Henderson is a city in Rusk County, northeast Texas, United States. The population was 13,712 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Rusk County. Henderson is named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas. The city has functioned as a major crossroads in Northeast Texas over the last two centuries. Several major highways pass through the business district of the town, including U.S. Route 259, Texas State Highway 64, U.S. Route 79, Texas State Highway 43, Texas State Highway 42 and Texas State Highway 64.