Geography of Cherokee County
Cherokee County is built around Rusk and a handful of smaller towns, with about 53,337 residents across 1,052 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 31.84° N, 95.17° W and is 62nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Cherokee County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Tyler (about 36 miles away in a straight line) and College Station (about 108 miles).
East Texas is the state's forested corner — the Piney Woods, red-clay hills, lakes and river bottoms that have more in common with the Deep South than with the open West. Timber, poultry, oil and gas, and growing retirement and lake communities shape its economy.
For a broader view of how Cherokee County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 53,337 residents across 1,052 square miles, Cherokee County has a population density of about 50.7 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Rusk
If you need an official record from Cherokee County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Rusk is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Rusk also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Cherokee County was established in 1846 and was named for The Cherokee Native American tribe. It was carved from territory previously part of Nacogdoches County.
Cherokee County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Cherokee County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Cherokee County, Texas located?+
Cherokee County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.837° N, 95.165° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48073. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Cherokee County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Cherokee County in square miles?+
Cherokee County covers approximately 1,052 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 62nd out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Cherokee County, Texas?+
Cherokee County has a population of approximately 53,337 residents. With 1,052 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 50.7 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Cherokee County the 72nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Cherokee County?+
Rusk is the county seat of Cherokee County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for The Cherokee Native American tribe. Cherokee County was originally carved out of Nacogdoches County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Cherokee County are located in Rusk.
Which Texas counties border Cherokee County?+
Cherokee County shares borders with Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Smith, Anderson, Angelina, and Rusk counties. These 7 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Cherokee County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Cherokee County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Cherokee County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Cherokee County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Cherokee County is 48073, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 073. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.