Two Rivers Hold Red River County Between Them

On a map, Red River County looks held between water. The Red River forms its northern boundary, and the Sulphur River forms its southern one. Between them, East Texas timberland rises and falls gently, mostly 300 to 500 feet above sea level. Loam and clay lie under pasture, timber, and cropland.

The northern river supplies the county's name and some of its early routes. Red soil colors the water during floods, and the river carries naturally occurring salt. Long before the railroad, crossings at Jonesborough and Pecan Point served as gateways into Texas. The Red River could carry traffic for part of the year. In low water, produce and supplies had to go by road.

The smaller names keep another layer of the map. In the early 1820s, bands of Shawnee, Delaware, and Kickapoo settled along creeks that still carry their names. Kickapoo Creek starts northwest of Avery and runs through wooded ground toward Cuthand Creek. Shawnee Creek begins southwest of Avery and winds to the Sulphur River. Both have intermittent stretches, so the county's water map includes quiet channels as well as two broad boundaries.