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Rusk, Texas

11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1943 and the latest in 1984. It stands in the Rusk census division. It lies in ZIP code area 75785. It stands on College Creek. The Survey maps it on the Rusk quadrangle. 5,285 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 518 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Rusk within Cherokee County

On record in Rusk

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 1 record

Population over time

2 figures

Rusk fell from 5,551 to 5,285 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20105,551
20205,285-266 (-5%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 11 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

178 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 178 fires within 5 miles of Rusk between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,172 acres in total. 5 started naturally. 5 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning101
Missing data/not specified/undetermined43
Equipment and vehicle use8
Power generation/transmission/distribution5
Natural5
Arson/incendiarism5
Recreation and ceremony3
Misuse of fire by a minor3
Railroad operations and maintenance2
Smoking2
Other causes1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 1993Debris and open burning2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
7 September 2019Debris and open burning3.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceDON PARSONS
6 September 1995Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
24 September 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceTXDOT
21 September 2013Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceTX DOT
2 September 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined20 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHENDERSON - 445
2 September 2000Missing data/not specified/undetermined4.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHENDERSON - 450
18 September 2013Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceLOWES CHAPEL

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Cherokee County

Mines and quarries near this place

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Rusk: 2 unknowns, 1 past producer. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Iron. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Banks and CherokeeIronUnknown
Citizens State BankIronUnknown
Rusk DepositsIronPast ProducerGoethite, Hematite

