Longview | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Downtown Longview | |
| Nickname: Balloon Race Capital of Texas | |
| Motto: Real East Texas | |
 | |
  Longview Location of Longview in the contiguous United States Show map of Texas Longview Longview (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:32°30′33″N94°45′14″W / 32.50917°N 94.75389°W /32.50917; -94.75389 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Gregg,Harrison |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| Area | |
• City | 55.93 sq mi (144.85 km2) |
| • Land | 55.83 sq mi (144.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
| Elevation | 289 ft (88 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 81,683 |
| • Density | 1,500/sq mi (560/km2) |
| • Metro | 217,481[2] |
| GDP | |
| • Metro | $20.259 billion (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 75601–75606 |
| Area code(s) | 903 and 430 |
| FIPS code | 48-43888[6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410870[3] |
| Website | www |
Longview is a city in, and county seat of,Gregg County, Texas, United States. Longview is located inEast Texas, whereInterstate 20 andU.S. highways80 and259 converge just north of theSabine River. According to the2020 U.S. census, the city had a population of 81,638.[7] Longview is the principal city of theLongview metropolitan statistical area, comprising Gregg,Upshur, andRusk counties. The population of the metropolitan area as of 2021 census estimates was 287,858.[8]
Longview was established in 1870 in what was at the time southern Upshur County; the town incorporated in 1871. After Gregg County was created in 1873, Longview was voted the county seat. Today, Longview is considered a major hub city for the region, as is the nearby city ofTyler. Companies with significant presence in Longview includeEastman Chemical,Trinity Rail Group,AAON Coil Products,Komatsu Mining,Dollar General andOld Navy/GAP. Colleges and universities in the area includeLeTourneau University,Kilgore College, and theUniversity of Texas at Tyler's Longview University Center.
The modern-day city of Longview was founded in 1869.[9] In 1870, O.H. Methvin, Sr. sold 100 acres (40 ha) to theSouthern Pacific Railroad for one dollar to persuade them to build their line in the direction of land he owned. Later that year, he sold another 100 acres (40 ha) for $500 in gold. He hoped the coming of the railroad would increase the value of the rest of his land.
Two railroad surveyors coined the name of the town when they stated, "What a long view!" from the porch of Methvin's home. In June 1871, Longview was incorporated as the first town in Gregg County.[10][9]
In 1884, theMobberly Hotel opened for business servicing railroad travelers and as the center of social gatherings for Longview. The hotel featured cherrywood furniture with carved bed posts, marble-topwashstands, linen tablecloths, electric crystal chandeliers, and a fireplace in every room. Mobberly was located in the junction part of town near the train depot. The hotel was destroyed by fire on June 13, 1965.[citation needed]
On May 23, 1894,Bill Dalton and three members of his posse robbed the First National Bank of Longview. Several men died in the resultinggunfight, bandit Jim Wallace along with citizens J. W. McQueen, Charles Learn, and George Buckingham.[11] The robbers escaped with 2,000$ in cash and some unsigned bank notes.[12] The Gregg County Historical Museum holds its exhibit on the event within the bank vault which was robbed, and holds a yearly event to mark the anniversary of the occasion.[13]
In theLongview race riot in July 1919, a reporter forThe Chicago Defender was in Longview looking into the mysterious death of a black man namedLemuel Walters. An armed white mob attacked a home where the reporter, S.L. Jones, was staying, and attempted tobatter their way in. Agunfight began between the attackers and the men in the house. Eventually, Jones made a getaway. The white men then began to burn buildings in theblack section of the town.[14]
TheGregg Hotel opened in 1930, and served oil boom customers.[15] It had various operators as a hotel until 1978, when it was converted to dormitories for use by male students ofLeTourneau College.[16] Following the 1984 spring semester, the building sat empty except for a barbershop, which also closed in 1986.[17] The building was ultimately demolished in 1995.
In 1942, construction began on theBig Inch pipeline in Longview. From 1943 to 1945, the pipeline transported over 261,000,000 barrels of crude oil to theEast Coast.[9] At the time of construction, Big Inch and its smaller twin, Little Inch, comprised the longest petroleum pipeline ever built in the world. Both were integral in supplying the United States' war effort inWorld War II.
