas Revolutionary War veteran John English in 1846. It was not meant to be permanent. It was built on a hill where all the subsequent courthouses were built. ^[4]

2nd Courthouse, 1847 - This was completed in 1847, with cost of $437.00 It was a larger, one-story log cabin measuring 26’ x 22’ x 20’. It was built by James Andress, a local civic leader and innkeeper. Andress moved the first courthouse down the hill and attached it to his inn where it was used as a kitchen. (The Andress Inn was demolished in 1911), but a Texas historical marker south of the current courthouse identifies its former location.^[4]

3rd Courthouse, 1854 The next courthouse was a 40’ x 40’ two-story building built of brick in 1854, with a cost just under $6,000. ^[4]

4th Courthouse, 1884- Thirty years later, the 1854 courthouse was renovated extremely. A new stone facade was part of the renovation. The renovated 1854 courthouse became the county’s fourth courthouse in 1884. It was built of stone and brick and designed by popular Houston architect Eugene T. Heiner in his familiar Second Empire style. The renovation cost $17, 500 and the contractor was W. C. Wells. A white fence was built around the courthouse square at this time to keep roving livestock off the grounds.^[4]

1884 renovated Courthouse.

1902, downtown Livingston was destroyed by fire, reportedly caused by a disgruntled liquor salesman upset with the county’s ban on the sale of alcohol. The 1884 courthouse was the only downtown building that survived. ^[4]

1905, a 23’ x 43’ courthouse annex was built of locally made red brick on the SW corner of the courthouse square. It was designed by Houston architect Lewis Sterling Green. The annex still stands today as the county’s oldest government building.^[4]

1905 Annex

5th Courthouse, 1923 This current courthouse began in 1923. Houston contractor Isaac Young had cleared the foundation by July and the cornerstone was laid on November 12, 1923. The brick and concrete courthouse was built in the Classical Revival style (in the case of this courthouse, also referred to as Texas Renaissance) with Beaux-Arts details such as large entrance columns, arched windows, a cross-axial floor plan and a flat roof with decorative balustrades. This courthouse was the first courthouse for Polk County to have electricity, indoor plumbing, a furnace for steam heating, telephones and drinking water from another source other than from roof run-off. The courthouse was used for political and social functions and contained a community auditorium, library, post office, American Legion Hall and a jury dormitory with showers. The building’s total cost was $178,740. ^[4]

1923 Courthouse

Geography

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp06

Location - the East Texas Timberlands region on the east bank of the Trinity River.

Geographical center - 94°50' north latitude and 30°49' west longitude. County seat - Livingston, on U.S. Hwys 59 and 190, 76 miles NE of Houston.

Size -1,061 square miles

Elevation from 100 to 300 feet

Topography - gently rolling in the north and in South part is more level.

Soil - North part- has light colored loamy, deep reddish clay subsoil. Southern part - acidic, sandy-loamy surfaces with deep reddish loam or clay subsoil. Near River soils are dark, loamy.

"Marine deposit found in subsoil, indicate the region was once under the ocean.

Rivers/Creeks- Trinity River & Niches River border the county, and Menard, Sally, Tombigbee, Big Sandy, Long King, Piney, and Kickapoo creeks.

Trees/vegetatoin Pine and hardwood forested (40% is prime farm land.)

Lake - Lake Livingstone- man made reservoir on the Trinity River, covers 82,600 acres.

Rainfall - 48 inches annually

Temperature -67° F.

Growing season lasts 250 days.

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp06

Adjacent counties

• Angelina County (north)
• Tyler County (east)
• Hardin County (southeast)
• Liberty County (south)
• San Jacinto County (southwest)
• Trinity County (northwest)

Protected areas

• Big Thicket

Demographics

In 2000, there were 41,133 people residing in the county with a population density of 39 inhabitants/sq. mi. The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White, 13.17% Black or African American, 1.74% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.74% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 9.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income for a household in the county was $30,495, and the median income for a family was $35,957. Males had a median income of $30,823 versus $21,065 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,834. About 13.30% of families and 17.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.10% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.^[5]

Polk Co. in Texas.

Highways

U.S. Highway 59

I-69 Interstate 69 is planned to follow the current route of U.S. 59 in most places.

U.S. Highway 190

U.S. Highway 287

Texas State Highway 146

Texas Farm to Market Road 350

Texas Farm to Market Road 356

Texas Farm to Market Road 357

Texas Farm to Market Road 942

Texas Farm to Market Road 943

Texas Farm to Market Road 1745

• West Livingston has the Livingston Municipal Airport, operated by the City of Livingston.

Towns

• Goodrich
• Onalaska
• Seven Oaks

• Livingston (county seat)
• West Livingston

• Laurelia gh town

Formed From

• 1846--Polk County was created 30 March 1846 from Liberty Municipality.

County Resources

• Lumber products
• Christmas trees.
• Big Thicket

Census

1850 --- 2,348 —

1860 --- 8,300 253.5%

1870 --- 8,707 4.9%

1880 --- 7,189 −17.4%

1890 --- 10,332 43.7%

1900 --- 14,447 39.8%

1910 --- 17,459 20.8%

1920 --- 16,784 −3.9%

1930 --- 17,555 4.6%

1940 --- 20,635 17.5%

1950 --- 16,194 −21.5%

1960 --- 13,861 −14.4%

1970 --- 14,457 4.3%

1980 --- 24,407 68.8%

1990 --- 30,687 25.7%

2000 --- 41,133 34.0%

2010 --- 45,413 10.4%

Est. 2015 --- 46,972

Notables

• Percy Foreman: notable criminal defense attorney
• John Wesley Hardin: Old West gunslinger
• William P. Hobby: Governor of Texas, publisher of Houston Post
• Sam Houston: general of the revolution to achieve independence and President of the Republic of Texas, made peace treaties with the Alabama-Coushata Indians.
• Margo Jones: stage director of Tennessee Williams and Ray Walston and directed Williams' The Glass Menagerie on Broadway
• René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle: noted French explorer was likely killed in Polk County
• Sally Mayes: Broadway actress and singer. Livingston named a street in her honor.
• Mark Moseley: professional football player
• Moon Mullican: musician, "King of the Hillbilly Piano Players".
• Captain (Ike) Isaac Newton Moreland Turner: Confederate captain who joined the Civil War from Polk County, with units called the "Texas Brigade"

(Annette Gordon-Reed American historian, Pulitzer prize author, (b 1958 in Livingston, Texas) American historian, Pulitzer Prize winning author, and law professor noted for changing scholarship on Thomas Jefferson re: his relationship with Sally Hemings and her children.

Education

• Polk County College / Commerce Center was completed in 2013, on US Hwy 59 Bypass.

• Angelina College offers advanced curriculum study and technical training at this location. The facility provides public auditorium space and may be used as a mass shelter in a disaster.

Grants

• 1529 a royal land grant was awarded to Pánfilo de Narváez. The Spanish tended to avoid the area.
• 1831, 1834 Empresarios awarded land grants to American and Hispanic families. Few actually settled.
• 100 American and Hispanic families received land grants from various empresarios and companies between 1831 and 1834,

Cemeteries

• Barfield Cemetery
• Barfield Cemetery from FindaGrave
• Blue Water Cemetery from FindaGrave
• Pine Grove Cemetery
• Carmona Cemetery
• Union Springs Cemetery
• Bold Springs Cemetery
• Forest Hill Cemetery
• Restland Memorial Park Cemetery
• Menard Chapel Cemetery
• Peebles Cemetery
• Feagin Cemetery
• N.H. Rice Cemetery

• FindaGrave cemeteries

Sources

1. ↑ https://texasalmanac.com/index.php?q=topics/government/polk-county
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Texas
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33} https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp06
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} http://www.texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Livingston-Texas-Polk-County-Courthouse.htm
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Texas

• https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcp06

• http://www.co.polk.tx.us
• Polk county, TX cemeteries
• FindaGrave cemeteries
• FamilySearch genealogy
• TxGen genealogy