Historical Markers in
Rusk County, Texas

Anadarko Rosenwald School Antioch Arlam Baptist Church Arnold Building No. 2 Arnold Outhouse Baysinger Cemetery Bethel Cemetery Birdwell House Blossom Hill United Methodist Church Brachfield Bridges Cemetery Buckner Cemetery Caledonia Methodist Church Campground Cemetery Capt. Robert Smith Chalk Hill Community Church Cherokee Indian Village Church Hill United Methodist Church Clinton Lodge No. 23, A. F. & A. M. Crim's Chapel Cemetery Crim, Elias Fleming and Mattie Spharler, House Dennard Home East Texas Musical Convention Ebenezer Cemetery First Baptist Church of Henderson First Methodist Church of Overton First United Methodist Church of Henderson Forest Home Baptist Church Gaston Public School Complex General James Smith George W. Burton Glenfawn Cemetery Hardeman-Griffin House Harmony Hill Cemetery Henderson Henderson City Cemetery Henderson Depot Hickory Grove Baptist Church Holleman Cemetery Howard-Dickinson House Hunt Cemetery John Strong and Mary Ann (Whatley) Strong John T. C. Patrick Home Joiner No. 3 Daisy Bradford Joseph Charles Miszner Judge William Wright Morris Lakewood Memorial Park Leverett House Liberty Missionary Baptist Church Lockridge Cemetery London Baptist Church Lou Della Crim No. 1 Lyles-Sanders Cemetery M. Kangerga & Bro. M. Kangerga House Maple Grove Cemetery Martin Cemetery Masonic Lodge Building Mattie Trammel Schoolhouse Mays Cemetery McCune Cemetery Merritt Building Miles Cemetery Millville Cemetery Mission Springs Baptist Church Monte Verdi Monte Verdi Family Slaves New London School Explosion New Prospect Baptist Church and Cemetery Old House of Dr. Wm. M. Ross Patrick Community Pine Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church Pine Hill Methodist Cemetery Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church South Cemetery Pleasant Hill Cemetery Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church Redlands Church Rev. William Craig Richard Brown Richardson Building Richardson-Lowe House Rogers-Craig House Rusk County Agriculture Sardis Baptist Church Shiloh Cemetery Shiloh Cemetery Site of Bowles' Indian Village Site of Shawnee Town Smith, Captain Robert W. Smith, General James Smyrna Baptist Church Strong Cemetery Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist Church T. J. Walling Log Cabin Tatum Cemetery The 1860 Henderson Fire The Railroad in Rusk County Thomas J. Rusk (monument) Town of Tatum Trammel's Trace Wathen-Mays Building Welch Cemetery William C. Davis William C. Hays Wright's Cemetery Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church & Cemetery
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.
Texas random facts
Rusk County, Texas has a rich and diverse history that dates back thousands of years. The area was initially inhabited by various Native American tribes, including the Caddo, who were skilled farmers and traders. European explorers and settlers began to arrive in the region during the 18th century, with the Spanish establishing missions and claiming the land as part of their New Spain colony.

In the early 19th century, American pioneers began to settle in what is now Rusk County. The county was named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a prominent Texas statesman and military leader. Rusk County played a significant role in the Texas Revolution, with several local residents participating in the Battle of San Jacinto, which ultimately led to Texas gaining independence from Mexico in 1836.

The discovery of oil in Rusk County in the early 20th century brought a wave of economic development and prosperity to the area. The East Texas Oil Boom transformed Rusk County into one of the largest oil-producing regions in the United States, attracting thousands of workers and businesses to the county. The oil industry continues to be a major economic driver in Rusk County today.

In addition to its oil heritage, Rusk County is also known for its rich cultural heritage. The city of Henderson, the county seat, boasts a historic downtown district with many well-preserved buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The county is also home to numerous historical sites, museums, and events that celebrate its history, including the Rusk County Historical Commission and the Depot Museum in Henderson.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Rusk County, Texas.

  • 1843 - Rusk County established as a county in the Republic of Texas
  • 1858 - The town of Henderson becomes the county seat
  • 1861-1865 - Rusk County residents participate in the American Civil War
  • 1901 - The first oil well is drilled in Rusk County, leading to the East Texas Oil Boom
  • 1937 - Rusk County experiences a devastating flood, causing significant damage
  • 1964 - Martin Luther King Jr. delivers a speech in Henderson during the Civil Rights Movement
  • 1989 - The Texas Legislature designates Rusk County as the "Antique Capital of East Texas"
  • 2020 - Rusk County celebrates its 177th anniversary