Henderson, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henderson, Texas
City
Streetscape of historic downtown Henderson
Henderson, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Henderson, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Rusk
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	12.04 sq mi (31.19 km2)
• Land	11.95 sq mi (30.95 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation	512 ft (156 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,271
• Density	1,100.66/sq mi (424.97/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	75652-75654
Area code(s)	903/430
FIPS code	48-33212
GNIS feature ID	2410742
Website	hendersontx.us

Henderson is a city in Rusk County, Texas, in the northeastern part of the United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Rusk County. In 2020, about 13,271 people lived there. The city is named after James Pinckney Henderson, who was the first governor of Texas.

Henderson has been an important meeting point in Northeast Texas for over 200 years. Many major highways, like U.S. Route 259 and U.S. Route 79, pass through its downtown area.

Each year, Henderson hosts fun events. In November, there's the Heritage Syrup Festival, which celebrates the old tradition of making syrup in East Texas. In August, the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention takes place, featuring special shape note music.

History of Henderson, Texas

The city of Henderson was started by early settlers even before Texas became a state. It was built on land given by W.B. Ochiltree and James Smith. Henderson became the county seat of Rusk County on January 16, 1843.

The first Methodist and Baptist churches were built in 1842 and 1845. The first courthouse, made of wood, was finished in 1849. After the Civil War, a railroad was built through Rusk County, but it didn't go through Henderson. So, in 1874, a special railroad line was built to connect Henderson to the main tracks in Overton. This line is still used today.

In 1878, a fire destroyed the wooden courthouse. A new brick courthouse was built, which led to more brick buildings being constructed, like the historic Howard Dickinson House.

Oil Discovery and Growth

In 1930, a man named C. M. "Dad" Joiner discovered oil near Henderson. This discovery caused the city to grow very quickly. The population jumped from 2,000 to over 10,000 in just a few months. The oil fields around Henderson are part of the large East Texas Oil Field. They still bring a lot of wealth to the city and the region.

During World War II, British airmen trained in Texas. They would fly to Henderson for practice. The city was used as a stand-in for Dunkirk, France, because it was the same distance from their training base as Dunkirk is from London.

Major Fires and Tornadoes in Henderson

On August 5, 1860, a big fire swept through Henderson. It destroyed 43 buildings, including two hotels. The damage was very costly for the time.

Later, on May 25, 2015, an EF-2 tornado hit Henderson. This tornado was part of a larger storm system that affected Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The tornado knocked down trees and caused some damage to buildings, but luckily, no severe damage was reported.

Geography of Henderson

Henderson is located at 32°9′14″N 94°48′10″W / 32.15389°N 94.80278°W / 32.15389; -94.80278. It sits on a ridge that separates two important river systems: the Sabine River and the Neches River.

The city covers about 12 square miles (31.19 square kilometers). Only a small part of this area, about 0.1 square miles (0.23 square kilometers), is covered by water.

Transportation in Henderson

Airports

The Rusk County Airport is a public airport located about three miles west of downtown Henderson. It is owned by the county.

Major Highways

Several important highways pass through Henderson, making it easy to travel to and from the city.

• State Highway 64
• State Highway 42
• State Highway 43
• Highway 259
• Highway 79

People of Henderson

In 2020, Henderson had 13,271 residents. There were 3,968 households and 2,752 families living in the city.

The city's population is made up of different groups of people. In 2020, about 49.35% of the people were White (not Hispanic). About 23.0% were Black or African American (not Hispanic). About 23.77% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, about 26.9% of the people were under 18 years old. About 18.8% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 37 years old.

Education in Henderson

Public Schools in Henderson

The Henderson Independent School District serves the city. It has five schools:

• Wylie Primary School
• Wylie Elementary School
• Northside Intermediate School
• Henderson Middle School
• Henderson High School

The school mascot for Henderson is a lion, and the school colors are red and blue. Sports are a big part of school life in Henderson. The Henderson Lions football team won the state championship in 2010.

A very small part of Henderson is also served by the West Rusk ISD.

Private Schools in Henderson

Henderson also has a private school called Full Armor Christian Academy. It is a Christian school that is not tied to one specific church.

Colleges in Henderson

Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary

Henderson is home to the Texas Baptist Institute and Seminary. This is a Missionary Baptist college that is part of the American Baptist Association.

Media in Henderson

Henderson has several local media outlets, including a newspaper and radio stations.

Newspaper

• The Henderson News

Radio Stations

Henderson has both AM and FM radio stations that broadcast from the city.

AM Stations

FM Stations

Culture and Fun in Henderson

Parks and Recreation

Henderson has six parks that cover a total of 118 acres. These parks include:

• Fair Park
• Lake Forest Park
• Misner Park
• Montgomery Park
• Smith Park
• Yates Park

Lake Forest Park is the biggest, with 60 acres. It has a 15-acre lake, fishing piers, a disc golf course, gardens, and playgrounds. It also has the Henderson Civic Center for events.

Fair Park is 40 acres and has walking trails, a skate park, a baseball field, tennis courts, playgrounds, and a splash pad.

Libraries and Museums

The Depot Museum is a fun place to visit. It sits on 5 acres and has a museum, a children's discovery center, and several old buildings. You can see a railroad depot, a dry goods store, a caboose, and a cotton gin.

The Rusk County Library is located in a historic building in downtown Henderson.

Attractions

• The Henderson Civic Theater puts on live stage plays. It's in the old Opera House building downtown.
• The Veteran's Memorial is at the Rusk County Courthouse. It honors military veterans from Rusk County.
• The Howard-Dickinson House is a Texas Historic Landmark built in 1855. You can take tours there.

Notable People from Henderson

Many interesting people have come from Henderson, including:

• Archie Bell, a famous singer.
• Drew Coleman, a professional football player.
• Joe Delaney, a professional football player.
• Rickey Dudley, a professional football player.
• Sandy Duncan, a well-known singer, actress, and comedian.
• Trestan Ebner, a professional football player.
• Mark White, a former governor of Texas.

Climate in Henderson

The weather in Henderson has hot, humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool. Henderson has a humid subtropical climate, which means it gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

Images for kids

• 

  Henderson welcome sign on U.S. Highway 79

• 

  Another look at downtown Henderson

• 

  Henderson City Hall

• 

  Henderson Municipal Court

• 

  Central Fire Station in Henderson

• 

  Former Bank of America building in Henderson

• 

  Calvary Baptist Church, Henderson

• 

  First Baptist Church of Henderson

• 

  South Main Street Church of Christ in Henderson

• 

  First Christian Church of Henderson, Texas

See also

In Spanish: Henderson (Texas) para niños