Lake Jacksonville

Lake Jacksonville is in the Neches River basin one-half mile southwest of Jacksonville in Cherokee County (centered at a point 31°55' N, 95°18' W). The city of Jacksonville began blocking up Gum Creek in February 1956 and completed the Lake Jacksonville dam in June 1959. The city owns the lake and uses it as a municipal water supply and recreational area.

The lake's capacity is normally 30,500 acre-feet, and its surface area at 422 feet above sea level is 1,320 acres. In emergencies the reservoir can be expanded to 46,500 acre-feet with a surface area of 1,760 acres. The lake has a drainage area of forty-one square miles. The soil around Lake Jacksonville is a sandy loam over red clay, and the area is wooded with mixed hardwood and pine trees.

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Tracy Don Sears | © TSHA

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Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Lake Jacksonville is part of or belongs to the following places:

Lake Measurements

  • Surface Area (in acres): 1,164
  • Storage Capacity (in acre-feet): 25,670

Lake Maintained or Owned by

City of Jacksonville

Date of Origin

1959 (65 years ago)

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Lake Jacksonville is classified as a Lake

Purposes

  • Recreation
  • Municipal water supply

Impounded by Buckner Dam