Huntsville, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Huntsville
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| City of Huntsville | |
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| Motto(s):
Home Sweet Huntsville
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Location of Huntsville, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Walker |
| Founded | 1835 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • City | 43.43 sq mi (112.47 km2) |
| • Land | 42.59 sq mi (110.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.84 sq mi (2.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 45,941 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
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47,351 |
| • Density | 991.88/sq mi (382.97/km2) |
| • Metro | 77,038 |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
77320, 77340–77344, 77348–77349
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| Area code(s) | 936 |
| FIPS code | 48-35528 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1382049 |
Huntsville is a city in Texas, United States. It is the main city of Walker County, Texas. In 2020, about 45,941 people lived there. Huntsville is a central city in its local area.
The city is in the East Texas Piney Woods region. It is located along Interstate 45. Huntsville is home to Sam Houston State University. It also has Huntsville State Park and the HEARTS Veterans Museum of Texas.
Huntsville was once the home of Sam Houston. He was the first and third president of the Republic of Texas. Later, he served Texas in the U.S. Senate. You can find many places in Huntsville named after him. These include the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Sam Houston State University. There is also a large statue called "A Tribute to Courage" on Interstate 45.
Contents
History of Huntsville
The city of Huntsville started around 1836. Pleasant and Ephraim Gray opened a trading post there. Ephraim Gray became the first postmaster in 1837. He named the town after his hometown, Huntsville, Alabama.
Huntsville became the home of Sam Houston. He was a very important person in Texas history. He served as President of the Republic of Texas. He was also Governor of Texas and Tennessee. He was a U.S. Senator and a congressman from Tennessee. Houston led the Texas Army to victory in the Battle of San Jacinto. This battle was a key moment in the Texas Revolution.
Sam Houston lived among the Cherokee people in Tennessee. Later in his life, he was against the American Civil War. This was not a popular idea at the time. Huntsville has two of Houston's former homes. You can also visit his grave and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.
A 70 ft (21 m) statue also honors Sam Houston. This tall statue, "A Tribute to Courage", was made by artist David Adickes. It is said to be the world's largest statue of an American hero. Travelers on Interstate 45 can easily see it.
Huntsville was also home to Samuel Walker Houston (1864–1945). He was an important African-American leader in education. He was born on February 12, 1864. His father, Joshua Houston, was enslaved by Sam Houston. Samuel W. Houston started the Galilee Community School in 1907. This school later became the Houstonian Normal and Industrial Institute. It was located in Walker County.
In 1995, a monument called The Dreamers was created. It is on the grounds of the old Samuel W. Houston Elementary School. This monument honors the contributions of the black community. It shows their role in the growth of Huntsville and Walker County.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 892 | — | |
| 1860 | 939 | 5.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,600 | 70.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,322 | −17.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,509 | 14.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,485 | 64.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,072 | −16.6% | |
| 1920 | 4,689 | 126.3% | |
| 1930 | 5,028 | 7.2% | |
| 1940 | 5,108 | 1.6% | |
| 1950 | 9,820 | 92.2% | |
| 1960 | 11,999 | 22.2% | |
| 1970 | 17,610 | 46.8% | |
| 1980 | 23,936 | 35.9% | |
| 1990 | 27,925 | 16.7% | |
| 2000 | 35,078 | 25.6% | |
| 2010 | 38,548 | 9.9% | |
| 2020 | 45,941 | 19.2% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 47,351 | 22.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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Huntsville's Population in 2020
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 21,158 | 46.05% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 11,420 | 24.86% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 153 | 0.33% |
| Asian (NH) | 998 | 2.17% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 34 | 0.07% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 223 | 0.49% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,023 | 2.23% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10,932 | 23.8% |
| Total | 45,941 |
In 2020, there were 45,941 people living in Huntsville. There were 13,187 households and 5,893 families.
Huntsville's Population in 2010
In 2010, Huntsville had 35,078 people. There were 10,266 households and 7,471 families. The city's population density was about 1438.3 people per square kilometer.
The people living in Huntsville were from many different backgrounds. About 65.78% were White. About 26.14% were African American. About 16.22% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had 2.31 people. The average family had 2.97 people. About 15.1% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age in the city was 28 years.
Geography and Climate
Huntsville is located at 30°42′41″N 95°32′54″W / 30.71139°N 95.54833°W. The city covers a land area of about 35.86 square miles.
Huntsville is about 70 miles (110 km) north of Houston. It is part of the Texas Triangle region.