After World War II, Longview's population grew from 24,502 to 40,050 in 1960, its growth fueled by migration from rural Gregg County and the annexation ofGreggton andSpring Hill.[18]
Longview is located withinNortheast Texas, a subregion ofEast Texas. North ofKilgore, and is bordered to the west by the city ofWhite Oak. Longview was founded in Gregg County, and has annexed surrounding land as it has grown in population and area, including a comparatively small area on its east that is withinHarrison County.
| Climate data for Longview, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1902–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) | 90 (32) | 97 (36) | 95 (35) | 103 (39) | 110 (43) | 108 (42) | 113 (45) | 109 (43) | 101 (38) | 93 (34) | 93 (34) | 113 (45) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 57.6 (14.2) | 62.0 (16.7) | 69.5 (20.8) | 76.7 (24.8) | 83.9 (28.8) | 90.2 (32.3) | 93.6 (34.2) | 94.2 (34.6) | 88.8 (31.6) | 79.0 (26.1) | 67.9 (19.9) | 59.5 (15.3) | 76.9 (24.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 46.0 (7.8) | 49.8 (9.9) | 57.2 (14.0) | 64.2 (17.9) | 72.8 (22.7) | 79.8 (26.6) | 83.0 (28.3) | 83.0 (28.3) | 76.9 (24.9) | 66.2 (19.0) | 55.4 (13.0) | 47.8 (8.8) | 65.2 (18.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 34.3 (1.3) | 37.7 (3.2) | 44.9 (7.2) | 51.8 (11.0) | 61.7 (16.5) | 69.5 (20.8) | 72.5 (22.5) | 71.7 (22.1) | 64.9 (18.3) | 53.3 (11.8) | 43.0 (6.1) | 36.2 (2.3) | 53.5 (11.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) | −5 (−21) | 17 (−8) | 20 (−7) | 37 (3) | 52 (11) | 56 (13) | 53 (12) | 38 (3) | 25 (−4) | 18 (−8) | 2 (−17) | −5 (−21) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.27 (108) | 4.07 (103) | 4.68 (119) | 4.34 (110) | 4.92 (125) | 4.33 (110) | 2.50 (64) | 2.84 (72) | 3.48 (88) | 4.33 (110) | 3.78 (96) | 4.64 (118) | 48.18 (1,224) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.4 (1.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.5 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 7.3 | 8.0 | 7.3 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 9.0 | 88.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| Source:NOAA[19][20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 1,525 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,034 | 33.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,591 | 76.5% | |
| 1910 | 5,155 | 43.6% | |
| 1920 | 5,713 | 10.8% | |
| 1930 | 5,036 | −11.9% | |
| 1940 | 13,758 | 173.2% | |
| 1950 | 24,502 | 78.1% | |
| 1960 | 40,050 | 63.5% | |
| 1970 | 45,547 | 13.7% | |
| 1980 | 62,762 | 37.8% | |
| 1990 | 70,311 | 12.0% | |
| 2000 | 73,344 | 4.3% | |
| 2010 | 80,455 | 9.7% | |
| 2020 | 81,638 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census [21][failed verification] 2020[4] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[22] | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 48,028 | 45,230 | 40,599 | 65.48% | 56.22% | 49.73% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 16,126 | 18,190 | 19,173 | 21.99% | 22.61% | 23.49% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 267 | 292 | 255 | 0.36% | 0.36% | 0.31% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 606 | 1,063 | 1,309 | 0.83% | 1.32% | 1.60% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 12 | 21 | 30 | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 35 | 87 | 219 | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.27% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 706 | 1,112 | 3,115 | 0.96% | 1.38% | 3.82% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,564 | 14,460 | 16,938 | 10.31% | 17.97% | 20.75% |
| Total | 73,344 | 80,455 | 81,638 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
At the2010 census, Longview had a population of 80,455. The median age was 34. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 56.2%non-Hispanic White, 22.6%Black or African American, 0.5%Native American, 1.4%Asian, 9.5% from some other race, and 2.3% fromtwo or more races. About were 18.0%Hispanics or Latinos of any race.[25] In thecensus of 2000,[6] 73,344 people, 28,363 households, and 19,116 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,341.8 inhabitants per square mile (518.1/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 70.10% White, 22.11% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 4.92% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races; Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.31% of the population.
