Access Rusk County Obituary Records
Rusk County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Henderson, Texas. Located in East Texas near Longview, Rusk County has vital records dating from 1903.
Rusk County Overview
Rusk County Clerk Death Records
The Rusk County Clerk's office in Henderson is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Rusk County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.
Rusk County lies in the East Texas Piney Woods region near Longview. Henderson is the county seat. The county had one of the most significant oil booms in Texas history -- the East Texas Oil Field, discovered in 1930 and centered partly in Rusk County, was the largest oil field ever found in the contiguous United States at the time. The county also has a strong timber and natural gas sector. Henderson and the surrounding area are home to long-established Black and white communities with roots going back to the pre-Civil War era. The DSHS online system is available for certified death certificate requests.
| Office | Rusk County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | P.O. Box 668, Henderson, TX 75653 |
| Phone | (903) 657-0368 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | ruskcounty.org |
Searching Rusk County Obituaries
Order Rusk County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Rusk County from 1903. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Henderson Daily News and area papers.
Note: The DSHS statewide index covers Rusk County death records from 1903. Online ordering avoids a trip to the Henderson courthouse.
Requesting Rusk County Death Certificates
Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Rusk County Clerk, P.O. Box 668, Henderson, TX 75653. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.
Historical Rusk County Obituary Records
Rusk County death records from the early 1900s reflect the timber and agricultural communities of East Texas that preceded one of the greatest oil booms in American history. The county was created in 1843 and named for Thomas J. Rusk, a Texas Republic leader. Early settlement brought cotton farmers, timber workers, and their families from the Deep South. The county had a substantial enslaved population before the Civil War. The 1930 oil discovery transformed the economy and drew thousands of workers, making the post-1930 death records reflect a much more diverse workforce. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Rusk County entries. The Rusk County Heritage Association holds local genealogy materials.
The Rusk County Clerk's website provides information on vital records requests and county services in Henderson.
The Rusk County Clerk in Henderson maintains death certificates and vital records for this East Texas county from 1903 forward.
Texas Law and Rusk County Death Records
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Rusk County.
Rusk County Obituary Resources
Contact the clerk at (903) 657-0368, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Recent obituaries appear on Legacy.com.
Nearby Counties
Rusk County is located in East Texas near Longview in the Piney Woods region.