This is a timeline of events concerning Houston County. We will add events as they are discovered!
1794 | Early settlement in what would later be known as Houston County – may have been made on Wells Creek. (Stewart, Cook, Crouse, May, Graham, Brinson) |
1798 | Henry Edwards is believed to be first settler in what would later be known as Houston County. |
1804-1805 | First Settlements in Yellow Creek area. (Morrison, Hall, Dickson, Burton) |
1804 | First water mill built on Wells Creek (Brinson) |
1805 | Early road construction in what was to become Houston County. |
1811 | Dec. 16: The Great Earthquake. Left sink holes in county. |
1830 | Cumberland Presbyterian Church established at “old camp ground” as oldest church location in what would later be known as Houston Co., few miles south of Erin. |
1845 | Byron Iron Forge constructed four miles north of Erin. |
1851 | Ashland Furnace constructed about three miles northeast of Erin. |
1853 | Union Furnace constructed on Thomas Branch. |
1860 | In this decade, hundreds of Irish immigrants were in the county working on the railroads. |
1860 | Danville established. Stewart Station established. |
1867 | Erin was founded. |
1869 | Erin post office founded. |
1871 | January 21: Houston County was established by an act of the Legislature and named in honor of General Sam Houston. Arlington established as first county seat. |
March 17: Officers of county elected | |
April 3: first county court met. | |
September 18: Stewart Co. filed bill objecting to boundary lines. | |
October 14: Humphreys Co. filed objecting to boundary lines. | |
October first courthouse ordered constructed. | |
Erin was surveyed and platted. | |
1873 | Asiatic Cholera epidemic. |
1874 | “Houston County Times” at Arlington by James Faxon. |
1875 | Iron industry begins to decline. |
1877 | “Houston County Review” founded by John L. Duff |
1878 | August 1: Election to determine removal of county seat from Arlington to Erin |
November: courts moved to Erin | |
Yellow Fever epidemic. | |
1881 | November: order for new courthouse |
1882 | First telephone in county |
1883 | April: order for construction of jail and sheriff’s residence |
1895 | November: Arlington Cumberland Presbyterian Church established. |
1899 | Arlington School built |
1963 | March 16: First Wearing of the Green Irish Celebration |