It was named after Thomas Jefferson Rusk, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

The city of Rusk is no longer dry; a beer and wine local option election passed on May 9, 2009.

Three years later, in 2012, another local option election was held, to consider liquor sales.

[7] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,285 people, 1,210 households, and 866 families residing in the city.

Rusk is underlain by glauconite-rich sediments which, in most parts of town, have weathered to dark reddish brown fine sandy loam topsoil over dark red clay subsoil characteristic of the Nacogdoches soil series.

[14] The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

The United States Postal Service operates the Rusk Post Office.

[20] At that site, the Texas Prison System previously operated the Rusk Penitentiary.

Rusk has also been the home to Jim Swink, Adrian Burk and Johnny Horton.

[22][23][24] Cody Glenn, a former Nebraska standout and former NFL player, is from Rusk.