Van Zandt County
| Van Zandt County, Texas | |
|---|---|
The Van Zandt County Courthouse in Canton
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 Location in the U.S. state of Texas |
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 Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1848 |
| Named for | Isaac Van Zandt |
| Seat | Canton |
| Largest city | Canton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 860 sq mi (2,227 km2) |
| • Land | 843 sq mi (2,183 km2) |
| • Water | 17 sq mi (44 km2), 2.0% |
| Population | |
| • (2010) | 52,579 |
| • Density | 62/sq mi (24/km²) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
| Website | www |
Van Zandt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas, in the northeastern part of the state. As of the 2010 census, its population was 52,579. Its county seat is Canton. The county is named for Isaac Van Zandt (1813-1847), a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 860 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 843 square miles (2,180 km2) is land and 17 square miles (44 km2) (2.0%) is covered by water. Van Zandt County is unique in topography. The western and northwestern parts of the county are in the eastern edge of the Texas Blackland Prairies, the central part of the county is located in the post oak belt of Northeast Texas, and the eastern part of the county stretches into the East Texas Piney Woods. Two major rivers, the Neches and the Sabine both flow through Van Zandt County. Van Zandt is referred to as the "Gateway to East Texas" due to its diverse topography.
Van Zandt County is commonly known as the Free State of Van Zandt. The title was particularly prevalent through the Reconstruction Era, but is still in use today. Many versions of the county's history may account for this moniker, and historians, even within the county and throughout its existence, do not agree how exactly it became known as the Free State.
One story of how the Free State of Van Zandt came to be originates with the county's formation. In 1848, Henderson County was split into three counties: Kaufman, Van Zandt, and what remained as Henderson County. Henderson County had been deeply in debt, yet the new Van Zandt County was founded without any obligations. Many believed that this was a mistake on the state's part, and bitter citizens and politicians from Henderson County referred to the new county as the Free State.
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