Cherokee County
Cherokee County is located in central East Texas, bordered on the north by Smith County, on the east by Rusk and Nacogdoches counties, on the south by Angelina County, and on the west by Anderson and Houston counties. It was named for the Cherokee Indians, 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. The center of the 1,049-square-mile county is located near Rusk at 31°48' north latitude and 95°10' west longitude.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Cherokee County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Cherokee County
- Cherokee County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Cherokee County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
187 ft – 775 ft
Places of Cherokee County
Photos of Cherokee County and surrounding areas

Cherokee County, Texas
Caddo Mounds in Cherokee County, Texas. Photograph by Nsaum75.

Cherokee County, Texas
Map of Cherokee County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville City Hall, in Jacksonville, Texas. Photograph by Txstateends. Jacksonville

Rusk, Texas
Cherokee County Courthouse in the City of Rusk, Texas. Photograph by Larry D. Moore. Rusk

A spillway on Lake Palestine
Photo by ImageTek, Flickr, CC2 Lake Palestine

The dam impounding Striker Lake was finished in 1957
Photo by Brenda, Flickr, CC2 Striker Lake

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Cherokee County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Cherokee County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
52,646 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Cherokee County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
20,365 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$34,468 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Cherokee County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
3,928,744,805 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Cherokee County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
446,155,968 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Cherokee County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
144,491,451 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.5 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
49.5 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
36.3 | 91.2 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Cherokee County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,052.9 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Cherokee County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
1,062.2 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |