Tool, Texas
Tool is a small town in Henderson County, Texas, in East Texas, about 50 miles southeast of Dallas as the crow flies, with a population of about 2,380.
Median home $213,300 · Median rent $1,386/mo · Household income $71,333/yr Cost of living →
Updated October 2026 · Population: U.S. Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2024. Land area (3.6 sq mi) and coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau. · Tool on Wikipedia
Coming up near Tool
All events →- Oct29First Monday Trade Days
Canton · ~26 mi · Oct 29 – Nov 1
- Dec3First Monday Trade Days
Canton · ~26 mi · Dec 3 – Dec 6
- Dec5Christmas on the Square
Kaufman · ~23 mi · Sat, Dec 5
- Dec5Christmas on Main
Forney · ~36 mi · Sat, Dec 5
- Apr10Scarborough Renaissance Festival
Waxahachie · ~40 mi · Apr 10 – May 31
Dates confirmed on each organizer's site. Check the link before you drive.
Tool from our research
What we've verified about Tool, one line per topic. Each links to the full page and its sources.
- History
- Settled by farmers in 1835, by tradition first called 'Hog Fork,' and named for George Tool, who opened its first store in 1905,, and transformed into a growing lake community by Cedar Creek Reservoir. Details →
- Dining
- 4 verified places to eat and drink; 2 have a full bar. Details → Source: Texas Comptroller sales-tax permit records, checked place by place
- Schools
- 22 public schools within 12 miles, across 6 districts and charters, mainly Mabank ISD, Kemp ISD and Malakoff ISD. Details → Source: Texas Education Agency AskTED directory — open campuses, enrollment as of Oct 2025
- Utilities
- Oncor or Trinity Valley co-op electricity, West Cedar Creek MUD water, Republic Services trash, and internet on Cedar Creek Lake. Details →
- Outdoors
- Nearest state parks: Purtis Creek (12 mi), Lake Tawakoni (40 mi), Fort Parker (52 mi). Nearest lakes: Cedar Creek Lake (4 mi), Lake Athens (25 mi). Details → Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
- Contractors
- 1 licensed electrician serve Tool. Details → Source: TDLR license records, checked business by business
Tool City Limits
The official city boundary and the major highways through Tool.
Major roads: State Hwy 274
Boundary & roads: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line).
FAQ: Tool, Texas
Henderson County. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 place-by-county list places all of Tool in Henderson County.
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Tool 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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