Historic Chickasaw County Courthouse in the center of Houston
On September 14, 2004, Houston, Mississippi became the 47th Main Street City in the State of Mississippi. Historic Hometown Houston, the official name of our Main Street Program, operates under the umbrella of CDF Charities, Inc., a 501-C-3 organization, and is partners with the Chickasaw Development Foundation.
Acquired from the Chickasaw Indians by the Treaty of Pontotoc Creek, the present area known as Chickasaw County became part of the United States in 1832. On June 20, 1836, four months after Chickasaw County was officially established, efforts began that led to the establishment of the City of Houston. Within three weeks, property offered by Joel Pinson was accepted as the county seat and became what is now recognized as Houston, named after Pinson’s friend, Major General Sam Houston.
Built on the site of Chickasaw County’s original brick courthouse and jail, the current courthouse in Houston’s town square is a popular point of interest. Built in 1901, the courthouse underwent a major restoration in 1983.
Houston was designated the 47th Mississippi Main Street community in September of 2004 by the Mississippi Main Street Association. The official name for this “little hamlet in northeast Mississippi”, (as described in historical records) is Historic Hometown Houston.
A community meeting will be held on February 11, 2013 to explore the possibilities and began the procedures to place the downtown and surrounding area on the National Register of Historic Places.