Huntsville's Climate
The weather in Huntsville has hot, humid summers. Winters are generally mild to cool. Huntsville has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.
| Climate data for Huntsville, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1903–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) |
94 (34) |
99 (37) |
99 (37) |
98 (37) |
106 (41) |
106 (41) |
107 (42) |
108 (42) |
101 (38) |
92 (33) |
86 (30) |
108 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.6 (24.2) |
78.9 (26.1) |
83.7 (28.7) |
87.8 (31.0) |
92.3 (33.5) |
95.9 (35.5) |
98.6 (37.0) |
99.7 (37.6) |
96.4 (35.8) |
90.7 (32.6) |
83.3 (28.5) |
78.0 (25.6) |
100.7 (38.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 58.0 (14.4) |
62.4 (16.9) |
69.1 (20.6) |
76.5 (24.7) |
83.2 (28.4) |
89.1 (31.7) |
92.2 (33.4) |
92.6 (33.7) |
87.1 (30.6) |
78.5 (25.8) |
67.6 (19.8) |
59.9 (15.5) |
76.4 (24.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 48.7 (9.3) |
52.5 (11.4) |
59.1 (15.1) |
66.1 (18.9) |
73.4 (23.0) |
79.7 (26.5) |
82.3 (27.9) |
82.4 (28.0) |
77.2 (25.1) |
68.2 (20.1) |
57.8 (14.3) |
50.5 (10.3) |
66.5 (19.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 39.3 (4.1) |
42.6 (5.9) |
49.0 (9.4) |
55.7 (13.2) |
63.7 (17.6) |
70.2 (21.2) |
72.5 (22.5) |
72.3 (22.4) |
67.3 (19.6) |
58.0 (14.4) |
48.0 (8.9) |
41.2 (5.1) |
56.7 (13.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 24.5 (−4.2) |
28.8 (−1.8) |
33.5 (0.8) |
41.6 (5.3) |
51.9 (11.1) |
63.4 (17.4) |
68.0 (20.0) |
67.1 (19.5) |
56.9 (13.8) |
43.7 (6.5) |
32.9 (0.5) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
21.8 (−5.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 1 (−17) |
3 (−16) |
17 (−8) |
30 (−1) |
40 (4) |
52 (11) |
57 (14) |
57 (14) |
40 (4) |
25 (−4) |
19 (−7) |
2 (−17) |
1 (−17) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.57 (116) |
3.38 (86) |
3.85 (98) |
3.89 (99) |
4.47 (114) |
5.45 (138) |
3.06 (78) |
4.14 (105) |
4.47 (114) |
4.63 (118) |
4.68 (119) |
4.73 (120) |
51.32 (1,304) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.3 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 6.7 | 7.6 | 8.5 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 93.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Economy and Jobs
In 2022, the biggest employer in Huntsville was the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It had 6,744 employees. Many businesses in Huntsville rely on this system.
Sam Houston State University is the second-largest employer. In 2022, it had 2,417 employees. The university is well known for studying crime.
The third-largest employer is the Huntsville Independent School District. It has 980 employees. Huntsville Memorial Hospital is fourth, with 552 employees. Walmart is the fifth-largest employer, with 485 employees.
In 2020, the average income in Huntsville was lower than the average income for all of Texas.
Transportation in Huntsville
Greyhound Lines has a bus station in Huntsville. Many people use this station to travel.
The Bruce Brothers Huntsville Regional Airport is in Huntsville. It used to be called the Huntsville Municipal Airport. It is a public airport owned by the city.
Main Highways in Huntsville
I-45
US 190
SH 19
SH 30
SH 75
Culture and Arts
In 2009, the Texas Commission on the Arts named the Huntsville Cultural District. It was one of the first seven cultural districts in the state. This district is in historic Downtown Huntsville.
You can find museums, art galleries, and artist studios there. There are also historic homes and theaters. The district has beautiful old buildings. It also features murals by artist Richard Haas. Unique homes made from recycled materials by Dan Phillips are also part of the district.
You can take self-guided walking and driving tours. There are art activities, music, theater, and dance shows. You can also enjoy shopping, looking for antiques, and trying unique restaurants.
Media and News
Newspapers in Huntsville
- The Huntsville Item is the local newspaper.
- The Houstonian is the student newspaper for SHSU.
