Rains County

Rains County, Texas

Rains County, Texas

The Rains County Courthouse is located in Emory, Texas, the county seat. Photograph by Michael Barera.
Rains County, Texas

Rains County, Texas

Map of Rains County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Rains County is in northeast Texas on the upper reaches of the Sabine River. It is bordered by Hunt, Hopkins, Wood, and Van Zandt counties. The county seat and largest town, Emory, is centrally located in the county at 32°50' north latitude and 95°50' west longitude and is sixty-four miles east of Dallas. The altitude of Rains County varies from 406 to 491 feet above sea level. The average maximum temperature is 95° F in July, and the average minimum is 31° in January. The county receives an average of 42.2 inches of rain per year and has a growing season of 242 days. With a total area of only 258.8 square miles, Rains County is one of the smallest counties in the state, and more than 10 percent of it has been under water since the construction of Lake Tawakoni and Lake Fork Reservoir. The soils are primarily a mixture of sand and clay. The Sabine River forms the southern border of the county, but most of the creeks drain northeast into the Lake Fork of the Sabine. Other watercourses in Rains County are Elm, Cedar, Garrett, Woodbury, Brushy, Sandy, Turkey, Bull, and Bear creeks. There are also numerous springs. The largest group, Springville Springs, are the source of a stream that flows through the city park in Emory. The rate of flow from these and other springs has slackened in recent years because the water table has been lowered by well pumping.

The dominant trees in the county are post oak, blackjack oak, walnut, cedar elm, and black hickory, as well as winged elm, chinaberry, redbud, and dogwood. The western Blackland Prairie has primarily tall grasses and mesquites, and post oak, elm, and pecan trees are found along streams. The number of wild animals is relatively low, but a considerable diversity is represented. Many of the species are at the extreme western or eastern extension of their natural range. The most common mammals are the opossum, cottontail, swamp rabbit, several species of squirrel, and the plains pocket gopher. Less abundant, but also native to the area, are the beaver, coyote, gray fox, raccoon, weasel, mink, river otter, skunk, bobcat, and white-tailed deer. The armadillo established itself in Rains County within the last century. Species which have been exterminated or driven away include the black bear, mountain lion, red wolf, alligator, buffalo, and wild turkey.

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Steven R. Davis | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Rains County is classified as a County

Altitude Range

340 ft – 570 ft

Size

Land area does not include water surface area, whereas total area does

  • Land Area: 229.5 mi²
  • Total Area: 258.8 mi²

Temperature

January mean minimum: 31.4°F
July mean maximum: 91.4°F

Rainfall, 2019

44.5 inches

Population Count, 2019

12,514

Civilian Labor Count, 2019

5,863

Unemployment, 2019

5.2%

Property Values, 2019

$1,149,547,003 USD

Per-Capita Income, 2019

$33,602 USD

Retail Sales, 2019

$98,507,382 USD

Wages, 2019

$17,996,818 USD

Rains County

Highlighted:
  • Rains County
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Place Type Population (Year/Source) Currently Exists
Town 483 (2021) Yes
Town
Town 6 (2014) Yes
Town 25 (2014) Yes
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Town
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Town 35 (2014) Yes
Town 40 (2014) Yes
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Town 40 (2014) Yes
Town 40 (2009) Yes
Town 850 (2021) Yes
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Town 1,291 (2021) Yes
Town 40 (2014) Yes
Town 32 (2014) Yes
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Town 70 (2014) Yes
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Town 40 (2014) Yes
Town 300 (2014) Yes
Town 250 (2014) Yes
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Lake Yes
Lake Yes
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Town 72 (2014) Yes
Town 765 (2021) Yes
Town 20 (2014) Yes
Town 40 (2014) Yes
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Town
Town 50 (2014) Yes
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Town 45 (2014) Yes
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Town 25 (2014) Yes
Town
Town
Town
Town 25 (2014) Yes
Town 47 (2014) Yes

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