Texas Porch

County History

Cherokee County Was Named for the People Who Were Forced Out of It

Cherokee County was established in 1846 from Nacogdoches County and takes its name from the Cherokee people who lived in the region before being expelled in 1839.

Cherokee County History & Culture

Cherokee County was formed on April 11, 1846, from Nacogdoches County. It was organized on July 13 of that year. Rusk became the county seat. It was named after Gen. Thomas Jefferson Rusk, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

The county's name comes from the Cherokee people who settled the area in the early 1800s. In 1836, a treaty tried to secure Cherokee neutrality during the Texas Revolution. The Texas Senate rejected it. Conflict grew. The Killough Massacre happened in 1838. The Cherokee War of 1839 ended with the expulsion of the Cherokee and all associated tribes from the county.

Anglo-American settlers had been arriving since 1834. By 1860, the county was producing over 6,000 bales of cotton per year.

Source to confirm: TSHA Handbook of Texas – Cherokee County

More Cherokee County notes

Property Tax Basics

One Office Appraises Your Property. Another Collects the Tax.

The Cherokee County Appraisal District sets your property value; separate taxing units bill and collect the tax.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Lowers Your Property Tax Bill

If your home is your main residence, you likely qualify for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value of your property.

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Ag & Timber Appraisal

Farmland and Timberland Can Qualify for a Lower Tax Value

Land used for farming, ranching, or timber production may be taxed on its productivity value rather than its market value, which is usually much lower.

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Septic Systems / OSSF

You Need a Permit Before Installing a Septic System

Most rural properties in Cherokee County rely on on-site sewage systems, and a permit is required before you build, alter, or repair one.

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