Every working recorded in Cherokee County

Storms near this place

60 of 99 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Rusk in 99 storm reports between 1993 and 2024: 44 thunderstorm wind, 29 hail, 18 flash flood, 4 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 1996LightningRusk$300,000no account filed
January 2020Tornado (EF1)North Rusk$105,000An EF-1 tornado, with estimated maximum winds near 105 mph, touched down on a farm off of County Road 1619, uprooting several trees. It also broke windows and partially damaged the roof of a home before it destroyed a shed and damaged the roofs of two more homes. The tornado crossed Highway 69 and continued to uproot trees and damage the roofs of two homes before lifting along County Road 1501.
July 2005LightningRusk$100,000Lightning struck a home and set in on fire along Hwy 84 near Rusk.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindRusk$50,000Two mobile homes were blown over by thunderstorm winds.
June 2016Flash FloodNorth Rusk$25,000Highway 60 was closed in Rusk, Texas. Some businesses reported to have had water in them as well.
April 2007Thunderstorm WindRusk$20,000A few trees were downed including one that fell across an 18-Wheeler in Maydelle.
July 2007Flash FloodRusk$10,000Hwy. 84 near Rusk was closed due to high water. Numerous areas flooded and the Texas State Railroad track between Maydelle and Rusk sustained serious flood damage as an embankment washed out near county road 2108.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindRusk$5,000Numerous reports of trees and powerlines toppled. Some homes and businesses damaged from the fallen trees. A 5-ton air conditioning unit was blown off a school building.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindRusk$2,000Winds blew the door in on a home and blew the windows out of the home as well.
June 2021Tornado (EF0)Rusk$1,000An EF-0 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 70 mph briefly touched down as it was crossing Highway 84 northeast of Rusk. The tornado broke small limbs on a couple of hardwood and softwood trees and also left two power poles leaning before lifting near the intersection of Highway 84 and Highway 110.
October 1994Thunderstorm WindRusk$500Two trees were blown down across a road.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindNorth Rusk-Tree downed near the intersection of FM Road 343 and Highway 69.
April 2024Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees and power lines downed in Rusk.
May 2023Thunderstorm WindRusk-Large limbs were downed in Rusk. Portions of the city were without power.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindRusk-A tree was downed in the city of Rusk.
April 2021HailRusk-Nickel to quarter size hail fell in Rusk.
January 2020Thunderstorm WindNorth Rusk-A tree was blown down onto Highway 69 just north of Rusk, with a vehicle striking the tree.
May 2019Flash FloodNorth Rusk-Highway 69 was flooded with several cars completely underwater just north of Rusk. The road was impassable and closed.
April 2018HailRusk-Nickel size hail fell in Rusk. Report from the KLTV Facebook page.
December 2018FloodNorth Rusk-FM 23 was closed due to flooding from FM 1857 south to FM 2322.
December 2018FloodNorth Rusk-FM 1857 was closed due to flooding from FM 23 to FM 2322.
January 2017HailRusk-A picture of quarter size hail that fell in Rusk was posted to the KLTV Facebook page.
May 2017HailNorth Rusk-Ping pong ball size hail fell in the western sections of Rusk via the KETK-TV Facebook page.
May 2017HailRusk-Quarter size hail fell in the city of Rusk at the Sheriff's Office.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindRusk-Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Rusk.
December 2017Flash FloodRusk-The 2nd Grade Hall area at Rusk Elementary School was flooded, causing the school to be closed on December 20th, 2017. Report from the Rusk Citizen Facebook page.
December 2017Flash FloodNorth Rusk-Flooding was reported on Highway 69 near Rusk, as well as Highway 84 at County Road 1248. Street flooding was also reported in the city of Rusk.
April 2016Flash FloodNorth Rusk-Farm to Market Road 1857 west of Farm to Market Road 23 to north of Farm to Market Road 23 was closed due to flooding.
April 2015Thunderstorm WindRusk-Numerous trees were downed across the southern half of Rusk County.
April 2015Flash FloodRusk-Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in the closure of Hwy. 69 between Rusk and Alto, Texas.
June 2015HailRusk-Hail was reported at Hwy. 64 and 62 in Rusk, Texas.
October 2014Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several trees were downed across the county including trees blocking Hwys. 84, 2138, 747 South and CRs. 3908 and 3708.
March 2014Thunderstorm WindRusk-Numerous trees and powerlines were downed across the entire county. Power outages were widespread.
March 2013Thunderstorm WindRusk-Numerous trees downed across the entire county.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees were downed onto powerlines along Hwy. 84.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindRusk-A tree was downed near Hwy. 69 in Rusk, Texas.
June 2012HailRusk-Quarter size hail was reported in Rusk, Texas.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees and powerlines were downed near Rusk, Texas.
July 2012Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees and powerlines were downed in Rusk and across the county.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several trees were downed across the county.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindRusk-Cherokee county Sheriff's office reported trees blown down in several locations in the eastern portion of the county.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindRusk-Numerous trees were reported down across the entire county.
August 2009HailRusk-Nickel sized hail fell in Rusk, Texas.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees were downed across the southern half of the county.
July 2007Flash FloodRusk-Public reported nearly two feet of water crossing county road 1101 near the community of Rusk, Texas.
July 2007Flash FloodRusk-About six roads were closed in the western portion of the county from heavy rainfall.
July 2007Flash FloodRusk-Additional roads being closed as runoff accumulates on roadways across the county.
July 2007Flash FloodRusk-Numerous county roads flooded and closed.
March 2007Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees were downed south of town.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees were downed.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindRusk-Trees were downed on FM 1203 and 1204.
May 2005Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several trees down on FM 768...FM 2267 and FM 2112.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several trees downed in Dialville.
May 2004Flash FloodRusk-High water covered the bridge on Hwy 1610.
March 2003Flash FloodRusk-FM Roads 1857 and 23 were closed near Box Creek from heavy rains.
July 2003Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several large trees down across the area.
March 2002Tornado (F1)Rusk-Damage was confined to felled pine trees, broken tree tops and tree limbs. An old hay barn had its tin roof peeled. This tornado moved into Rusk County, TX.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several power lines down across Hwy 69.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindRusk-Several large trees down on FM 241.
April 1999Flash FloodRusk-Several roads closed from excessive high water.

Every storm recorded in Cherokee County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Salem2.5 miles11
Oakland3.9 miles11
Delmer4.2 miles11
Hudson Chapel4.4 miles10
Lone Oak4.7 miles10
Elm Grove5.8 miles11
Dialville6.0 miles11
Gallatin6.6 miles12

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on RuskAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q970506The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1375860. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.