Cherokee County, Texas

Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its population was 50,845.[1] The county seat is Rusk.[2] 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
U.S. county
The Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 31°50′N 95°10′W
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedJuly 13, 1846
Named forCherokee people
SeatRusk
Largest cityJacksonville
Area
 • Total1,062 sq mi (2,750 km2)
 • Land1,053 sq mi (2,730 km2)
 • Water9.3 sq mi (24 km2)  0.9%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total50,845
 • Density48/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.co.cherokee.tx.us

Cherokee County comprises the Jacksonville, TX Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Tyler-Jacksonville, TX Combined Statistical Area.

History

Native Americans
Caddo Mounds at the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site in Cherokee County

The Hasinai group of the Caddo tribe built a village in the area in around AD 800[3] [4] 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[5] of the Cherokee and the Republic of Texas.[6][7] On December 16, 1837, the Texas Senate declared the treaty null and void,[8] and encroachment of Cherokee lands continued. On October 5, 1838, Indians massacred members of the Isaac Killough family[9][10] 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[11] and Father Damián Massanet[12] explored the area on behalf of Spain in 1691. Louis Juchereau de St. Denis[13] began trading with the Hasinais in 1705. Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas[14] 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.[15] 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 Veterans Monument in Jacksonville, Texas

Cherokee County was formed from land given by Nacogdoches County in 1846.[16] 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[17] caused Jacksonville[18] to relocate two miles east, to be near the tracks. The Kansas and Gulf Short Line Railway[19] was built north-to-south through the county between 1882 and 1885. The Texas and New Orleans Railroad[20] in 1905, and the Texas State Railroad[21] 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 covered by water.[22]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18506,673—
186012,09881.3%
187011,079−8.4%
188016,72350.9%
189022,97537.4%
190025,1549.5%
191029,03815.4%
192037,63329.6%
193043,18014.7%
194043,9701.8%
195038,694−12.0%
196033,120−14.4%
197032,008−3.4%
198038,12719.1%
199041,0497.7%
200046,65913.7%
201050,8459.0%
2019 (est.)52,646[23]3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[24]
1850–2010[25] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[26] 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 age 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

Towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Politics
Presidential election results
Presidential election results[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 77.4% 15,101 21.6% 4,210 1.0% 197
2016 76.9% 12,919 20.7% 3,469 2.4% 402
2012 75.0% 12,094 24.0% 3,875 1.0% 157
2008 71.2% 11,695 28.1% 4,610 0.7% 112
2004 71.5% 11,329 28.0% 4,439 0.5% 71
2000 66.0% 9,599 32.7% 4,755 1.3% 183
1996 51.1% 6,483 40.9% 5,185 8.1% 1,026
1992 41.4% 5,847 35.4% 5,003 23.3% 3,288
1988 57.1% 7,520 42.6% 5,604 0.3% 41
1984 64.4% 8,187 35.4% 4,494 0.2% 30
1980 49.0% 5,629 49.9% 5,726 1.1% 131
1976 37.5% 3,921 62.2% 6,509 0.3% 35
1972 69.3% 5,743 29.8% 2,467 0.9% 78
1968 26.8% 2,575 33.7% 3,242 39.5% 3,791
1964 35.6% 3,043 64.3% 5,485 0.1% 9
1960 41.0% 3,233 57.7% 4,544 1.3% 105
1956 57.8% 4,022 41.8% 2,912 0.4% 27
1952 49.6% 3,825 50.2% 3,868 0.2% 14
1948 24.0% 1,154 64.1% 3,079 11.9% 573
1944 11.6% 598 76.1% 3,918 12.2% 630
1940 13.1% 801 86.7% 5,293 0.2% 10
1936 7.2% 302 92.7% 3,908 0.2% 8
1932 5.3% 233 94.4% 4,125 0.2% 10
1928 49.9% 1,933 50.1% 1,938
1924 13.1% 666 85.2% 4,343 1.8% 90
1920 13.4% 478 62.5% 2,233 24.1% 861
1916 9.7% 241 80.3% 2,002 10.0% 249
1912 7.7% 145 89.1% 1,684 3.2% 61

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 27, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2015-05-09. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Long, Christopher and Standifer, Mary M: Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 04 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  4. "Caddo Mounds". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  5. "Houston, Sam". The Sam Houston Memorial Museum. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010. The Sam Houston Memorial Museum
  6. "The Texas Cherokee". R. Edward Moore and Texarch Associates. Retrieved 4 May 2010. R. Edward Moore and Texarch Associates
  7. "Houston, Sam". PBS. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  8. Cherokee War from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  9. Long, Christopher: Killough Massacre from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  10. Whitington, Mitchell. "A Monument to the Killough Massacre". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  11. Blake, Robert Bruce: Terán de los Ríos, Domingo from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  12. Chipman, Donald E: Massanet, Father Damian from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  13. Chipman, Donald E and Lemee, Patricia R: St. Denis, Louis Juchereau de from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  14. Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas Mission from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  15. "Empresario Contracts in the Colonization of Texas 1825-1834". Texas A & M University. Archived from the original on 15 June 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Wallace L. McKeehan,
  16. Alvarez, Elizabeth Cruce (Nov 8, 2011). Texas Almanac 2012–2013. Texas A&M University Press. pp. Contents. ISBN 9780876112571. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  17. Werner, George C: International-Great Northern Railroad from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 04 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  18. "Jacksonville, Texas". Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
  19. "Kansas and Gulf Short Railway". History Map.com. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  20. Williams, Howard C: Texas and New Orleans Railroad from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 4 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  21. Richards, Amy: Texas State Railroad from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 04 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  22. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  23. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  24. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  25. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  26. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-20.

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