Rusk County

County Offices
115 North Main
Henderson 903-657-0330
http://www.co.rusk.tx.us/

Chamber of Commerce
201 N Main Street
Henderson 903-657-5528
http://www.hendersontx.com

Rusk county is home to more than 50,000 residents. The county seat is the city of Henderson, which is home to more than 15,000 of those residents. The remaining people in the county live in several small towns that are shared with adjoining counties and 14 unincorporated communities spread through the region. The county is primarily rural in nature and this is seen in the nature of its communities. The economy is based on oil, gas and lignite, agriculture and forestry and other light manufacturing industries. Rusk is one of the five counties that are part of the East Texas Oil Field, whose production has been a major part of the economy since the 1930’s. The East Texas Oil Field is a large oil and gas field in east Texas. Covering 140,000 acres in parts of five counties, and having 30,340 historic and active oil wells, it is the second-largest oil field in the United States outside Alaska, and first in total volume of oil recovered since its discovery in 1930.

Lifestyle

This part of Texas is dominated by rolling hills, deep woods, prairies and pastureland, this part of East Texas has a wide range of landscape that attract people of every type. Residents in Rusk county enjoy a high quality of life that is punctuated by the small town lifestyle that is a core part of the state and its people. Residents can enjoy the great outdoors and spend a day on one of the many lakes in the county. Hunting and fishing opportunities are everywhere in the county. Residents can enjoy hiking miles of trails through the pine forests or maybe take a family camping trip into the forests. Local recreational facilities are plentiful with Henderson offering a large selection of options. Recreational facilities include Lake Forest Park, consisting of a 20 acre lake and 35 acre park area, Yates Park with 15 acres. The Parks are equipped with a splash pads, softball fields, tennis courts, disc golf and picnic facilities. The Henderson Country Club’s recreational facilities include a clubhouse, one of the finest golf courses in East Texas. There is also one public golf course. The Rusk County Sports & Recreation Association has an active program, and in the summer, there is Pony League, Little League and Girls’ Softball. The newest lake in the county is in the Martin Lake State Park. Other lakes in the immediate area include Cherokee, Striker, and Murval. Henderson also boasts of a sports and recreation complex, which has played host to the Dixie League State Tournament, the Rusk County Youth Exposition Center, and the multi-purpose Henderson Community Center.

For those looking for more casual activities, residents can tour one of the museums and historic homes or watch a theatrical performance at one of the many theaters in the county. For shopping and dining options residents have a lot to choose from with Historic downtowns’ that offer shops of all types. Whether it’s a boutique selling locally crafted goods or national chains, residents will find what they need and want. Dining options are varied with quaint restaurants in historic buildings and traditional fare found at roadside restaurants. Residents of the county don’t have to go far to find everything that they could need. With the county being only 45 minutes from Tyler, they also have the option of going to an urban center for even more.

Services

Quality educational opportunities are available in and near the county, underlined by excellent public-school districts and options for select private and parochial schools. Several local school districts offer a full spectrum of educational opportunities for local students. The Henderson Independent School District is the largest district in the county. The district, which extends over 380 square miles, has seven campuses serving 3,800 students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve.

For those looking for higher educational opportunities, there are a number of local and online opportunities available from state and regional colleges and universities for students of all ages. The nearest college options for students in Rusk county are in nearby Kilgore at Kilgore Community College. In addition there are University of Texas Extension campuses as well.

Healthcare options abound in the county with UT Health Henderson serving the residents healthcare needs. UT Health Henderson is a full service facility offering residents every type of care from childbirth through to senior care. UT Health also operates several clinics and testing facilities in Henderson.

Communities

Henderson
City Offices
903-657-6551
https://www.hendersontx.us/

Chamber of Commerce
903-657-5528
http://www.hendersontx.com/

Henderson was founded in 1843 during the days of the Republic of Texas. It is located in the lush green Pineywoods of East Texas. A State and National Main Street City, Henderson has restored buildings filled with shops and restaurants that make it one of the most picturesque downtowns in East Texas. Colorful canvas awnings highlight the historic buildings and offer shade to shoppers browsing the unique shops and eateries. The 13 city blocks of the district contain 44 properties that are on the National Register. Downtown Henderson offers a unique variety of shopping experiences housed in restored structures. The downtown includes, specialty shops, gifts, antiques, upscale clothing boutiques . The first building in Henderson was constructed in 1838. Also downtown are restaurants, the Rusk County Library and the restored Opera House that houses the Henderson Civic Theatre. Henderson also has a variety of restaurants and shopping on US Highway 79/259, the main road through the community.  Downtown Henderson is surrounded by neighborhoods that are within walking distance of downtowns amenities.

Fair Park, one of five parks in the city, is located only a few blocks from downtown. It includes a lighted pavilion, playground, spray pad for children, skateboard ramps, baseball field, tennis courts, Farmers Market, shaded ADA concrete walking trails and benches, and the Fair Paws Dog Park. Henderson features a number of activities and events, such as the Heritage Syrup Festival staged during the 2nd Saturday of November, the Antique Tractor Show, Fourth of July parade, and Downtown at Christmas. Other popular attractions include the Howard Dickinson House Museum, the Depot Museum Complex of nine buildings which houses a county history museum and a children’s discovery center, and the Monte Verdi Plantation. The countryside around Henderson features rolling hills and many lakes, and wildflower trails dot the surrounding area. The trails are usually at their peaks between April 15 – May 31 of each year. This community has a little of everything for its residents. Local enjoy a strong sense of community pride that is evident in their participation in civic groups designed to protect the city and its heritage.