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. The county was named for the Cherokee, who lived in the area before being expelled in 1839. Rusk, the county seat, is 130 miles southeast of Dallas and 160 miles north of Houston.
Cherokee County comprises the Jacksonville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Tyler-Jacksonville, TX Combined Statistical Area.
History
Native Americans
The Hasinai group of the Caddo tribe built a village in the area in around 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 peoples began settling in the area around 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 some to Oklahoma. Some went to Monclova, Mexico, and some over into Rusk and Gregg counties (many had relatives among the Choctaw/Chickasaw/Creek community there). Later in 1844 President Polk issued an executive order known as "The Right to return," allowing many Cherokee to return to Texas. Some came to what is now Cherokee County.
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 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. 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
200px|right|thumb|Cherokee Veterans Monument in
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 , of which is land and (0.9%) is covered by water.
Major highways
20px U.S. Highway 69
20px U.S. Highway 79
20px U.S. Highway 84
25px U.S. Highway 175
20px State Highway 21
20px State Highway 110
20px State Highway 135
20px State Highway 204
20px 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
2020 census
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.
2000 Census
As of the census of 2000, 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families resided in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km2). The 19,173 housing units averaged 18 per square mile (7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 74.34% White, 15.96% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 7.43% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. About 13.24% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 16,651 households, 33.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 12.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were not families. Around 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63, and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county, the population was distributed as 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.30% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $29,313, and for a family was $34,750. Males had a median income of $26,410 versus $19,788 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,980. About 13.70% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.30% of those under age 18 and 15.10% of those age 65 or over.
Media
Cherokee County is part of the Tyler/Longview/Jacksonville DMA. Local media outlets are: KLTV, KTRE-TV, KYTX-TV, KFXK-TV, KCEB-TV, and KETK-TV.
Newspapers in the county include the Jacksonville Progress, which publishes three editions a week in Jacksonville, and the weekly Cherokeean Herald in Rusk.
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
Shadybrook
Unincorporated communities
Atoy
Blackjack
Church Hill
Concord
Corine
Cove Springs
Craft
Delmer
Dialville
Earle's Chapel
Elm Grove
Forest
Fry's Gap
Gould
Ironton
Larissa
Linwood
Maydelle
Mixon
Mount Selman
New Hope
Oakland
Pierces Chapel
Pine Hill
Ponta
Reese
Salem
Shady Grove
Tecula
Turney
Weeping Mary
Ghost towns
Etna
Knoxville
Larissa
Lone Star
Nebo
New Birmingham
Politics
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.
