The city of Rockwall was officially plated in 1854, though settlers had lived in the area for over 10 years. In 1843, Charles Finton Mercer, a Virginia native and Princeton graduate, journeyed to Texas to start Mercer’s Colony. He was granted authority to bring 100 families to Texas, but only brought 108 individuals. Many who came to Mercer’s Colony intended to travel east to Peter’s Colony (in the Dallas area), but could not cross the flooded Trinity River. Rockwall and Rockwall County were parts of Mercer’s Colony. The group of men who founded the city of Rockwall could not decide what to name the city, so it was decided that it should be named after a particular feature of the town: the rock wall. Below Rockwall’s surface lies a unique rock formation that creates an underground wall. Although there has been much debate on whether they are of human or natural origin, it has been concluded that they are naturally-formed sandstone dikes, but were used by the Native Americans who occupied the area before its settlement.
Rockwall County was created in 1873 after many complaints that the residents of (what was then) Kaufman County had to travel too far to conduct business at the courthouse, especially during inclement weather. Rockwall County is the smallest county in Texas.
Today, Rockwall boasts both rich history and unique recreation, as it lies on the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard. Rockwall has become a quaint town with a harbor-like feel; its cozy downtown and energetic dining and entertainment hot-spots along the lake shore only add to it’s charming and relaxing character.