Walker County vs. Mills County
Pine Forests & Pecan Orchards
Today’s match-up brings us to the historic pine forests north of Houston and the rolling ranch lands of Central Texas. Walker County, home to Sam Houston and a major university, is a center of education and state history. Mills County, known as the "Gateway to the Hill Country," is a quiet agricultural hub famous for its gold-standard pecans. One is defined by institutional giants and deep woods; the other by family farms and open pastures. Together, they represent the balance between preserving our state’s legacy and cultivating its land.
Walker County (Population Approx. 77,000)
Walker County is synonymous with Texas history. Huntsville is the final resting place of Sam Houston, the home of Sam Houston State University, and the headquarters of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The area offers a unique blend of college town energy, historical reverence, and the serious business of state corrections. The county must constantly balance the significant influence of large state institutions with the need for local economic development and affordable housing.
Mills County (Population Approx. 4,500)
Centered on Goldthwaite, Mills County is built around ranching, hunting, wildlife management, and pecan orchards. The vibe is classic small-town Texas, where the suspension bridge over the Colorado River connects a tight-knit community to the rest of the state. Residents focus on rural healthcare access, school enrollment stability, and preserving family land for future generations in an increasingly developed Hill Country.
Why It Matters
Walker County shapes the minds of future leaders and manages the state's justice system. Mills County stewards the land and contributes to the state’s agricultural identity. Both counties rely on state-level decision-making that often feels distant from their daily realities.
Why Forward
Forward believes that the professor in Huntsville and the pecan farmer in Goldthwaite both deserve a voice.
In Walker County, the population is heavily influenced by students and state employees. Open Primaries would allow these groups to vote for the best candidate without being locked out of the process by low-turnout partisan primaries. Ranked Choice Voting would encourage leaders to focus on the unique town-and-gown relationship and infrastructure needs of a growing I-45 corridor city.
In Mills County, the rural economy is fragile. Ranked Choice Voting ensures that the agricultural community can elect leaders who understand water rights and land conservation, regardless of party. It empowers the rural workforce to demand better roads and healthcare, ensuring that the people feeding Texas are taken care of.
Did You Know…
Huntsville (Walker) is home to the world's tallest statue of an American hero, a 67-foot tall likeness of Sam Houston.
Mills County is often called the "Pecan Capital of the World" (a title contested by San Saba, but fiercely defended in Goldthwaite).
Sam Houston State University in Walker County has the oldest criminal justice program in the nation.
The Regency Bridge in Mills County is the last drivable wooden suspension bridge in Texas.
Walker County was one of the original 23 counties of the Republic of Texas.
Why Texans Love Living Here
Walker residents take pride in walking the same streets as Sam Houston and the vibrant culture of the university. Mills locals love the slow pace of life, the beauty of the Colorado River valley, and the pride of a harvest season done right.
Key Events That Bring Neighbors Together
General Sam Houston Folk Festival (Huntsville): A celebration of frontier life with reenactments, crafts, and music on the museum grounds.
Fair on the Square (Huntsville): A massive arts and crafts festival taking over downtown Huntsville every October.
Mills County Goat Cook-Off: An annual tradition celebrating the county's ranching roots with food and friendly competition.
People & Tech Created This
The profiles and shared challenges were gathered from Texas Forward Party supporters and written using ChatGPT and Gemini models to combine verified public data, official county/state sources, and general knowledge from Texas historical and government records:
