200px|right|thumb|The Van Zandt County Library is located next to the Blackwell House Museum in [[Canton, Texas|Canton, Texas.]]

Van Zandt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, in the northeastern part of the state. As of the 2020 census, its population was 59,541. Its county seat is Canton. The county is named for Isaac Van Zandt (1813–1847), a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas.

History

Van Zandt County is commonly known as the Free State of Van Zandt. The title was particularly prevalent through the Reconstruction Era, but is still in use today. Many versions of the county's history may account for this moniker, and historians, even within the county and throughout its existence, do not agree how exactly it became known as the Free State.

One story of how the Free State of Van Zandt came to be originates with the county's formation. In 1848, Henderson County was split into three counties: Kaufman, Van Zandt, and what remained as Henderson County. Henderson County had been deeply in debt, yet the new Van Zandt County was founded without any obligations. Many believed that this was a mistake on the state's part, and bitter citizens and politicians from Henderson County referred to the new county as the Free State.

Van Zandt County tried on two distinct occasions to separate itself from Texas. The first was in 1861 when Texas seceded from the United States. About 350 citizens of Van Zandt County met to protest the secession. The majority of Van Zandt wanted to stay with the Union, and reasoned that if Texas could secede from the United States, they could secede from Texas, and began organizing a government until they were threatened with military intervention. Although the secession was unsuccessful, the title of "Free State" stuck.

After Texas re-entered the Union after the Civil War, Van Zandt County again tried to secede from Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. The event was seen as a rebellion by the nation, and when word reached General Sheridan, he dispatched a cavalry unit to quell it. Van Zandt County is unique in topography. The western and northwestern parts of the county are in the eastern edge of the Texas Blackland Prairies, the central part of the county is located in the post oak belt of Northeast Texas, and the eastern part of the county stretches into the East Texas Piney Woods. Two major rivers, the Neches and the Sabine, flow through Van Zandt County. Van Zandt County is referred to as the "Gateway to East Texas" due to its diverse topography.

Major highways

  • 20px Interstate 20
  • 20px U.S. Highway 80
  • 20px State Highway 19
  • 20px State Highway 64
  • 20px State Highway 110
  • 20px State Highway 198

Adjacent counties

  • Rains County (north)
  • Wood County (northeast)
  • Smith County (east)
  • Henderson County (south)
  • Kaufman County (west)
  • Hunt County (northwest)

Communities

Cities

  • Canton (county seat)
  • Edgewood
  • Edom
  • Fruitvale
  • Grand Saline
  • Van
  • Wills Point

Census-designated places

  • Ben Wheeler
  • Callender Lake
  • Myrtle Springs

Other unincorporated communities

  • Alsa
  • Colfax
  • Martin's Mill
  • Midway
  • Oakland
  • Phalba
  • Primrose
  • Silver Lake
  • Tundra
  • Walton
  • Wentworth
  • Wise

Ghost towns

  • Cana
  • Clifton
  • Clower
  • Corinth
  • Denman Crossroads
  • Elwood
  • Four Mile Prairie
  • Holly Springs
  • Jackson
  • Jones
  • Lawrence Springs
  • Mars
  • Odom
  • Owlet Green
  • Pruitt
  • Redland
  • Roddy
  • Sand Flat
  • Scott
  • Small
  • Wallace
  • Watkins
  • Whitton

Demographics