Polk County is bordered by the Trinity and Neches rivers. Liberty County is to the South, San Jacinto County to the West, Angelina County to the North and Tyler County to the East. Nestled in gently rolling hills and pine forests, Polk County has a rich and fascinating history. Towns and communities in Polk County include Ace, Blanchard, Camden, Corrigan, Dallardsville, Goodrich, Leggett, Livingston, Moscow, New Willard, Onalaska, Segno, Seven Oaks and Swartout. A rich heritage of timber production has been the financial basis of the area. Moses L. Choate began a settlement named Springfield in 1835 and wanted it to be the seat of government. He offered to give the newly formed county one hundred acres of land if selected and if the name of the town could be changed to Livingston. By election, in June 1846, the name was changed and Livingston became the county seat. One of the District Judges who served here was Oran M. Roberts, who later became Governor of Texas. The county features many spots of interest: • The Piney Woods National Forest for timber recovery and recreational activities. • Lake Livingston covering more than 93,000 acres is the second largest lake completely in Texas. • Lake Livingston State Park covers 635.5 acres and is located near the ghost town of Swartout, a steamboat landing on the Trinity River in the 1830s and 1850s and the meeting place of Polk county's first commissioner's court before voters selected Livingston as the county seat. Many visitors find the lake a place to enjoy only being 80 miles north of Houston and 175 miles south of Dallas. In the midst of the Big Thicket forest lies Texas' oldest Indian Reservation, home of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas. This 4,600 acres of verdant timberland in the heart of the Big Thicket was established by General Sam Houston in 1854 as a reward to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe for their display of courage in remaining neutral during the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. Hear the Sound of Drums when you step into the Tribal Dance Square and watch the colorful Indian dancers as they perform their cultural dances. Lake Tombigbee Campgrounds has complete camping facilities available and primitive sites to RV station with full hook-ups. The Pow-Wow is featured every June. A special feature to the county is the Livingston Trade Days, which began in 1999 as a part of an initiative to promote tourism to the area. The monthly event is managed by the City of Livingston where shoppers come from miles around to swap, trade, buy, eat and enjoy the hometown flavor. Open year round, Trade Days is held the weekend preceding the third Monday of each month. All of the major towns–Corrigan, Livingston, and Onalaska–sponsor special activities during Christmas and the 4th of July. It is worth anyone's time to investigate what Polk County has to offer. |