Huntsville, TX

About Huntsville

• • Sam Houston, Texas's iconic leader, died in Huntsville and is buried there.
• • Texas's first state penitentiary, a symbol of its justice system, was built in Huntsville.
• • Its location on the Old San Antonio Road spurred Huntsville's early growth.
• • Huntsville is home to a 'Talking Tombstone' that shares Sam Houston's biography.
• • The Great Depression severely impacted Huntsville's economy, leading to widespread job losses.
• • Named for John Hunt, it was established in 1837 and incorporated in 1845.
• • With over 45,000 residents, Huntsville's population is boosted by its prison system.
• • At 367 feet, Huntsville's elevation offers slightly rolling terrain amidst the piney woods.
• • Corrections, primarily the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, employ many residents.
• • Huntsville offers a slow-paced, historical atmosphere mixed with Southern charm.
• • The Houston Astros, 75 miles south, won the World Series in 2017.
• • Sam Houston State University's football rivalry with Stephen F. Austin is known as the 'Battle of the Piney Woods'.
• • The area's soils are primarily sandy loams and clays, reflecting the underlying geology of the Gulf Coastal Plain.
• • The city is located in the Trinity River watershed.
• • White-tailed deer are abundant in the forests surrounding the city.
• • The region features a mix of pine and hardwood forests, including loblolly pine.
• • The Caddo people inhabited the region before European colonization.
• • Sam Houston died in Huntsville on July 26, 1863.
• • The Wynne Home Arts Center, built in 1917, is an example of Classical Revival architecture.
• • Interstate 45, a major north-south artery, passes directly through Huntsville.

Songs About Huntsville