County · Texas

Cherokee County, Texas

Cherokee County, Texas. Cherokee County had 53,337 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.5% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). It holds 11 places (10 cities, villages and boroughs and 1 census-designated) and 14 census tracts. GEOID 48073.

Cherokee County is the county of the Jacksonville, TX micropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).

Residents, July 2025 estimate

53,337

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 50,412 · ACS 2020-2024: 51,886

Median household income

$61,261

±$4,398 (90% margin)
Texas: $78,476

Median home value

$169,300

±$11,608 (90% margin)
Texas: $283,800

Median gross rent

$933

±$28 (90% margin)
Texas: $1,403

How many people live in Cherokee County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 50,412 residents in Cherokee County. The Census Bureau estimates 53,337 for July 1, 2025, up 5.5% since 2020, slower than Texas (+8.8%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 51,886 over 1,053 square miles of land.

July 2020→2021 +666 (51,285)
2021→2022 +380 (51,665)
2022→2023 +966 (52,631)
2023→2024 +547 (53,178)
2024→2025 +159 (53,337)

Cherokee County in Texas. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.

Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
Measure	Cherokee County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Total population	51,886	30,188,424	−232
Households	18,185±453	10,992,816	no clear change
Average household size	2.68±0.07	2.69	no clear change
Housing units	21,053±68	12,128,515	−234

Cherokee County's population since 2000

From 46,659 in 2000 to 53,337 in 2025: up 14.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.

2000 Census 46,659
2005 (estimate) 48,751
2010 Census 50,845
2015 (estimate) 51,567
2020 Census 50,412
2025 (estimate) 53,337

Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov

What cities and towns are in Cherokee County?

Cherokee County holds 11 places: 10 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Jacksonville with 14,658 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Cherokee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.

Jacksonville	city	13,997	14,325±29	$51,375	$119,800	26.5%	100%
Rusk	city	5,285	5,477±36	$53,438	$157,400	8.5%	100%
Shadybrook	CDP	2,400	2,810±557	$69,173	$232,300	16.6%	100%
Alto	town	1,027	1,222±515	$61,688	$93,800	28.4%	100%
WellsGEOID 4877176	town	853	484±161	not published	$140,600	42.1%	100%
New SummerfieldGEOID 4851336	city	843	618±238	$54,716	$84,300	8.9%	100%
GallatinGEOID 4828008	city	321	384±172	$79,432	$168,100	8.6%	100%
ReklawGEOID 4861508	city	332	255±82	not published	$163,400	13.3%	53%
CuneyGEOID 4818152	town	116	161±119	not published	not published	41.6%	100%
Troup	city	2,006	2,338±597	$53,457	$159,400	26.3%	2%
Bullard	town	3,318	4,346±118	$118,860	$247,100	6.2%	1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov

Who lives in Cherokee County?

The median resident of Cherokee County is 38.2 years old; 25.2% are under 18 and 18.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 58.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 23.9%. 9.4% of residents were born outside the United States.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
Measure	Cherokee County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Median age	38.2±0.4	35.6	no clear change
Under 18 years	25.2%	25.0%	–
65 years and over	18.4%±0.1 pts	13.4%	–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	23.9%	39.7%	+0.8 pts
White alone, not Hispanic	58.8%±0.5 pts	39.1%	−1.9 pts
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic	12.8%±0.6 pts	11.9%	no clear change
Asian alone, not Hispanic	0.4%±0.1 pts	5.5%	no clear change
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic	0.1%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic	0.0%±0.1 pts	0.1%	–
Two or more races, not Hispanic	3.5%±0.7 pts	3.1%	–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic	0.5%±0.3 pts	0.4%	–
Born outside the United States	9.4%±0.8 pts	17.6%	−1.5 pts
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)	20.2%±1.3 pts	35.1%	–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)	7.2%±0.9 pts	6.2%	–
With a disability	13.3%±1.2 pts	12.3%	–
No health insurance coverage	19.9%±2.1 pts	17.1%	no clear change
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)	82.0%±1.6 pts	86.0%	–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)	18.9%±1.9 pts	33.8%	no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)	6.3%±1.1 pts	12.3%	–
Moved from another state in the past year	0.3%±0.2 pts	2.0%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov

What do households in Cherokee County earn?

Half of Cherokee County's 18,185 households earn less than $61,261 a year (±$4,398), against $78,476 in Texas. In 2015-2019 it was $59,302 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 18.2% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cherokee County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Median household income	$61,261±$4,398	$78,476	no clear change
Mean household income	$81,618±$5,420	$109,933	–
Per capita income	$28,734±$1,855	$40,752	no clear change
People below the poverty line	18.2%±2.6 pts	13.8%	no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line	24.7%±5.5 pts	18.7%	no clear change
Households receiving SNAP	14.7%±1.8 pts	11.4%	–
Households with a broadband subscription	83.6%±2.3 pts	91.4%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What does housing cost in Cherokee County?

Owners occupy 74.0% of Cherokee County's occupied homes and renters 26.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,300 by its owner (±$11,608). The median renter pays $933 a month including utilities, and 33.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cherokee County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)	$169,300±$11,608	$283,800	+$42,662
Median gross rent	$933±$28	$1,403	no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent	33.8%±7.7 pts	42.3%	no clear change
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage	$1,593±$84	$2,106	–
Owner-occupied homes	74.0%±2.6 pts	62.6%	no clear change
Housing units	21,053±68	12,128,515	−234
Homeowner vacancy rate	1.7%±1.2 pts	1.1%	–
Rental vacancy rate	8.9%±3.5 pts	7.7%	–
Single-family detached homes	70.7%±2.8 pts	64.4%	–
Mobile homes	18.7%±2.6 pts	6.4%	–
Built 2020 or later	1.8%±0.7 pts	4.0%	–
Built 1939 or earlier	6.9%±1.4 pts	3.1%	–

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov

How many new homes is Cherokee County building?

Builders took permits for 43 new housing units across Cherokee County in 2025 (37 single-family), 0.8 per 1,000 residents.

2019 17 units
2020 13 units
2021 18 units
2022 47 units
2023 39 units
2024 21 units
2025 43 units

Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey

How do people in Cherokee County get to work?

73.8% of Cherokee County's workers drive alone and 11.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.2%.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Measure	Cherokee County	Texas	Change since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)	53.7%±1.8 pts	65.3%	–
Unemployment rate	5.2%±1.3 pts	5.3%	no clear change
Drove alone to work	73.8%±3.4 pts	71.4%	–
Carpooled	12.1%±2.1 pts	10.0%	–
Public transportation	0.0%±0.3 pts	0.9%	–
Walked	1.6%±0.7 pts	1.5%	–
Worked from home	11.4%±2.3 pts	14.4%	+7.9 pts
Mean travel time to work	26.9 min±1.7	26.7 min	no clear change

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov

What are Cherokee County's census tracts?

Cherokee County is divided into 14 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $39,954 (Tract 9505) to $73,571 (Tract 9502.01).

Census tracts of Cherokee County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column

Tract 950148073950100	Reklaw (7%)	4,213	4,000±525	$66,434	$201,300	$990	13.4%
Tract 9502.0148073950201	Bullard (3%)	2,820	3,050±390	$73,571	$224,800	$923	10.3%
Tract 9502.0248073950202	Shadybrook (64%)	4,195	4,809±796	$71,679	$237,400	$1,167	14.1%
Tract 9503.0148073950301	Gallatin (13%)	3,204	3,655±716	$46,523	$186,200	$1,111	29.4%
Tract 9503.0248073950302	Cuney (9%)	4,133	4,735±689	$62,060	$217,700	$645	13.2%
Tract 950448073950400	Jacksonville (91%)	1,502	1,702±350	$55,000	$84,800	$841	21.3%
Tract 950548073950500	Jacksonville (88%)	3,545	3,401±464	$39,954	$88,500	$822	28.5%
Tract 950648073950600	Jacksonville (95%)	6,036	5,283±586	$54,792	$156,900	$911	13.8%
Tract 950748073950700	Jacksonville (91%)	3,888	4,735±467	$43,168	$114,800	$938	35.9%
Tract 9508.0148073950801	Rusk (18%)	3,929	3,412±494	$71,364	$187,700	$492	12.7%
Tract 9508.0248073950802	Gallatin (10%)	3,798	3,352±586	$56,985	$169,700	$1,054	16.5%
Tract 950948073950900	Rusk (92%)	4,220	4,914±363	$60,551	$150,000	$1,283	8.9%
Tract 951048073951000	Alto (29%)	3,173	3,319±468	$66,563	$107,000	$775	15.9%
Tract 951148073951100	Wells (30%)	1,756	1,519±363	$61,310	$89,400	$540	18.4%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Cherokee County compare with Texas's other counties?

Cherokee County's rank among Texas's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
Measure	Rank
Population	69th of 253
Growth 2020-2025	88th of 254
Residents per square mile	79th of 254
Median household income	153rd of 253
Median home value	125th of 247
Median gross rent	133rd of 245
Poverty rate	55th of 240
Bachelor's degree or higher	147th of 252
Median age	145th of 254

Every county in Texas

Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections

Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Cherokee County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.