Radio Stations in Huntsville
- KRBE 104.1 FM - Houston's #1 Hits
- KHMX ("Mix 96.5") 96.5 FM - Houston
- KHVL 104.9 FM/1490 AM - More Music, More Fun
- KSAM 101.7 FM - Today's Best Country and All Your Favorites
- KSHU 90.5 FM - The Kat - Huntsville's Choice for Variety
Education in Huntsville
Schools for Kids
Most of Huntsville is served by the Huntsville Independent School District (HISD). In 2007, more than half of the students in HISD were from families with lower incomes.
Here is a list of schools in the district:
- Preschool/Pre-K
- Gibbs Pre-K Center
- Elementary Schools
- Estella Stewart Elementary School
- Huntsville Elementary School
- Samuel W. Houston Elementary School
- Scott E Johnson Elementary School
- Intermediate School
- Huntsville Intermediate School
- Middle School
- Mance Park Middle School
- High School
- Huntsville High School
There are also private schools:
- Alpha Omega Academy (Pre-K–12)
- Tomorrow's Promise, The Montessori School of Huntsville (Pre-K–12)
- Summit Christian Academy (Pre-K–12)
A small part of Huntsville is in the New Waverly Independent School District.
Colleges and Universities
Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville. It was also the first home for Austin College.
Students from both Huntsville ISD and New Waverly ISD can attend the Lone Star College System.
Public Libraries
The Huntsville Public Library opened in 1967. A group called "Friends for a Huntsville Public Library" worked hard to open it. The library has many books and online resources. It also has over forty public computers for everyone to use. The Texas State library provides many online databases. These give people access to journals, encyclopedias, and learning programs. This means people in Huntsville can find information that was once only in big university libraries.
Fun Things to Do in Huntsville
Huntsville has many places to visit and fun activities.
- Art Tour: Explore art around the city.
- Downtown Walking Tour: See the historic buildings in downtown Huntsville.
- Sam Houston's Grave: Visit the resting place of the famous Texas leader.
- Sam Houston Memorial Museum: Learn about Sam Houston's life and times.
- Sam Houston Woodland Home: See one of Sam Houston's homes.
- A Tribute to Courage: This is a 67-foot tall statue of Sam Houston. It is the tallest statue of an American Hero in the world. Artist David Adickes created it. You can see it from I-45.
- The Texas Prison Museum: Learn about the history of prisons in Texas.
- Folk and Cowboy Music Festival: Enjoy music every April.
Cultural District Attractions
The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center is in the Huntsville Cultural District. It offers many art and cultural programs. These programs are for all ages and interests in Huntsville.
Nature and Outdoors
The Sam Houston National Forest is one of four National Forests in Texas. It covers 163,037 acres. This forest is home to the 128-mile Lone Star Hiking Trail. Part of this trail is a National Recreation Trail. It's a great place for hiking and enjoying nature.
Images for kids
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United States Post Office
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Town Theater
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Downtown Huntsville
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Notable People from Huntsville
Academics and Scholars
- Lois Blount (1896–1980), historian and teacher
- Mark Hanna Watkins (1903–1976), linguist and anthropologist
- Samuel Walker Houston (1864–1925), pioneer in education
Arts and Entertainment
- Cody Johnson (born 1987), country singer
- Dana Andrews (1909–1992), actor
- Erin Cummings, actress
- Richard Linklater (born 1960), movie director
- Steve Forrest (1925–2013), actor
Business Leaders
- Austin McGary (1846–1928), sheriff
- Captain James A. Baker (1857–1921), lawyer and banker
- James A. Elkins (1879–1972), lawyer and banker
- John N. Raney (born 1947), businessman and politician
- Judge James A. Baker (1821–1897), attorney and banker
Politicians
- Charles G. Keenan (1813–1870), politician and physician
- Charlie Wilson (1933–2010), politician
- David Catchings Dickson (1818–1880), politician
- Morgan Luttrell (born 1975), politician
- Rex Tillerson (born 1952), energy executive
- Sam Houston (1793–1863), politician
- Thaksin Shinawatra (born 1949), Thai politician
Writers and Journalists
- Craig Flournoy (born 1951), journalist and professor
- Dan Rather (born 1931), journalist
- Dave Ward (born 1939), journalist
- Jacy Reese Anthis (born 1992), writer
- John Thomason (1893–1944), author
- Marcus Luttrell (born 1975), Navy SEAL and author
- Royal Dixon (1885–1962), author
- Darrell Halk (born 1977), author
Sports Figures
- Chuck Clements (born 1973), American football player
- Derrick Ross (born 1983), American football player
- James Davidson (born 1990), American football player
- Justin Gilbert (born 1991), American football player
- Matt Powledge (born 1987), American football coach
See also
In Spanish: Huntsville (Texas) para niños
