Longview, Texas facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Longview
City
Downtown Longview
Nickname(s): Balloon Race Capital of Texas
Motto(s): Real East Texas
Location of Longview in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas
Longview Location in Texas Show map of Texas Longview Location in the United States Show map of the United States
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 (2020)
• City	81,683
• Density	1,460.45/sq mi (563.914/km²)
• Metro	217,481
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
GNIS feature ID	2410870

Longview is a city in East Texas, United States. It is the main city of Gregg County, Texas. Longview is where major highways like Interstate 20, U.S. 80, and U.S. 259 meet. These roads are just north of the Sabine River.

In 2020, about 81,638 people lived in Longview. It is the biggest city in the Longview metropolitan area. This area includes Gregg, Upshur, and Rusk counties. In 2021, the metropolitan area had about 287,858 people.

Longview started in 1870. It became an official town in 1871. When Gregg County was created in 1873, Longview was chosen as its county seat. Today, Longview is an important center for the region. It is similar to the nearby city of Tyler.

Many big companies have offices or factories in Longview. These include Eastman Chemical, Trinity Rail Group, AAON Coil Products, and Komatsu Mining. You can also find stores like Dollar General and Old Navy/GAP here. For higher education, there are places like LeTourneau University, Kilgore College, and the University of Texas at Tyler's Longview University Center.

Longview's History

The city of Longview began in 1869. In 1870, a man named O.H. Methvin, Sr. sold land to the Southern Pacific Railroad. He sold 100 acres for just one dollar. He wanted the railroad to build their tracks near his land.

Later that year, he sold another 100 acres for $500 in gold. He hoped the railroad would make his other land more valuable. The town got its name from two railroad surveyors. They looked out from Methvin's home and said, "What a long view!" In June 1871, Longview became the first official town in Gregg County.

Early Buildings and Events

In 1884, the Mobberly Hotel opened. It served people traveling by train. It was also a popular place for social events in Longview. The hotel had fancy furniture and fireplaces in every room. It was near the train station. Sadly, a fire destroyed the hotel in 1965.

In 1894, a group of bandits tried to rob the First National Bank of Longview. Several people died in a gunfight. The robbers got away with some money. Today, the Gregg County Historical Museum has an exhibit about this event. It is even inside the old bank vault that was robbed.

Growth and Development

The Gregg Hotel opened in 1930. It served customers during the oil boom. It was a hotel until 1978. Then, it became dorms for students at LeTourneau College. The building was torn down in 1995.

In 1942, work started on the Big Inch pipeline in Longview. This pipeline was very important during World War II. From 1943 to 1945, it moved over 261 million barrels of oil. This oil went to the East Coast.

Big Inch and its smaller partner, Little Inch, were the longest oil pipelines ever built at that time. They helped supply the United States' war efforts. After World War II, Longview's population grew a lot. It went from 24,502 people in 1940 to 40,050 in 1960. This growth happened because more people moved to the city. Also, nearby areas like Greggton and Spring Hill became part of Longview.

Longview's Geography and Climate

Longview is in Northeast Texas, which is part of East Texas. It is north of Kilgore. The city of White Oak is to its west. Longview started in Gregg County. As it grew, it added land around it. A small part of the city on the east side is now in Harrison County.

Longview's Weather

Longview has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. It gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. Snowfall is very rare.

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)
Average precipitation 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

Longview's Population and People

Longview's population has grown a lot over the years. In 1880, about 1,525 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 81,638.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
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 2020

The city is home to people from many different backgrounds. In 2020, about half of the people were non-Hispanic White. About a quarter were Black or African American. There were also growing numbers of Asian, Native American, and multiracial people. About 20% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Most households in Longview are families. In 2000, about 33% of households had children under 18. The average household had about 2.5 people. The average family had about 3 people.

In 2020, the average income for a household in Longview was $50,019 per year. Most people in Longview are Christians. Many different Christian groups live in the area.

Longview's Economy

Longview's tallest building, the 10-story VeraBank

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center

Looking west on Tyler Street in downtown Longview

Longview is a major economic center in Northeast Texas. It is known for its strong business environment. Many companies choose to operate here.

Top Employers in Longview

Longview has many large employers. These companies provide jobs for thousands of people. They help the city's economy grow.

#	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

Arts and Culture in Longview

Longview offers many fun things to do. The Longview Public Library has a main branch and a smaller branch.

In 2019, a special area in downtown Longview became a cultural district. This area is about 320 acres. It has museums, restaurants, parks, live music, and historic buildings.

