Rusk County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rusk County
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Rusk County Courthouse in Henderson
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| Founded | 1843 |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson Rusk |
| Seat | Henderson |
| Largest city | Henderson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 938 sq mi (2,430 km2) |
| • Land | 924 sq mi (2,390 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) 1.5% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 52,214 |
| • Density | 55.665/sq mi (21.492/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
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Rusk County is a county located in Texas. In 2020, about 52,214 people lived there. The main town, or county seat, is Henderson. The county is named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, who was an important leader in the early days of the Republic of Texas. Rusk County is part of the larger Longview, Texas metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Rusk County
Before Texas became a state in 1845, the land that is now Rusk County was home to different groups of Native Americans. The Cherokee people, led by Chief Bowl, settled here around 1819.
Early Settlers and Land Agreements
In 1836, the Republic of Texas made a special agreement called the Treaty of Bowles Village. This treaty gave parts of what is now Rusk County, along with other areas, to the Cherokee and 12 related tribes. However, during the Cherokee War in 1839, the Cherokee were forced to leave.
They returned in 1844 and 1845 when Benjamin Franklin Thompson, a white man married to a Cherokee woman, bought 10,000 acres of land. This led to the creation of the Mount Tabor Indian Community. This community was located near present-day Kilgore and later grew to include areas near Troup, Arp, and Overton, Texas.
Forming the County
Rusk County was officially created by the government of the Republic of Texas on January 16, 1843. Before this, it was part of Nacogdoches County. By 1850, Rusk County was one of the most populated counties in Texas. It had 8,148 people, making it the second-largest county in terms of population at that time.
The Oil Boom
A big change came to Rusk County in October 1930. Oil was discovered in a place called Joinerville. This discovery started an "oil boom," which means many people moved to the area to work in the oil industry. The county's population almost doubled in just ten years! Rusk County is part of the East Texas Oil Field, which has been a very important source of oil and jobs for the region ever since.
For many years, Rusk County was a "dry county," meaning it was illegal to sell alcohol. But in January 2012, the city of Henderson decided to allow the sale of beer and wine.
A Sad Day in History
In 1937, Rusk County experienced a terrible event. Nearly 300 people, mostly children, died in a natural gas explosion at the London Independent School District. This was one of the worst school disasters in American history.
Geography of Rusk County
Rusk County covers about 938 square miles. Most of this area is land, with about 14 square miles covered by water, like lakes and rivers.
Main Roads
Many important roads pass through Rusk County. These include:
U.S. Highway 79
U.S. Highway 84
U.S. Highway 259
State Highway 42
State Highway 43
State Highway 64
State Highway 135
State Highway 149
State Highway 315
State Highway 322
State Highway 323
U.S. Highway 59
Interstate 69 (currently being built)
Neighboring Counties
Rusk County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Smith County (to the northwest)
- Gregg County (to the north)
- Harrison County (to the northeast)
- Panola County (to the east)
- Shelby County (to the southeast)
- Nacogdoches County (to the south)
- Cherokee County (to the southwest)
Communities in Rusk County
Rusk County has several towns and communities.
Cities
- Easton (mostly in Gregg County)
- Henderson (the county seat)
- Kilgore (mostly in Gregg County)
- Mount Enterprise
- New London
- Overton (partly in Smith County)
- Reklaw (partly in Cherokee County)
- Tatum (partly in Panola County)
Other Communities
- Lake Cherokee (a special area, partly in Gregg County)
Many smaller, unincorporated communities also exist in Rusk County:
- Anadarko
- Brachfield
- Bryce
- Caledonia
- Chalk Hill
- Chapman
- Church Hill
- Concord
- Dirgin
- Glenfawn
- Good Springs
- Hickey
- Joinerville
- Laird Hill
- Laneville
- Leverett's Chapel
- Minden
- Monroe
- New Salem
- Oak Hill
- Pine Hill
- Pitner Junction
- Price
- Selman City
- Stewart
- Turnertown
Some towns that used to exist in Rusk County are now "ghost towns," meaning they are no longer populated:
- Craig
- Cross Roads
- Harmony Hill
- Lawsonville
- London
- Oak Flats
- Pirtle
- Pleasant Grove
- Pone
- Sexton City
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 8,148 | — | |
| 1860 | 15,803 | 93.9% | |
| 1870 | 16,916 | 7.0% | |
| 1880 | 18,986 | 12.2% | |
| 1890 | 18,559 | −2.2% | |
| 1900 | 26,099 | 40.6% | |
| 1910 | 26,946 | 3.2% | |
| 1920 | 31,689 | 17.6% | |
| 1930 | 32,484 | 2.5% | |
| 1940 | 51,023 | 57.1% | |
| 1950 | 42,348 | −17.0% | |
| 1960 | 36,421 | −14.0% | |
| 1970 | 34,102 | −6.4% | |
| 1980 | 41,382 | 21.3% | |
| 1990 | 43,735 | 5.7% | |
| 2000 | 47,372 | 8.3% | |
| 2010 | 53,330 | 12.6% | |
| 2020 | 52,214 | −2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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In 2020, the population of Rusk County was 52,214 people. Most people in Rusk County are White (61.33%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.35%), and Black or African American (15.78%). There are also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of mixed races.
In 2000, about 32.5% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the county was 38 years old.
Education in Rusk County
Many different school districts serve the students of Rusk County. These districts help make sure children get a good education.
- Carlisle ISD
- Cushing ISD (mostly in Nacogdoches County)
- Garrison ISD (mostly in Nacogdoches County)
- Henderson ISD
- Kilgore ISD (mostly in Gregg County)
- Laneville ISD
- Leverett's Chapel ISD
- Mount Enterprise ISD
- Overton ISD
- Rusk ISD (mostly in Cherokee County)
- Tatum ISD (partly in Panola County)
- West Rusk CC ISD
The very first official school in Rusk County was called the Rusk County Academy.
Images for kids
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Rusk County Courthouse in Henderson
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Rusk (Texas) para niños
