Geography of Rusk County
Covering 924 square miles, Rusk County combines a regional trade center at Henderson with farm and ranch land in every direction. About 54,854 people live here.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 32.11° N, 94.76° W and is 105th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Rusk County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Tyler (about 36 miles away in a straight line) and Texarkana (about 100 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 Rusk 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 54,854 residents across 924 square miles, Rusk County has a population density of about 59.4 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Henderson
County government for Rusk County is based in Henderson. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. Henderson also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Rusk County was established in 1843 and was named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857), a general in the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Nacogdoches County.
Rusk County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Rusk 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 Rusk County, Texas located?+
Rusk County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.108° N, 94.762° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48401. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Rusk County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Rusk County in square miles?+
Rusk County covers approximately 924 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 105th 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 Rusk County, Texas?+
Rusk County has a population of approximately 54,854 residents. With 924 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 59.4 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Rusk County the 68th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Rusk County?+
Henderson is the county seat of Rusk County, Texas, which was organized in 1843 and named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803–1857), a general in the Texas Revolution. Rusk County was originally carved out of Nacogdoches County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Rusk County are located in Henderson.
Which Texas counties border Rusk County?+
Rusk County shares borders with Harrison, Nacogdoches, Shelby, Smith, Gregg, Cherokee, and Panola 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 Rusk County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Rusk 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 Rusk 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 Rusk County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Rusk County is 48401, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 401. 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.