By the2020 United States census, Longview's population grew to 81,683.[7] Its racial and ethnic makeup per the 2020 census was 49.73% non-Hispanic white, 23.49% Black or African American, 0.31% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian alone, 0.27% some other race, 3.82% multiracial, and 20.75% Hispanic or Latino of any race.[26] Among its population at the 2020American Community Survey, 52.7% of its population was non-Hispanic white, 22.4% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.4% Asian alone, 0.2%Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, 2.7% two or more races, and 20.3% Hispanic of Latino American of any race.[27] The 2020 census and 2020 survey reflected nationwide demographic trends of greater diversification among traditional minority populations.[28][29]
Of the 28,363 households at the2000 census, 33.2% had children under 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were not families. About 27.9% of all households were individuals who lived alone, and 10.7% of all households were 65 or older and living alone. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 3.06. Among the estimated 31,450 households at the 2020 American Community Survey, the average household size was 2.49; the 19,965 families had an average size of 3.13.[30] Of the households and families estimated, 53.6% were in owner-occupied housing units and 46.4% were renter-occupied.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $33,858, and for a family was $42,378. Males had a median income of $33,078 versus $21,400 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,676. About 13.0% of families and 16.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over. By 2020, the median household income for Longview residents grew to $50,019, and monthly housing costs were $854.[31]
As of 2020's religion census by theAssociation of Religion Data Archives,Baptists were the largest set of Christians, with Christianity being the predominant religion for Longview's metropolitan area. Altogether, Baptists from theAmerican Baptist Association,Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship,Free Will Baptists,National Baptists,National Missionary Baptists, andSouthern Baptists numbered 88,811.Non/inter-denominational Protestants numbered 26,874. Other large Christian communities for the MSA wereMethodists,Pentecostals,Jehovah's Witnesses, andMormons. ItsCatholic Christian community numbered 22,952.[32]
Longview is one of several cities in East Texas that serve as a center for the "patent troll" industry, due to a perception that theUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas is a favorable venue for patent infringement plaintiffs.[33] As such, it is also one of the major economic hubs forNortheast Texas alongsideTyler.[34]
According to the municipalFiscal Year 2021–2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[35] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center | 2,530 |
| 2 | Eastman Chemical | 1,481 |
| 3 | Longview Regional Medical Center | 1,150 |
| 4 | Dollar General | 875 |
| 5 | Komatsu | 560 |
| 6 | AAON Coil Products, Inc. | 515 |
| 7 | Trinity Rail, LLC | 471 |
| 8 | Mr. Cooper | 450 |
| 9 | Diagnostic Clinic of Longview | 400 |
| 10 | Crosby Group | 380 |
Longview Public Library operates a main branch, and the Broughton Branch.[36][37]
Longview's cultural district—a 320-acre (130 ha) area in downtown Longview which includes museums, restaurants, parks, live music, theater, and historic buildings—was designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2019.[38]
The 29-acre (12 ha) Longview Arboretum and Nature Center opened in 2019.[39][40] Among other centers, the city has a vast trail system that is being connected to create 10 consecutive miles of connected walking/biking trails.[41]
According to the 2007 comprehensive annual financial report, the city's various funds had $75.9 million in revenues, $87.7 million in expenditures, $47.6 million in total assets, $9.0 million in total liabilities, and $12.2 million in cash in investments.[42]
The city manager as of 2023 is Rolin McPhee.[43] Bonds retired January 31, 2022 and Rolin McPhee became the city manager on February 1.[44] With the addition of McPhee as city manager, the city of Longview underwent some restructuring namely adding an assistant city manager, MaryAnn Hagenbucher.[44]
Longview is represented in theTexas Senate by RepublicanBryan Hughes,District 1, and in theTexas House of Representatives by RepublicanJay Dean,District 7. TheTexas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Longview District Parole Office in Longview.[45]
Longview is part ofTexas's 1st congressional district, which is currently represented byRepublicanNathaniel Moran. Moran was elected after former Republican Louie Gohmert announced he was not seeking reelection in 2022.
The city of Longview is home to three institutions of higher learning and two trade (cosmetology) schools:
The service area of Kilgore College includes the independent school districts of Longview, Hallsville, Pine Tree, and Spring Hill (the ones covering sections of Longview).[46]
Longview is served by four school districts.
