| Cherokee County, Texas | |
Location in the state of Texas |
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Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | July 13, 1846 |
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| Seat | Rusk |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,062 sq mi (2,751 km²) 1,052 sq mi (2,725 km²) 10 sq mi (26 km²), 0.92% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
50,845 44/sq mi (17/km²) |
| Website | www.co.cherokee.tx.us |
Contents |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 6,673 |
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| 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% | |
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Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[2] |
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As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 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. 13.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 16,651 households out of which 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 non-families. 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 spread out with 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 the median income 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.
The Hasinai group of the Caddo tribe built a village in the area about 800 A.D.[4] [5] 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 Cherokees, Delaware, Shawnee, and Kickapoo, began settling in the area circa 1820. The 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[6] of the Cherokees and the Republic of Texas.[7][8] On December 16, 1837, the Texas Senate declared the treaty null and void,[9] and continued further encroachment of Cherokee lands. On October 5, 1838, Indians massacred members of the Isaac Killough family[10] [11] 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 county.
Domingo Terán de los Ríos[12] and Father Damián Massanet[13] explored the area on behalf of Spain in 1691. Louis Juchereau de St. Denis[14] began trading with the Hasinais in 1705. Nuestro Padre San Francisco de los Tejas Mission[15] 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.[16] 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.
Cherokee County was formed from Nacogdoches County in 1846. It was organized the same year. Rusk became the county seat.
Cherokee County voted in favor of secession from the Union.
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] built north-to-south through the county between 1882-1885. The Texas and New Orleans Railroad[20] in 1905, and the Texas State Railroad[21] in 1910 both gave rise to new county towns along their tracks.
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| Henderson County | Smith County | Rusk County | ||
| Anderson County | Nacogdoches County | |||
| Cherokee County, Texas | ||||
| Houston County | Angelina County |
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