Cherokee County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherokee County
|
|
---|---|
The Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
|
|
Texas's location within the U.S. |
|
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
Founded | July 13, 1846 |
Named for | Cherokee people |
Seat | Rusk |
Largest city | Jacksonville |
Area | |
• Total | 1,062 sq mi (2,750 km2) |
• Land | 1,053 sq mi (2,730 km2) |
• Water | 9.3 sq mi (24 km2) 0.9% |
Population
(2020)
|
|
• Total | 50,412 |
• Density | 47.469/sq mi (18.328/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
Congressional district | 5th |
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 50,412. The county seat is Rusk, which lies 130 miles southeast of Dallas and 160 miles north of Houston. The county was named for the Cherokee, who lived in the area before being expelled in 1839.
Cherokee County comprises the Jacksonville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Tyler-Jacksonville, TX Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Native Americans
The Hasinai group of the Caddo tribe built a village in the area about AD 800. and continued to live in the area until the 1830s, when they migrated to the Brazos River. The Federal government moved them to the Brazos Indian Reservation in 1855 and later to Oklahoma.
The Cherokee, Delaware, Shawnee, and Kickapoo Native American people began settling in the area circa 1820. The Texas Cherokee tried unsuccessfully to gain a grant to their own land from the Mexican government.
Sam Houston, adopted son of Chief Oolooteka (John Jolly) of the Cherokee, negotiated the January 14, 1836, treaty between Chief Bowl of the Cherokee and the Republic of Texas. On December 16, 1837, the Texas Senate declared the treaty null and void, and encroachment of Cherokee lands continued. On October 5, 1838, Indians massacred members of the Isaac Killough family at their farm northwest of the site of present Jacksonville, leading to the Cherokee War of 1839 and the expulsion of all Indians from the land which was to become the county of Cherokee.
Early exploration and settlers
Domingo Terán de los Ríos and Father Damián Massanet explored the area on behalf of Spain in 1691. Louis Juchereau de St. Denis began trading with the Hasinais in 1705. Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas Mission was originally established in 1690 but was re-established in 1716 by Captain Domingo Ramon. It was abandoned again because of French incursions and re-established in 1721 by the Marques de San Miguel de Aguyao.
In 1826, empresario David G. Burnet received a grant from the Coahuila y Tejas legislature to settle 300 families. then. The settlers were mostly from the southern states and brought with that lifestyle with them. By contracting how many families each grantee could settle, the government sought to have some control over colonization.
County established and growth
Cherokee County was formed from land given by Nacogdoches County in 1846. It was organized the same year. The town of Rusk became the county seat.
Cherokee County voted in favor of secession from the Union, during the build-up to the Civil War.
In 1872, the International – Great Northern Railroad caused Jacksonville to relocate two miles east, to be near the tracks. The Kansas and Gulf Short Line Railway was built north-to-south through the county between 1882 and 1885. The Texas and New Orleans Railroad in 1905, and the Texas State Railroad in 1910, each gave rise to new county towns along their tracks.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,062 square miles (2,750 km2), of which 1,053 square miles (2,730 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Major highways
- U.S. Highway 69
- U.S. Highway 79
- U.S. Highway 84
- U.S. Highway 175
- State Highway 21
- State Highway 110
- State Highway 135
- State Highway 204
- State Highway 294
Adjacent counties
- Smith County (north)
- Rusk County (northeast, east)
- Nacogdoches County (east, southeast)
- Angelina County (southeast)
- Houston County (southwest)
- Anderson County (west)
- Henderson County (northwest)
National protected area
- Neches River National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1850 | 6,673 | — | |
1860 | 12,098 | 81.3% | |
1870 | 11,079 | −8.4% | |
1880 | 16,723 | 50.9% | |
1890 | 22,975 | 37.4% | |
1900 | 25,154 | 9.5% | |
1910 | 29,038 | 15.4% | |
1920 | 37,633 | 29.6% | |
1930 | 43,180 | 14.7% | |
1940 | 43,970 | 1.8% | |
1950 | 38,694 | −12.0% | |
1960 | 33,120 | −14.4% | |
1970 | 32,008 | −3.4% | |
1980 | 38,127 | 19.1% | |
1990 | 41,049 | 7.7% | |
2000 | 46,659 | 13.7% | |
2010 | 50,845 | 9.0% | |
2020 | 50,412 | −0.9% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 31,892 | 30,095 | 62.72% | 59.70% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 7,401 | 6,359 | 14.56% | 12.61% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 125 | 128 | 0.25% | 0.25% |
Asian alone (NH) | 221 | 263 | 0.43% | 0.52% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 6 | 18 | 0.01% | 0.04% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 36 | 123 | 0.07% | 0.24% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 665 | 1,629 | 1.31% | 3.23% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10,499 | 11,797 | 20.65% | 23.40% |
Total | 50,845 | 50,412 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Communities
Cities
- Gallatin
- Jacksonville
- New Summerfield
- Reklaw (partly in Rusk County)
- Rusk (county seat)
- Troup (mostly in Smith County)
Towns
- Alto
- Bullard (mostly in Smith County)
- Cuney
- Wells
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Afton Grove
- Atoy
- Blackjack
- Church Hill
- Concord
- Corine
- Cove Springs
- Craft
- Delmer
- Dialville
- Earle's Chapel
- Forest
- Fry's Gap
- Gould
- Ironton
- Lakeview
- Larissa
- Linwood
- Maydelle
- Mixon
- Mount Selman
- New Hope
- Oakland
- Pierces Chapel
- Pine Hill
- Ponta
- Reese
- Salem
- Shady Grove
- Tecula
- Turney
- Weeping Mary
- Woodville
Ghost towns
- Etna
- Knoxville
- Lone Star
- New Birmingham
Education
School districts:
- Alto Independent School District
- Bullard Independent School District
- Carlisle Independent School District
- Jacksonville Independent School District
- New Summerfield Independent School District
- Rusk Independent School District
- Troup Independent School District
- Wells Independent School District
Areas in Bullard, Jacksonville, New Summerfield, Rusk, and Troup are assigned to Tyler Junior College. Areas of Cherokee County in Alto ISD and Wells ISD are assigned to Angelina College. Areas in Carlisle ISD are assigned to Kilgore Junior College. Legislation does not specify a community college for the remainder of the county.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Cherokee (Texas) para niños