The following include portions in Gregg County:[47]
The Harrison County portion is in this school district:[48]
The Gregg County portion of Longview is part of the Tyler-Longview-Lufkin-Nacogdoches designated market area, and the Harrison County portion of Longview is within the Shreveport-Texarkana market.[49]
KLGV-LD broadcasts from Longview.
| Frequency (MHz) | Call letters | Licensed location | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94.1 | K231DK | Longview | Translator ofKFRO | Classic Hits |
| 96.5 | K243CU | Longview | Translator ofKEES | Catholic |
| 97.1 | K246CB | Longview | Translator ofKHCB | Christian radio |
| 99.9 | K260CE | Longview | Translator ofKTAA | Christian radio |
| 101.9 | K270AW | Longview | Translator ofKDOK | Classic Hits |
| 103.7 | K279CI | Longview | Translator ofKYKX | Country |
| 105.7 | KYKX | Longview | Primary | Country |
| Frequency (kHz) | Call letters | Licensed location | Type | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1370 | KFRO | Longview | Primary | Classic Hits |
East Texas Regional Airport is located south of Longview.
The city's public transit system, Longview Transit, runs daily routes, excluding Sundays and holidays. Its fixed routes provide transportation to key districts throughout the city.[50]
City of Longview Transit (COLT) provides demand-response transportation services for those who are unable to use the regular Longview Transit fixed-route service.[51]
Amtrak passenger rail service is available on theTexas Eagle through adowntown terminal. Longview's Amtrak station is the fifth-busiest in Texas and the fourth-busiest station along theTexas Eagle route.[52] Daily trains betweenChicago andSan Antonio stop each morning (Chicago–San Antonio) and each evening (San Antonio–Chicago). Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Longview station serves the Chicago toLos Angeles trains. The return train, Los Angeles to Chicago, stops in Longview on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. It serves about 20–50 passengers per day. From the station, passengers can connect toNacogdoches,Lufkin,Houston, andGalveston, as well asShreveport, Louisiana, by motorcoach. A proposal is in the works for ahigh-speed rail system fromDallas/Fort Worth to Shreveport along the I-20 corridor, bringing passenger rail service to that corridor for the first time since theTexas and Pacific's unnamed successor to theLouisiana Eagle in the late 1960s.[53][54][55]
Longview is served by Amtrak, theBNSF Railway, and theUnion Pacific Railroad.[56]
I-20, Interstate 20, an east–west freeway, connects Longview to Dallas, about 125 mi (201 km) to the west and to Shreveport, Louisiana, around 60 mi (97 km) to the east.
US 80, U.S. Highway 80 runs through the central district of Longview. U.S. Hwy 80 was once a coast-to-coast highway fromTybee Beach nearSavannah, Georgia, and ran continuously across the southern part of the United States toSan Diego, California. Today, its western terminus is in Dallas, making the length only 1,032 mi (1,661 km). The western part of the route was replaced by I-20 and I-10.
US 259, U.S. Highway 259 is a 250-mile-long (400 km) north/south highway providing an alternate route toU.S. 59 between Nacogdoches, Texas, and theOklahoma/Arkansas border just south ofFort Smith, Arkansas. Before Interstate 20, US 259 went through the center of Longview on a route now designated Texas State Highway 31 and Spur 502.
SH 31, Texas Highway 31 runs 143.3 miles (230.6 km) east/west between Longview andWaco, Texas.
SH 149, Texas Highway 149, 33.9 mi (54.6 km) long, connects Longview withCarthage.
SH 300, Texas Highway 300 is a short (18.62-mile (29.97 km)) highway connecting Longview toU.S. 271 inGilmer.
SH 281, Texas Highway 281 is a 19.3-mile (31.1 km) loop highway that circumnavigates much of Longview from its east connection at I-20 east of the Gregg/Harrison county line to I-20 in Longview. It runs northward, westward, southward, and eastward around the city.
Spur 502, Spur 502 connects north/south traffic between U.S. Hwy 80 in central Longview and U.S. Hwy 259 north of Longview.
Spur 63, Spur 63 runs north/south through Longview connecting TX Hwy 31 at its Longview terminus with Spur 502 north of TX Loop 281.
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Municipalities and communities ofGregg County, Texas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Former communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofHarrison County, Texas,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
