Rusk is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Texas, United States. At the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 5,285.

History

The town was established by an act of the Texas Legislature on April 11, 1846. It was named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. By 1850, Rusk reportedly had 355 residents. A post office was authorized on March 8, 1847.

The city of Rusk is no longer dry; a beer and wine local option election passed on May 9, 2009. Three years later, in 2012, another local option election was held, to consider liquor sales. It also passed.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Rusk had a population of 5,285; the median age was 38.6 years, with 18.7% of residents under the age of 18 and 13.5% of residents who were 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,319 households in Rusk, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.2% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 3,112 || 58.9%

|-

| Black or African American || 1,337 || 25.3%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 17 || 0.3%

|-

| Asian || 40 || 0.8%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 5 || 0.1%

|-

| Some other race || 486 || 9.2%

|-

| Two or more races || 288 || 5.4%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 790 || 14.9%

|}

2020 American Community Survey

At the 2020 American Community Survey, the median household income increased to $48,235 with a mean income of $63,832.

2010 census

At the 2010 U.S. census, there were 5,551 people, 1,306 households, and 867 families residing in the city.

Rusk is crossed by U.S. Routes 69 and 84. US 69 leads northwest to Jacksonville, the largest city in Cherokee County, and southeast to Lufkin, while US 84 leads east to Mount Enterprise and west the same distance to Palestine. Rusk is approximately north of Houston, southeast of Dallas, and south of Tyler.

Rusk is underlain by glauconite-rich sediments which, in most parts of town, have weathered to dark reddish brown fine sandy loam topsoil over dark red clay subsoil characteristic of the Nacogdoches soil series.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rusk has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Parks and recreation

Jim Hogg Park and Rusk State Park are in Rusk.

The longest wooden footbridge in the nation () is located in Rusk.

The Texas State Railroad operates between Rusk and Palestine.

The Heritage Center of Cherokee County & Cherokee Civic Theater are located in Rusk.

Education

The city of Rusk and surrounding rural areas are served by the Rusk Independent School District.

Infrastructure

Postal service

The United States Postal Service operates the Rusk Post Office.

Rusk State Hospital

The Texas Department of State Health Services operates the Rusk State Hospital in Rusk. At that site, the Texas Prison System previously operated the Rusk Penitentiary.

Notable people

Rusk has been home to three former governors, James Stephen Hogg, Thomas M. Campbell, and John B. Kendrick (Governor of Wyoming). Rusk has also been the home to Jim Swink, Adrian Burk and Johnny Horton.

Anthony Denman, former Notre Dame All American, Most Valuable Player and former NFL player, is from Rusk. He was the first to hail from Rusk to play in the NFL.

Cody Glenn, a former Nebraska standout and former NFL player, is from Rusk.

MLB player Chris James was born in Rusk.

See also

  • List of municipalities in Texas

Notes

References

  • Rusk Chamber of Commerce
  • Rusk, Texas at Handbook of Texas