Huntsville has traditionally been defined by three things: Sam Houston State University, the Texas prison system and its identity as a relatively small East Texas community. Growth could eventually complicate that description. Huntsville's adopted comprehensive plan recorded a population of 45,941 in 2020 and projected approximately 59,431 residents by 2035 and 64,496 by 2040. The plan even noted that some participants believed the city could grow faster than those projection