Anderson County

Fort Houston settlers petitioned for the new county, which the First Legislature formed from Houston County on March 24, 1846. Settlers from Palestine, Crawford County, Illinois, suggested the county seat's name, and a committee of Dan Lumpkin, William Turner Sadler and John Parker chose a 100-acre tract at the center. The first county court met on July 30, 1846. District court first met on November 9, 1846, with Judge William B. Ochiltree presiding. In 1875 the county voted a $150,000 bond to attract the International-Great Northern's shops and offices.

What the plaque says

Anderson County Created March 24, 1846, from Houston County. Organized July 13, 1846 with Palestine as the county seat. Named in honor of Kenneth Lewis Anderson, vice-president of the Republic of Texas, 1844-45

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Texas State Railroad Excursion Train — 3.8 mi
  A round trip of about 25 miles of track between the Palestine and Rusk depots through the Piney Woods, on a line built by prison labor and reopened as a tourist railroad in 1976.

More markers nearby

• Col. Homer Garrison, Jr. — steps away
• Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell — steps away
• Timothy Stephen Smith — steps away
• Palestine Salt Works C. S. A. — steps away