Harris County, Texas has a connection to Harrisburg, PA

John Harris, Sr., was a trader. He settled in the Harrisburg, PA, area around 1719. His business went well. In fact, it went so well that he bought up 800 acres of land and started a ferry service.
In 1785, his son, John Harris, Jr., developed plans for a town on his father's land. It was to be called Harrisburg in honor of his father.

TOTALLY WEIRD FACT: In 1786, Harrisburg was renamed Louisburg in honor Louis XVI for his help during the American Revolution. Harris threw a hissy fit. He was a major landowner, and he wasn't going to put up with the name change. He got his way by out-maneuvering his opponents in a business deal. What he did was he refused to sell land for the county seat until the name Harrisburg was reinstated. It was. Harrisburg began a rapid growth and by 1812 it was the state capital.

Moving forward in time a little, in 1826 the grandson of John Harris, Sr, proclaimed that the new town he had started in Texas was to be named Harrisburg. Some say he named it after himself. Others say he was honoring his granpappy. Still others say that he simply named it after the town that his daddy started up north. I like to think he was a good boy who put his family ahead of himself, so I say he named it after Harris, Sr.

Harrisburg, Texas, became a colorful city. It took a short turn as capital of Texas in 1835. The next year, 1836, two bigs things happened: 1) The surrounding county changed its name to Harrisburg and 2) Santa Anna burned the city into the ground.

After the fighting ended, the city of Houston sprouted up right next to Harrisburg. It grew rapidly. It had the advantage of not being totally destroyed by Santa Anna. Harrisburg never really recovered. In 1837, Houston, not Harrisburg, became county seat of Harrisburg County.

Two years later, 1839, they shortened the name to Harris County. It is now the largest county in Texas with about 3.5 million people. That also makes it the third biggest in America.

The city of Houston annexed the city of Harrisburg in 1926.

So there you go. Harris County, Texas, has a strong (family) history with Harrisburg, PA.

Cheesteaks and brisket for everybody!!!

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If you want to know more about Texas, this is our sister blog: I Luv TX at IluvTX.com. Both blogs are carrying this particular post since it is about both states.

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