Henderson was founded in 1843 to serve as the Rusk County seat and was duly recognized by the Congress of the Republic of Texas. It was named after the first Attorney General of that Republic, who later became the state's first governor after Texas joined the United States.
Much of our history since that day remains intact despite a fire, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Today, Henderson's downtown boasts a National Register Historic District designation. Visitors continue to relive history in our Opera House, the Howard-Dickenson House, and the C.E. Rogers & Son General Store where customers still purchase washboards and tubs, cow bells and bridles amongst the modern conveniences.
The oil boom of the 1930s transformed the economic landscape from an agricultural and plantation base to a thriving business foundation. The Daisy Bradford No. 3 rendered 300 barrels of crude oil per day from a depth of 3,592 feet. Today, monuments to this gusher and others have triggered the East Texas oil boom can be found around Pioneer park.
Area lodging provides plenty of hotels, bed, and breakfast, camping facilities, condo rentals and other relaxation opportunities to accomodate travelers' overnight plans.
