Rusk, Texas
Cherokee County seat and Texas State Railroad town
Rusk is a city in Cherokee County, Texas, in East Texas, about 32 miles northwest of Nacogdoches as the crow flies, with a population of about 5,553.
Median home $157,400 · Household income $53,438/yr Cost of living →
Updated October 2026 · Population: U.S. Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2024. Land area (7.2 sq mi) and coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau. · Rusk on Wikipedia
Coming up near Rusk
All events →- Oct30Hot Pepper Festival
Palestine · ~29 mi · Oct 30 – Oct 31
- Nov13The Polar Express Train Ride (Texas State Railroad)
Palestine · ~29 mi · Nov 13 – Dec 28
- Nov14Heritage Syrup Festival
Henderson · ~32 mi · Sat, Nov 14
- Jun12Tomato Fest
Jacksonville · ~13 mi · Sat, Jun 12
Dates confirmed on each organizer's site. Check the link before you drive.
Rusk from our research
What we've verified about Rusk, one line per topic. Each links to the full page and its sources.
- History
- Cherokee County seat since 1846, birthplace of Governor Jim Hogg, home to three governors, the Rusk Penitentiary, and the Texas State Railroad. Details →
- Dining
- 17 verified places to eat and drink; most common: Coffee, Sweets & Bakery · Mexican & Tex-Mex · Burgers & American. Details → Source: Texas Comptroller sales-tax permit records, checked place by place
- Schools
- 10 public schools within 12 miles, in Alto ISD, Jacksonville ISD and Rusk ISD. Details → Source: Texas Education Agency AskTED directory — open campuses, enrollment as of Oct 2025
- Utilities
- A deregulated electricity market on the Oncor grid where you choose your provider, plus CenterPoint gas, city water, and internet in Cherokee County. Details →
- Outdoors
- Nearest state parks: Mission Tejas (18 mi), Martin Creek Lake (48 mi), Tyler (48 mi). Nearest lakes: Lake Jacksonville (12 mi), Lake Striker (15 mi). Details → Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
- Contractors
- 2 licensed plumbers, 1 licensed HVAC contractor and 4 licensed electricians serve Rusk. Details → Source: TSBPE and TDLR license records, checked business by business
Rusk City Limits
The official city boundary and the major highways through Rusk.
Major roads: FM 752 · State Hwy 110 · State Loop 62 · US Hwy 69 · US Hwy 84
Boundary & roads: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line).
Most people pull into Rusk for the train. Rusk is the eastern end of the Texas State Railroad, the heritage line that runs 25 miles through the piney woods to Palestine. But the town has more history than one depot. According to the Handbook of Texas, the Texas Legislature established Rusk on April 11, 1846, as the seat of Cherokee County. It's named for Gen. Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The townsite was deeded in 1847, and a post office was authorized that March. Rusk sits near the county's geographic center, where U.S. 69, U.S. 84 and State Highway 110 meet. The 2020 census counted 5,285 residents. Jacksonville, the county's largest city, is about 14 miles northwest on U.S. 69, roughly a 17-minute drive. Tyler is about 41 miles north, around 50 minutes. Palestine is 30 miles west on U.S. 84.
The Texas State Railroad
The railroad started as a prison line. The Handbook of Texas says the Rusk Penitentiary was built between 1877 and 1883 and included an iron foundry. A rail line linking the prison with its work camps followed in 1893, and by 1903 it ran from Rusk to Camp Wright near Maydelle. The penitentiary was later converted to Rusk State Hospital.
According to the Rusk Economic Development Corporation, regular service on the line ended in 1921. The state leased it to private companies until 1969 and turned it over to Texas Parks and Wildlife in 1972. The Legislature named it the official Railroad of Texas in 2003. Today the Texas State Railroad runs both steam and diesel locomotives. A round trip covers 50 miles (25 miles each way between Rusk and Palestine) and takes about four hours. The railroad also runs themed excursions such as The Polar Express. Check the railroad's site for the current schedule.
The Rusk Footbridge
The Texas Historical Commission's 1969 marker gives the footbridge's measurements as 546 feet long and 4 feet wide. It was first built in 1861 so residents east of the valley could get to town during rainy seasons. T. H. Barnes rebuilt it in 1889, and it was restored in 1969 from his plans. The marker stands at the end of 5th and Lone Oak. KLTV's East Texas Weekend notes it's billed as the largest wooden footbridge in the United States. Either way, it's worth the short walk.
Jim Hogg Park
James Stephen Hogg was the first native-born governor of Texas. He also established the Texas Railroad Commission. The City of Rusk honors him with Jim Hogg Park, a 178.4-acre city park in the pines at 334 Fire Tower Road. The park has a replica of the Hogg family home, an old-time syrup-making station, and a memorial site for members of the Hogg family, including his mother, Lucanda. It's free to visit.
FAQ: Rusk, Texas
Cherokee County. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 place-by-county list places all of Rusk in Cherokee County.
The train is the headliner. It's a 50-mile, roughly four-hour round trip between Rusk and Palestine behind steam or diesel power. Give yourself extra time to see the 1861-origin footbridge and Jim Hogg Park while you're in town.
By road, Jacksonville is about 14 miles northwest (roughly 17 minutes) and Tyler is about 41 miles north (around 50 minutes). Lufkin is about 43 miles southeast. Dallas is about 126 miles, roughly two and a half hours, and Shreveport is about 104 miles, a little over two hours.
It's a historic wooden footbridge, 546 feet long and 4 feet wide, according to its Texas Historical Commission marker. It was first built in 1861 so residents east of the valley could reach town in wet weather, rebuilt in 1889 and restored in 1969. It's billed as the largest wooden footbridge in the U.S.
Yes. The Texas Legislature created Rusk as the seat of Cherokee County in 1846. Jacksonville is the county's largest city.
Sources
- Handbook of Texas — Rusk, TX
- Wikipedia — Rusk, Texas (2020 census, citing Census Bureau; Jacksonville largest city)
- Texas State Railroad — official site
- Rusk Economic Development Corporation — Recreation and Entertainment
- Texas Historical Commission Atlas — Rusk Footbridge marker
- KLTV East Texas Weekend — Longest Wooden Footbridge in America (Oct 10 2025)
- KLTV East Texas Weekend — Jim Hogg's Legacy & The Great Outdoors (Aug 10 2026)
- OSRM public router — drive distances/times
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Rusk in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →Retiring in East Texas: Why Retirees Love It Here
Retiring in East Texas: Tyler's trauma-designated hospitals, Texas 65+ school-tax exemptions, lake towns like Gun Barrel City and Hideaway, and sourced drive times and weather.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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