The Longview Arboretum and Nature Center opened in 2019. It is a beautiful 29-acre space. The city also has a large system of trails. These trails are being connected to create 10 miles of walking and biking paths.

Education in Longview

S.E. Belcher, Jr. Chapel and Performance Center at LeTourneau University

Longview has many options for learning. This includes colleges and public schools.

Colleges and Universities

Longview is home to three colleges and two beauty schools.

LeTourneau University
Kilgore College, Longview Campus
University of Texas at Tyler, Longview University Center

Kilgore College serves students from Longview, Hallsville, Pine Tree, and Spring Hill school districts.

Public School Districts

Four different school districts serve Longview.

These districts are partly in Gregg County:

Longview Independent School District – This district has about 8,150 students and 16 schools. Their mascot is the Lobos (Spanish for "Wolves"). It serves south and northeast Longview.
Pine Tree Independent School District – This district has about 4,631 students and seven schools. Their mascot is the Pirates. It serves west Longview, including Pine Tree and Greggton.
Spring Hill Independent School District – This district has about 1,862 students and five schools. Their mascot is the Panthers. It serves north Longview in the Spring Hill area.

The part of Longview in Harrison County is served by this district:

Hallsville Independent School District – This district has about 4,037 students and six schools. Their mascot is the Bobcats. It serves far east Longview.

Media in Longview

Longview has its own TV stations, newspapers, and radio stations.

TV Stations

The Gregg County part of Longview is in the Tyler-Longview-Lufkin-Nacogdoches TV market. The Harrison County part is in the Shreveport-Texarkana market. KLGV-LD broadcasts from Longview.

Newspapers

Longview News-Journal
East Texas Review
El Diario de Harrison County

Radio Stations

FM Stations

Frequency (MHz)	Call letters	Licensed location	Type	Format
94.1	K231DK	Longview	Translator of KFRO	Oldies
96.5	K243CU	Longview	Translator of KEES	Catholic
97.1	K246CB	Longview	Translator of KHCB	Christian radio
99.9	K260CE	Longview	Translator of KTAA	Christian radio
101.9	K270AW	Longview	Translator of KDOK	Classic Hits
103.7	K279CI	Longview	Translator of KYKX	Country
105.7	KYKX	Longview	Primary	Country

AM Station

Frequency (kHz)	Call letters	Licensed location	Type	Format
1370	KFRO	Longview	Primary	Fox Sports Radio

Transportation in Longview

Longview has several ways to get around. This includes an airport, public buses, and train service.

Airport

East Texas Regional Airport is located south of Longview. It helps people travel by air.

Public Transportation

Longview has a public bus system called Longview Transit. It runs daily, except on Sundays and holidays. The buses go to important parts of the city.

City of Longview Transit (COLT) also offers special rides. These are for people who cannot use the regular bus service.

Train Service

Amtrak offers passenger train service in Longview. The Texas Eagle train stops at a station downtown. Longview's Amtrak station is one of the busiest in Texas.

Trains travel daily between Chicago and San Antonio. They stop in Longview each morning and evening. On certain days, the Longview station also serves trains going to Los Angeles. Passengers can connect to other cities by bus from the station. These cities include Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Houston, and Galveston. They can also go to Shreveport, Louisiana.

Longview is served by Amtrak, the BNSF Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad.

Roads

Longview has many important roads. These roads connect the city to other places.

Interstate 20: This east-west highway connects Longview to Dallas. Dallas is about 125 miles to the west. It also connects to Shreveport, Louisiana, which is about 60 miles to the east.
U.S. Highway 80: This highway runs through the center of Longview. It used to go all the way from Georgia to California. Now, it ends in Dallas.
U.S. Highway 259: This is a 250-mile-long north-south highway. It offers another way to travel between Nacogdoches, Texas, and the Oklahoma/Arkansas border.
Texas Highway 31: This highway runs 143.3 miles east-west. It connects Longview to Waco, Texas.
Texas Highway 149: This 33.9-mile-long highway connects Longview with Carthage.
Texas Highway 300: This is a short, 18.62-mile highway. It connects Longview to U.S. 271 in Gilmer.
Texas Highway 281: This is a 19.3-mile loop highway. It goes around much of Longview.
Spur 502: This road connects U.S. Highway 80 in central Longview to U.S. Highway 259 north of Longview.
Spur 63: This road runs north-south through Longview. It connects Texas Highway 31 with Spur 502.