Rockwall County's notoriety comes from being the smallest county in Texas, covering only 147 square miles. But its strongest asset could be the possibility it is the site of the oldest civilized community in Texas, something geologist and archeologists have been trying to ascertain, and have been arguing about, since 1852.

This is the actual semi-subterranean wall for which Rockwall is named
Click HERE to Read What we Know about The Wall

NATIVE AMERICANS & THE FIRST ANGLOS

The Spaniards traversed the area of Rockwall County as early as the 16th century and Mexican explorers trekked through the area from as early as the 1700's. Some records show that a few Anglos traveled through the region of Rockwall County in the late 1800's. Most were venturing to "test the waters" and see what the area had to offer in the way of timber, flora, fauna, waterways and terrain for future settlement. They reported their findings back to the Texian Colonists in the south, but none stayed in what is now Rockwall County.

During the same time period the region of Rockwall County was occupied by Caddo Indians. The Creek Indians also migrated into the area and as the two tribes became larger they became enemies. The East Fork of the Trinity River offered many places of encampment for the natives - the land was rich in natural vegetation, had herds of buffalo and deer, and a variety of smaller game animals. It is also now known that Native American tribes from the area of New Mexico and west Texas ventured into this region as far back as 1500 years, as proof has been found in the way of artifacts.

In 1968 the Southern Methodist University Archaeology Department conducted a dig in the southern part of Rockwall County in the East Fork Trinity River flood plain. According to Rockwall County's Emeritus Archaeologist, Bill Young, a clay stirrup-spout bottle was found there about 1 meter under ground by archeologists, and it was typed as an Arboles Black-on-white vessel dating back to 950-1050 AD. Archaeologists Kathleen Gilmore and A.E.Dittert, Jr., determined the pot was brought here from the area of northwest New Mexico. Below is an illustration of that pot.

In 1998 a 3" long dart point was discovered by Kathey Kelley Hunt in the same approximate area of the dig, and upon examination it was dated by Archaeologist Bill Young to be at least 1500 years old. Its make up of a deep, red colored flint indicates it was brought here from the area of the Llano Estacado in far west Texas. In the year 2000 several arrow heads were also found by Hunt in the area, and they too are made from flint from areas of west Texas and New Mexico.

When the first Anglo-American trappers and traders arrived in the area in the early 1800's they were the first to report back to St. Louis and Nashville that Texas was a land of milk and honey, and that became the basis for the mass influx of settlers.

After the Texas revolution with Mexico in 1836 the area was established as part of the Nacogdoches District in the Republic of Texas, which brought north many of the settlers who had made their way into southern Texas in the 1820's. By 1840 people began migrating to the rich farmlands of the region from Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Louisiana.

In the late 1830's the new citizens of the burgeoning Republic had many confrontations with the Native Americans. Sam Houston, the Texas Rangers and groups of residents found themselves defending their property and their lives against the Cherokees , Comanches and other Tribes. A fort was built to house the Surveyors and original pioneers to the region, situated just a mile south of the infamous Kickapoo Trace and within 30 miles of the Cherokee Lands.

Read all About it Here

The National Road of the Republic of Texas, or the Military Road, as it was called by most, was surveyed and constructed in the mid-1840s, and it lay through the area that would become Rockwall County. Running northeast from the Red River to near the site of present day Dallas, the cities of Rockwall and Heath were founded along this road.

STATEHOOD & SETTLERS