Where We Are
Rusk County is bordered on the north by Gregg and Harrison counties, on the east by Panola and Shelby counties, on the south by Nacogdoches County, and on the west by Smith and Cherokee counties. It was formed in 1843 from Nacogdoches County and named for Thomas Jefferson Rusk, Secretary of War under President Sam Houston. The county seat is Henderson, named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas. In 1873, the northern part of the county was contributed to form Gregg County. Before that, the Sabine River was the northern line. When looking for folks up there, keep that in mind.