Lake Cherokee: Demographics & People
Lake Cherokee is home to 3,093 people, in 1,462 households. Population shrank 7.9% from 3,358 (2022) to 3,093 (2024). Median age 57.4 years. (18.3y older than Rusk County; 22.9y older than Texas). Children under 18 are 13% of the population. Population is 77% White (non-Hispanic) and 9% Black. 75% of households are family-led. County is losing 436 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 40% adult obesity, 18% smoke.
- 2.1 people per household (vs Texas avg 2.7).
- 25% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Texas 35%).
- 96 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Texas 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 7.9% from 3,358 (2022) to 3,093 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~2,853 (extrapolated at -3.9%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 2,553.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 124,239 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -7.9% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 3,358 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 3,093 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 3,093 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Population Estimate | 2,553 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 57.4y is 18.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 13% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 57.4 years (vs Texas 34.5y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 12.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 3,093 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 398 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 421.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 1,160.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 1,114 |
| Population under 18 | 398 |
| Median age | 57.4 years (vs Texas 34.5y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 3,093 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 2,949 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 83 |
| Asian residents | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 226 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | 8.5% |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Asian population | 1.1% (vs Texas 3.7%) |
| Black population | 9.1% (vs Texas 9.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 7.4% (vs Texas 36.6%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 76.8% (vs Texas 36.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 0.8% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 3% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 1,934 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,036 |
| Share born in this state | 62.5% |
| Share born in another state | 37.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 33.5% |
| Foreign-born residents | 0.8% |
| Naturalized citizens | 3.2% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 76 |
| From Europe | 7 |
| From Africa | 9 |
Households & Family Composition
1,462 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 75% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 1,074 families, 20% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 562 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 1,074 |
| Married couples with children | 213 |
| Single-parent households | 12 |
| Average household size | 2.23 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 14.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 42 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 42 |
| Family households | 1,095 households (vs Texas 35,060) |
| Households that are families | 74.9% (vs Texas 65.3%) |
| Total households | 1,462 households (vs Texas 51,915) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 4.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is losing 436 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 4.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 117,595 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 118,031 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | -436 |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 274 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 1 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | TX-01 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 48183 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 48 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 183 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Gregg |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 33.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 30.50 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 36.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 48183 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Gregg County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Small metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 7,687 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 48183 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Gregg County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 53.0% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 46.4% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 39.1% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 123,945 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 10 |
| Family Score · Schools | 20 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 12.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 3,093, shrinking, retirement community, upper-middle, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 3,093 people (vs Texas 143,570) |
| Town Summary · County | Gregg County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade