Rusk, Texas
Encyclopedia
Rusk is a city in Cherokee County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 5,085 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Cherokee County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), of which, 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.29%) is water.
Rusk is about 90 miles (144.8 km) north of Huntsville
.
(Governor of Wyoming).
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.
of 2000, there were 5,085 people, 1,306 households, and 867 families residing in the city. The population density
was 745.4 people per square mile (287.9/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.
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.
The presence of state prison units in the city skews considerably the demographics, as the two units house approximately 1,250 inmates at any time, making the actual population of the city closer to 3,835. This also affects all other demographic statistics such as ratio of males to females, the racial makeup of the city and the poverty rate.
Rusk is also home to the Texas State Railroad
, Thunder Mountain Raceway, Cherokee County Motorsports park (drag racing), Jim Hogg Park, Rusk State Park, Gourmet Gardens, the nation's longest footbridge (circa 1861), and many historical sites.
operates the Rusk Post Office.
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.
.
Cherokee County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,085 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
.
Geography
Rusk is located at 31.798254°N 95.149865°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), of which, 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.29%) is water.
Rusk is about 90 miles (144.8 km) north of Huntsville
Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,508 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area....
.
History
Rusk has been home to three former governors, James Stephen Hogg, Thomas M. Campbell, and John B. KendrickJohn B. Kendrick
John Benjamin Kendrick was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Wyoming.Kendrick was born near Rusk, Texas, where he attended the public schools, and then moved to Wyoming in 1879 and settled on a ranch near Sheridan, where he raised cattle.He was a member of the State...
(Governor of Wyoming).
The town was established by an act of the Texas legislature on April 11, 1846. It was named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk
Thomas Jefferson Rusk
Thomas Jefferson Rusk was an early political and military leader of the Republic of Texas, serving as its first Secretary of War as well as a general at the Battle of San Jacinto. He was later a U.S. politician and served as a Senator from Texas from 1846 until his suicide...
, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence
Texas Declaration of Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. It was adopted at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, and formally signed the following day after errors were noted in the...
. 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.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,085 people, 1,306 households, and 867 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 745.4 people per square mile (287.9/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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.92% of the population.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
The presence of state prison units in the city skews considerably the demographics, as the two units house approximately 1,250 inmates at any time, making the actual population of the city closer to 3,835. This also affects all other demographic statistics such as ratio of males to females, the racial makeup of the city and the poverty rate.
Rusk is also home to the Texas State Railroad
Texas State Railroad
The Texas State Railroad is a historic 25-mile railroad between Rusk and Palestine, Texas. The start of the railroad dates back to 1881. Its original purpose was to bring in raw materials for a prison iron foundry and to take the finished product out. The railroad grew and eventually expanded to...
, Thunder Mountain Raceway, Cherokee County Motorsports park (drag racing), Jim Hogg Park, Rusk State Park, Gourmet Gardens, the nation's longest footbridge (circa 1861), and many historical sites.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Rusk Post Office.
The Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Department of State Health Services
Texas Department of State Health Services is a state agency of Texas. The department was created by House Bill 2292 of the 78th Texas Legislature in 2003 through the merging of four state agencies: the Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Texas...
operates the Rusk State Hospital in Rusk. At that site, the Texas Prison System previously operated the Rusk Penitentiary.
Education
The City of Rusk and surrounding rural areas are served by the Rusk Independent School DistrictRusk Independent School District
Rusk Independent School District is a public school district based in Rusk, Texas .In addition to Rusk, the district serves the cities of Gallatin and Reklaw, rural areas in central Cherokee County, and a small portion of southwestern Rusk County....
.
External links
- Rusk, Texas at Handbook of TexasHandbook of TexasThe Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...