What Is Parker County?
Texas has a lot of counties and history associated with them. Parker County is one of these counties. In year of 1835, Texas was divided up into sections. These sections were known as municipalities and departments. These departments were Bexar, Brazos and Nacogdoches, along with 23 municipalities. After the formation of The Republic of Texas in 1836, the 23 municipalities became what is known now as counties. By 1861, there were 161 counties in Texas. Today there are 254 counties. Each county has its own history. Parker County is no different. The County of Parker was created by the Texas State Legislature in the year of 1855 and was named it after State Representative Isaac Parker who was a pioneer in the region. He was also the uncle of
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The agriculture in the County produces the following: livestock, dairy products, hay, oats, wheat, peanuts and watermelon among others. Oil and gas production is also a large part of the Parker County economy. The lands of Parker County are known as the Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie because it is made up of a combination of prairie, savanna and woodland. Fertile soil in the area ranges from “red loam” of the Brazos River to the “black-waxy” in the eastern and southeastern parts of the county. The lands geology also consists of limestone and sand. Because the Brazos River and it’s tributaries and the Trinity River, which go through a part of the county, the area became known as the “Oasis of the West.”
On Sunday March 2nd of 1856, the first county election was held. Only 400 settlers cast votes which elected the first County Judge, Robert Porter; County Clerk, John H. Prince; County Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Hays, Hill Walker and James Kidwell, and the first County Sheriff, Robert Baker. That election was for a temporary post and lasted only 5 months until the regular election in August. At the regular state election, the follow people were elected: Chief Justice, John Matlock; District Clerk, William M. Green; Treasurer, Samuel Barber; Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Fondren; James Kidwell and A.B. Smith, and Sheriff, Robert Baker were elected. Today the County Judge is Mark Riley; District Clerk is Sharena Gilliland; Treasurer Jenny Barnwell; Commissioners, George Conley, Craig Peacock, Larry Walden and Steve Dugan, and Sheriff, Larry
The agriculture in the County produces the following: livestock, dairy products, hay, oats, wheat, peanuts and watermelon among others. Oil and gas production is also a large part of the Parker County economy. The lands of Parker County are known as the Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie because it is made up of a combination of prairie, savanna and woodland. Fertile soil in the area ranges from “red loam” of the Brazos River to the “black-waxy” in the eastern and southeastern parts of the county. The lands geology also consists of limestone and sand. Because the Brazos River and it’s tributaries and the Trinity River, which go through a part of the county, the area became known as the “Oasis of the West.”
On Sunday March 2nd of 1856, the first county election was held. Only 400 settlers cast votes which elected the first County Judge, Robert Porter; County Clerk, John H. Prince; County Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Hays, Hill Walker and James Kidwell, and the first County Sheriff, Robert Baker. That election was for a temporary post and lasted only 5 months until the regular election in August. At the regular state election, the follow people were elected: Chief Justice, John Matlock; District Clerk, William M. Green; Treasurer, Samuel Barber; Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Fondren; James Kidwell and A.B. Smith, and Sheriff, Robert Baker were elected. Today the County Judge is Mark Riley; District Clerk is Sharena Gilliland; Treasurer Jenny Barnwell; Commissioners, George Conley, Craig Peacock, Larry Walden and Steve Dugan, and Sheriff, Larry