Cherokee County, Texas
Cherokee County: county in Texas, United States
About
Cherokee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,845 and a population density of 18 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 county had an estimated population of 52,875 inhabitants. Its county seat is Rusk. The county was created 180 years ago in 1845.
Cherokee County is located in East Texas near the border with Louisiana. It was established in 1846 and named for the Cherokee Native Americans who once inhabited the area.
Anglo settlers began arriving in the 1830s and the economy focused on timber, cattle ranching, and growing cotton. The county population expanded rapidly between 1870 and 1900 as railroads were constructed through the region.
Oil was discovered near Rusk in 1902, further boosting the local economy. Cherokee County became a center for the petroleum industry in the early 1900s.
Major Cities and Attractions
Rusk is the county seat and most populous town with around 5,500 residents. Other cities include:
- Jacksonville - Home to the annual Tomato Fest celebration
- New Summerfield - Known for its historic downtown and antique shops
- Reklaw - Hosts a popular Bluegrass Music Festival each April
Outdoor attractions include Lake Jacksonville for fishing and boating. The Old Rusk County Courthouse in downtown Rusk is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Key Industries
Oil and gas production is the leading industry, with many wells and pipelines throughout the county.
Agriculture, especially poultry farming and hay production, provides many jobs. Timber is also still harvested from the East Texas pine forests.
Tourism draws visitors to the county's historic sites, festivals, and outdoor recreation areas.
In summary, Cherokee County has a rich heritage shaped by oil, timber, ranching, and railroad expansion. Its natural areas and small-town charm make it a popular East Texas travel destination.
County Snapshot
Cherokee County at a glance
Cherokee County currently has 8 quality-checked populated place pages linked on MapSof, making it easier to jump from the county overview into local city pages.
Mapped populated places
8
These counts use a stricter populated-place filter so the main lists stay focused on real city and town pages.
Texas counties
254
Open related pagesLargest city
JacksonvillePopulation 14,829
Top linked places
Quick Facts about Cherokee County
| Population | 52,875 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Texas (United States) |
| Different from | Cherokee County, Cherokee County, Cherokee County, Cherokee County, Cherokee County, Cherokee County, Cherokee County |
| Area | 2750 km2 |
| Water as percent of area | 0.9% |
| Land as percent of area | 99.1% |
| Latitude & Longitude | 31.8370,-95.1652 |
| Named for | Cherokee |
| Capital | Rusk |
| Establishment | January 01, 1846 |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone |
| Local time | 18:54:19 (15th April 2026) |
| Density | 19 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth | 3.84% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 84℉ Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 7-days weather |
Geography
Cherokee County is located at 31°50'13"N 95°9'55"W (31.8369500, -95.1651800). It has 7 neighbors: Houston County, Anderson County, Angelina County, Henderson County, Nacogdoches County, Rusk County and Smith County.
Cherokee County map
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The largest city of Cherokee County is Jacksonville with a population of 14,829. Other cities include, Rusk population 5,664, Cross Roads population 1,578, Alto population 1,239 and New Summerfield population 1,187. See all Cherokee County cities & populated places.
Cherokee County Populated Places
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Cherokee County.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 14,829 | City in Texas, United States |
| Rusk | 5,664 | City in Cherokee County, Texas |
| Cross Roads | 1,578 | Town of the United States |
| Alto | 1,239 | Town in Texas, USA |
| New Summerfield | 1,187 | City in Cherokee County, Texas, United States |
| Wells | 781 | Town in Cherokee County, Texas, United States |
| Gallatin | 435 | Human settlement in Cherokee County, Texas, United States of America |
| Cuney | 140 | Town of the United States |
Weather
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
7-Day ForecastOfficial website of Cherokee County
Official Website- Rusk
Demographics
The population of Cherokee County increased by 3.84% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 50,845 | - | census |
| 2011 | 51,090 | 0.48% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 51,277 | 0.36% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 51,093 | -0.36% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 51,189 | 0.19% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 51,568 | 0.73% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 51,879 | 0.6% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 52,116 | 0.45% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 52,381 | 0.51% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 52,646 | 0.5% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 52,875 | 0.43% | estimation process |
People born in Cherokee County (1)
American politician (1857-1933) John B. Kendrick was born in Cherokee County
Other places with the same name (7)
- Cherokee County, Georgia county in North Carolina, United States with a population of 265,274 people.
- Cherokee County, South Carolina county in South Carolina, United States with a population of 57,316 people.
- Cherokee County, Oklahoma county in Oklahoma, United States with a population of 49,019 people.
- Cherokee County, North Carolina county in North Carolina, United States with a population of 29,073 people.
- Cherokee County, Alabama county in Alabama, United States with a population of 26,294 people.
- Cherokee County, Kansas county in Kansas, United States with a population of 19,681 people.
- Cherokee County, Iowa county in Iowa, United States with a population of 11,190 people.
Texas Other Counties (more counties)
| County Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 4,738,253 | County in Texas, United States |
| Dallas County | 2,635,888 | County in Texas, United States |
| Houston | 2,316,120 | The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area. |
| Tarrant County | 2,123,347 | County in Texas, United States |
| Bexar County | 2,026,823 | County in Texas, United States |
| San Antonio | 1,567,118 | The seventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Antonio metropolitan area. |
| Dallas | 1,343,266 | The ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. |
| Travis County | 1,300,503 | County in Texas, United States |
| Collin County | 1,072,069 | County in Texas, United States |
| Austin | 995,484 | The eleventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the Austin metropolitan area. |
| Fort Worth | 927,720 | The twelfth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. |
| Denton County | 919,324 | County in Texas, United States |
| Montopolis | 912,791 | This Travis County community, situated at an elevation of 469 feet, is known for its Colorado River industrial areas. |
| Hidalgo County | 875,200 | County in New Mexico, United States |
| El Paso County | 841,286 | County in Texas, United States |
| Fort Bend County | 839,706 | County in Texas, United States |