Henderson County

Henderson County began far larger than it is now. When it was organized in August 1846 it covered 3,500 square miles, and in 1848 the legislature formed Van Zandt and Kaufman counties out of it, leaving about 950 square miles. The Handbook of Texas counts 1,155 White residents, 81 enslaved people and one free Black resident in 1850. By 1860 the population was 4,595, of whom 1,116 were enslaved, and farms produced 2,105 bales of cotton. Corn and sweet potatoes had led in 1850.

What the plaque says

Henderson County Formed from Houston and Nacogdoches counties. Created April 27, 1846; organized August 4, 1846. Named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson, 1808-1858, first governor of the State of Texas. Buffalo, Centerville and Athens (since 1850) have served as county seats.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center — 5.5 mi
  A Texas Parks and Wildlife hatchery and visitor center in Athens where visitors can borrow tackle and fish a stocked pond, watch native species in gallery tanks and ride a tram around the hatchery.
• Purtis Creek State Park — 14 mi
  A 1,582-acre park straddling the Henderson and Van Zandt county line, built around a 355-acre lake with no-wake fishing, borrowed tackle, a 4.1-mile hike-and-bike trail and a nature path.

More markers nearby

• Athens — steps away
• J.B. Henry "The Pea Man" — steps away
• Henderson County Pottery Industry — steps away
• Henderson County C. S. A. — 0.3 mi