Rusk, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rusk, Texas
|
|
|---|---|
Confederate Monument at Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk
|
|
| Motto(s):
"The Heart of East Texas"
|
|
Location of Rusk, Texas
|
|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Cherokee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.26 sq mi (18.80 km2) |
| • Land | 7.23 sq mi (18.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 5,285 |
| • Density | 774.61/sq mi (299.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
75785
|
| Area code(s) | 430, 903 |
| FIPS code | 48-63848 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2411017 |
Rusk is a city located in Cherokee County, Texas, in the United States. It is the main city and county seat of Cherokee County. In 2020, about 5,285 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Rusk's Past
Rusk was officially created by the Texas Legislature on April 11, 1846. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk. He was an important person who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. By 1850, Rusk had around 355 residents. A post office opened in Rusk on March 8, 1847.
For many years, Rusk had rules about selling alcohol. But in 2009, people voted to allow beer and wine sales. Three years later, in 2012, another vote allowed liquor sales too.
Who Lives in Rusk?
This section shares information about the people who live in Rusk. It looks at how the population has changed over time.
Population Growth in Rusk
The number of people living in Rusk has changed quite a bit over the years.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rusk's Diverse Community (2020)
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 5,285 people living in Rusk. There were 1,210 households and 866 families.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,951 | 55.84% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,323 | 25.03% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 12 | 0.23% |
| Asian (NH) | 40 | 0.76% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 5 | 0.09% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 20 | 0.38% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 144 | 2.72% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 790 | 14.95% |
| Total | 5,285 |
Exploring Rusk's Location and Environment
Rusk covers an area of about 7.26 square miles (18.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Travel and Roads in Rusk
Two main roads, U.S. Route 69 and U.S. Route 84, pass through Rusk.
- US 69 goes northwest to Jacksonville, which is the largest city in Cherokee County. It also goes southeast to Lufkin.
- US 84 goes east to Mount Enterprise and west to Palestine.
Rusk is about 160 miles north of Houston. It is also 125 miles southeast of Dallas and 40 miles south of Tyler.
Rusk's Soil and Ground
The ground under Rusk is made of special sediments. These have turned into a dark reddish-brown sandy topsoil. Below that is a dark red clay. This type of soil is common in the area.
Rusk's Weather and Climate
Rusk has a climate with hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
| Climate data for Rusk, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 83 (28) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
103 (39) |
107 (42) |
107 (42) |
110 (43) |
97 (36) |
89 (32) |
83 (28) |
110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 55.6 (13.1) |
59.5 (15.3) |
66.9 (19.4) |
74.0 (23.3) |
80.7 (27.1) |
87.1 (30.6) |
90.7 (32.6) |
91.7 (33.2) |
86.2 (30.1) |
76.4 (24.7) |
65.3 (18.5) |
57.5 (14.2) |
74.3 (23.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.4 (8.0) |
50.0 (10.0) |
57.1 (13.9) |
64.1 (17.8) |
71.8 (22.1) |
78.5 (25.8) |
81.4 (27.4) |
81.8 (27.7) |
76.5 (24.7) |
66.6 (19.2) |
56.1 (13.4) |
48.6 (9.2) |
64.9 (18.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.3 (2.9) |
40.5 (4.7) |
47.3 (8.5) |
54.3 (12.4) |
62.9 (17.2) |
69.9 (21.1) |
72.1 (22.3) |
71.9 (22.2) |
66.8 (19.3) |
56.8 (13.8) |
46.9 (8.3) |
39.8 (4.3) |
55.5 (13.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 0 (−18) |
−3 (−19) |
13 (−11) |
23 (−5) |
38 (3) |
46 (8) |
56 (13) |
53 (12) |
40 (4) |
26 (−3) |
15 (−9) |
−1 (−18) |
−3 (−19) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.36 (111) |
4.26 (108) |
4.46 (113) |
4.04 (103) |
4.58 (116) |
4.51 (115) |
3.38 (86) |
3.35 (85) |
3.67 (93) |
4.65 (118) |
3.98 (101) |
4.88 (124) |
50.12 (1,273) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 8.6 | 9.6 | 8.7 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 9.4 | 93.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Fun Things to Do in Rusk
Rusk offers several places for recreation and entertainment.
- Jim Hogg Park and Rusk State Park are great places to enjoy nature.
- Rusk is home to the longest footbridge in the nation, built around 1861.
- You can also find the longest zip line in Texas here.
- The Texas State Railroad runs between Rusk and Palestine, offering scenic train rides.
- The Heritage Center of Cherokee County and the Cherokee Civic Theater provide cultural experiences.
Learning and Education in Rusk
The city of Rusk and the areas around it are served by the Rusk Independent School District. This district provides education for students in the community.
Important Services in Rusk
Rusk has several important services that help the community run smoothly.
Mail Service in Rusk
The United States Postal Service operates the Rusk Post Office. This is where people can send and receive mail.
Rusk State Hospital
The Texas Department of State Health Services runs the Rusk State Hospital. This hospital provides important health services. In the past, this site was home to the Rusk Penitentiary, a prison.
Famous People from Rusk
Many notable people have lived in Rusk, including:
- Three former governors of Texas: James Stephen Hogg, Thomas M. Campbell, and John B. Kendrick (who also became Governor of Wyoming).
- Sports figures like Jim Swink, Adrian Burk, and Johnny Horton.
- Anthony Denman, a former Notre Dame All-American and NFL player. He was the first person from Rusk to play in the NFL.
- Cody Glenn, a former Nebraska football star and NFL player.
- MLB player Chris James was born in Rusk.
See also
In Spanish: Rusk (Texas) para niños
