Local History
How Panola County Got Its Name and Economy
Panola County was created in 1846, named from a Cherokee word for cotton, and its economy shifted over the decades from cotton and timber to natural gas.
Texas created Panola County on March 30, 1846. It was carved from parts of Shelby and Harrison counties. The name comes from 'ponolo,' a Cherokee word for cotton. Cotton was the main crop through most of the 1800s and early 1900s. It peaked at about 98,000 acres planted in 1929. Timber grew important after railroads came in the 1880s.
Oil showed up in 1917. Natural gas came in 1936. Gas became the biggest part of the local economy. In 1944, the Jordan well was drilled west of Carthage. It opened a large underground reservoir under much of the county. That well kicked off major gas production. Carthage, the county seat, grew along with the oil and gas boom. The Handbook of Texas has the full story.
Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Panola County