Rusk, Texas

Not to be confused with Rusk County, Texas.

Rusk, Texas
City
Confederate Monument at Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk
Confederate Monument at Cherokee County Courthouse in Rusk
Motto: 
"The Heart of East Texas"
Location of Rusk, Texas
Location of Rusk, Texas
Coordinates: 31°47′54″N 95°9′0″W / 31.79833°N 95.15000°W / 31.79833; -95.15000
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyCherokee
Area
[1]
 • Total7.26 sq mi (18.80 km2)
 • Land7.23 sq mi (18.73 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation
518 ft (158 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total5,285
 • Density774.61/sq mi (299.07/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
75785
Area code(s)430, 903
FIPS code48-63848[2]
GNIS feature ID1375860[3]
WebsiteCity website

Rusk is a city and the county seat of Cherokee County in the U.S. state of Texas.[4] At the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 5,285.[5]

History[edit]

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.[6] 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.[7]

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.3 square miles (18.8 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2), or 0.37%, is water.[8]

Rusk is crossed by U.S. Routes 69 and 84. US 69 leads northwest 14 miles (23 km) to Jacksonville, the largest city in Cherokee County, and southeast 43 miles (69 km) to Lufkin, while US 84 leads east 30 miles (48 km) to Mount Enterprise and west the same distance to Palestine. Rusk is approximately 160 miles (260 km) north of Houston, 125 miles (201 km) southeast of Dallas, and 40 miles (64 km) 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.[9]

Climate[edit]

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.[10]

Climate data for Rusk, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 83
(28) 		93
(34) 		94
(34) 		96
(36) 		99
(37) 		103
(39) 		107
(42) 		107
(42) 		110
(43) 		97
(36) 		89
(32) 		83
(28) 		110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 55.6
(13.1) 		59.5
(15.3) 		66.9
(19.4) 		74.0
(23.3) 		80.7
(27.1) 		87.1
(30.6) 		90.7
(32.6) 		91.7
(33.2) 		86.2
(30.1) 		76.4
(24.7) 		65.3
(18.5) 		57.5
(14.2) 		74.3
(23.5)
Daily mean °F (°C) 46.4
(8.0) 		50.0
(10.0) 		57.1
(13.9) 		64.1
(17.8) 		71.8
(22.1) 		78.5
(25.8) 		81.4
(27.4) 		81.8
(27.7) 		76.5
(24.7) 		66.6
(19.2) 		56.1
(13.4) 		48.6
(9.2) 		64.9
(18.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 37.3
(2.9) 		40.5
(4.7) 		47.3
(8.5) 		54.3
(12.4) 		62.9
(17.2) 		69.9
(21.1) 		72.1
(22.3) 		71.9
(22.2) 		66.8
(19.3) 		56.8
(13.8) 		46.9
(8.3) 		39.8
(4.3) 		55.5
(13.1)
Record low °F (°C) 0
(−18) 		−3
(−19) 		13
(−11) 		23
(−5) 		38
(3) 		46
(8) 		56
(13) 		53
(12) 		40
(4) 		26
(−3) 		15
(−9) 		−1
(−18) 		−3
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.36
(111) 		4.26
(108) 		4.46
(113) 		4.04
(103) 		4.58
(116) 		4.51
(115) 		3.38
(86) 		3.35
(85) 		3.67
(93) 		4.65
(118) 		3.98
(101) 		4.88
(124) 		50.12
(1,273)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.1
(0.25) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.25)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.6 9.6 8.7 7.5 7.8 7.2 6.3 6.5 6.7 6.9 7.9 9.4 93.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1
Source: NOAA[11][12]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850355—
1870545—
188062614.9%
18901,383120.9%
1900846−38.8%
19101,55884.2%
19202,34850.7%
19303,85964.4%
19405,69947.7%
19506,59815.8%
19604,900−25.7%
19704,9140.3%
19804,681−4.7%
19904,366−6.7%
20005,08516.5%
20105,5519.2%
20205,285−4.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
Rusk racial composition as of 2020[14]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,951 55.84%
Black or African American (NH) 1,323 25.03%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 12 0.23%
Asian (NH) 40 0.76%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0.09%
Some Other Race (NH) 20 0.38%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 144 2.72%
Hispanic or Latino 790 14.95%
Total 5,285

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,285 people, 1,210 households, and 866 families residing in the city.

At the 2010 U.S. census, there were 5,551 people, 1,306 households, and 867 families residing in the city.[2] The population density was 745.4 inhabitants per square mile (287.8/km2). There were 1,539 housing units at an average density of 225.6 per square mile (87.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 62.71% White, 30.01% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 5.15% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.92% of the population. By 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau tabulated a population of 5,285 with a predominantly non-Hispanic white population.[5]

In 2010 there were 1,306 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 17.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 39.3% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 154.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 168.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,370, and the median income for a family was $33,952. Males had a median income of $24,271 versus $22,438 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,688. About 16.2% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over. At the 2020 American Community Survey, the median household income increased to $48,235 with a mean income of $63,832.[17]

Parks and recreation[edit]

Jim Hogg Park and Rusk State Park are in Rusk.

The longest footbridge in the nation (c. 1861) and the longest zip line in Texas are located in Rusk.[18]

The Texas State Railroad operates between Rusk and Palestine.

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

Education[edit]

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

Infrastructure[edit]

Postal service[edit]

The United States Postal Service operates the Rusk Post Office.[19]

Rusk State Hospital[edit]

The Texas Department of State Health Services operates the Rusk State Hospital in Rusk.[20] At that site, the Texas Prison System previously operated the Rusk Penitentiary.[21]

Notable people[edit]

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.[22][23][24]

Cody Glenn, a former Nebraska standout and former NFL player, is from Rusk.[25][26]

MLB player Chris James was born in Rusk.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  6. ^ "Profile for Rusk, Texas". ePodunk. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  7. ^ "Rusk OKs liquor sales", Jacksonville Progress, May 12, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Rusk city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  9. ^ "SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser | California Soil Resource Lab".
  10. ^ Climate Summary for Rusk, Texas
  11. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Station: Rusk, TX". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  15. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  16. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "Rusk Chamber of Commerce". Rusk Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  19. ^ "Post Office Location - RUSK Archived 2011-08-16 at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
  20. ^ "Rusk State Hospital." Texas Department of State Health Services. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
  21. ^ "Rusk Penitentiary (1883–1917)." Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
  22. ^ denman, anthony. "profootballarchives". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  23. ^ "Denman Enjoys Making a Name For Himself". www.und.com. September 11, 2000. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  24. ^ "Football DB". www.footballdb.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  25. ^ "Cody Glenn". www.247sports.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  26. ^ "Cody Glenn of Rusk Makes It". www.gilmermirror.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[15][16]

External links[edit]

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