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Physical Features: East Texas county; 60% forested, rolling plain; broken by Sabine River, Murvaul Creek; Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Murvaul, Martin Creek Lake.

Economy: Gas, oil-field operations, food processing, agribusiness.

History:  A Caddo tribal area. Anglo-American settlement established in 1833. Antebellum slaveholding area. County name is Indian word for cotton; created from Harrison and Shelby counties in 1846; organized the same year.

Race/Ethnicity: (In percent) Anglo, 72.8; Black, 15.7; Hispanic, 9.1; Asian, 0.9; Other, 0.9; Two or more races, 2.0.

Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 287; deaths, 266; marriages, 157; divorces, 75.

Recreation: Lake fishing, water activities, hunting; Jim Reeves memorial, Tex Ritter museum and Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

Minerals: Oil, gas, coal.

Agriculture: Broilers, cattle, forages. Market value $100.7 million. Timber sales significant.

CARTHAGE (7,004) county seat; petroleum processing, poultry, sawmills; hospital, junior college; Oil & Gas Blast in October.

Other towns include: Beckville (933), Clayton (125), DeBerry (200), Gary (319), Long Branch (150), Panola (305). Also, Tatum (1,455, mostly in Rusk County).

Toledo Bend Reservoir. Photo by Robert Plocheck.