Panola County

Panola County, Texas
Panola County is in northeastern Texas, bordered on the east by Louisiana, on the south by Shelby County, on the west by Rusk County, and on the north by Harrison County. The center of the county lies at 32°10' north latitude and 94°20' west longitude. Carthage, the county seat, is twenty-six miles south of Marshall, sixty-five miles southeast of Tyler, and fifty miles north of Nacogdoches. The name Panola is derived from ponolo, the Cherokee word for "cotton." Located in the East Texas Timberlands region, Panola County covers 842 square miles of gentle rolling plains and small hills drained by the Sabine River, which cuts across the county diagonally from northwest to southeast. Trees in the county include short-leaf and loblolly pine, oak, maple, hickory, elm, and gum, as well as wild fruit trees such as the plum or sloe and flowering trees such as dogwood, redbud, magnolia, cedar, and holly. Scenic trails pass through 4,000 acres of timberland owned by the International Paper Company. The woodland, once densely populated with small game, now supports deer, squirrel, and quail hunting in season. New stocks of wild turkey have been placed in local forests, but they are still protected from hunters. Freshwater lakes include Hendrick's Lake, Hill's Lake, Clear Lake, and Fish Lake. Reservoirs built in recent years include Murvaul Lake, Martin Lake, and Toledo Bend. The soil is largely sandy loam with clay subsoil. Annual rainfall in Panola County averages 43.9 inches; temperatures range from an average low of 34° F in January to an average high of 94° in July. The growing season lasts 240 days. The county derives much of its income from the extraction of oil, gas, and coal; in 1990, 1,356,000 barrels of crude oil were produced in the county. Other industries include sawmills, poultry and egg processing, and the manufacture of plastic products.
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.
Leila B. LaGrone | © Texas State Historical Association
Panola County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Panola County
- Panola County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Panola County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
172 ft – 548 ft
Places of Panola County
Photos of Panola County and surrounding areas

Panola County, Texas
View of the Panola County Heritage Museum in the county seat, the city of Carthage, Texas. Photograph by Michael Barera.

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

Beckville, Texas
The library and Museum that serves the city of Beckville, in Panola County, Texas Photograph by Barclay Gibson via TexasEscapes.com. Beckville

Carthage, Texas
View of Anderson Park in the City of Carthage, in Panola County, Texas, and part of the city's downtown area. Photograph by Michael Barera. Carthage

The state park at Martin Creek Lake has canoes available for rent
Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC by SA 4 Martin Creek Lake

Toledo Bend Reservoir runs along the Texas–Louisiana border
Photo by Chrismiceli, Public Domain Toledo Bend Reservoir

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Panola County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Panola County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
23,194 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Panola County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
10 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$43,508 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Panola County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
4,278,566,440 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Panola County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
262,279,747 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Panola County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
104,311,397 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.0 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
51.4 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
35.2 | 93.0 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Panola County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
801.8 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Panola County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
821.3 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |