Rusk County, Texas
13 local notes for Rusk County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. East Texas / Piney Woods.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
One Office Values Your Property. Another Collects the Tax.
The Rusk County Appraisal District sets your property value; separate taxing units like school districts and cities bill and collect the tax.
Homestead Exemption
Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Property Tax Bill
If your home is your main residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value used by school districts.
Ag & Wildlife Valuation
Farmland and Timberland May Qualify for a Lower Tax Value
Land used for farming, ranching, or wildlife management may be taxed on its productivity value rather than market value, which is usually much lower.
Veteran Exemptions
Disabled Veterans May Owe No Property Tax at All
A Texas veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disability rating from the VA can receive a total property tax exemption on their home.
Taxing Entities
Multiple Taxing Units Set Your Total Property Tax Bill
Your property tax bill in Rusk County combines rates from several taxing units — your school district usually makes up the largest share.
Home & Property
Groundwater & Wells
A Local District Oversees Your Water Well
The Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District regulates all private water wells in the county and requires registration of any new well.
Oil & Gas / Mineral Rights
Rusk County Has Active Oil and Gas Wells. Mineral Rights Matter Here.
Rusk County sits at the heart of the East Texas Oilfield, so buyers should understand whether mineral rights are included in a land purchase.
Land Character
Rusk County Is Nearly Half Forest — Land Use Reflects That
About half of Rusk County is forested with pine and hardwood, which shapes the land market, what agricultural exemptions are available, and what outdoor activities are common.
Outdoors
State Park
Martin Creek Lake State Park Is the County's Main Outdoor Destination
Martin Creek Lake State Park near Tatum offers year-round fishing, camping, and trails on a warm-water lake in East Texas Piney Woods.
Hunting Regulations
Deer, Dove, and Duck Hunting Follow Specific Rusk County Rules
Rusk County falls in the North Zone for deer and Central Zone for dove, which sets the season dates and bag limits that apply here.
History & Culture
Oil Boom History
The East Texas Oilfield Changed This County Forever
The discovery of oil in Rusk County in 1930 opened the East Texas Oilfield and transformed the region from a quiet farming area into a boomtown almost overnight.
Historic Tragedy
The 1937 New London School Explosion Shaped Natural Gas Safety Law
On March 18, 1937, a natural gas explosion destroyed a school in New London, killing nearly 300 students and teachers and prompting Texas to require odor added to natural gas.
County Seat
Henderson Is the County Seat and Central Hub for Services
Henderson has been Rusk County's seat of government since the county was organized in 1843 and is where you go for most county services.