Geography of Cherokee County
Cherokee County sits at roughly 31.84° N and 95.17° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,052 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Rusk, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
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
Rusk serves as the seat of government for Cherokee County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Cherokee County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Cherokee County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
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.