Population |
23,243 |
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Physical Features: East Texas county; sixty percent forested, rolling plain; broken by Sabine, Murvaul Creek; Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Murvaul, Martin Creek Lake.
Economy: Gas, oil-field operations, food processing, agribusiness.
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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, 73.2; Black, 15.8; Hispanic, 8.8; Asian, 0.8; Other, 0.8; Two or more races, 2.0.
Vital Statistics, annual: Births, 287; deaths, 266; marriages, 164; divorces, 93.
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 $93.3 million. Timber sales significant.
CARTHAGE (6,934) county seat; petroleum processing, poultry, sawmills; hospital, junior college; Oil & Gas Blast in October.
Other towns include: Beckville (838), Clayton (125), DeBerry (200), Gary (301), Long Branch (150), Panola (305). Also, Tatum (1,416, mostly in Rusk County).
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Toledo Bend Reservoir. Photo by Robert Plocheck. |