Texas Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Kilgore, Texas

Population: 11,066

Located in Gregg County

Surrounded by the lush green pine forests and clear blue lakes of East Texas, Kilgore has a long and unusual history that set the stage for today's unique community.

Plantation owners settled the area before the Civil War. Kilgore itself was established in 1872 with the coming of the Great Northern railroad. A quiet farming community of 500, Kilgore was thrust into the international spotlight in the 1930s with the discovery of one of the greatest oil fields of our time.

In just ten short days, the town's population exploded as more than 10,000 fortune seekers swarmed Kilgore from all over the world. By 1939, a forest of nearly 1,200 oil derricks crowded together within the city limits - most concentrated within one square block that became known as the World's Richest Acre. One well was actually drilled through the terrazzo floor of the Kilgore National Bank that once stood in the area. Kilgore quickly became known as the capitol of the huge East Texas Oil Field.

A historical marker details the history of the plot, actually about 1.2 acres, where wells produced more than 2.5 million barrels of oil. The park also contains a granite monument to the pioneer oil families and the oil boom of the 1930s. The large steel oil derricks and about 40 smaller replicas lining the downtown streets, all topped with stars, are lighted for the holiday season.

In sharp contrast to the thriving boomtown of the 1930's, Kilgore today is a city that blends its rich oil heritage with a technologically advanced business community that provides residents with an incomparable quality of life. In addition to its 12,000 residents, Kilgore also draws from Gregg and Rusk counties with a combined population of nearly 160,000.

As the area has become more popular, so has the need for housing increased. New construction is underway in quite a few of the suburbs in and around Kilgore. Housing itself has remained fairly reasonably priced, although in recent years, it has risen to reflect the growing trend of the area. Expect to spend around $150,000 for a new three or four bedroom colonial; and between $80,000 and $120,000 for a ranch. The wonderful thing about this community is most homes are built on large lots, some as large as an acre, with plenty of room to roam and grow!

The people who live here see Kilgore as a friendly small town that has many characteristics of a larger community. A high tech industrial base, an outstanding public school system and community college, a state-of-the-art hospital, abundant recreational opportunities and extraordinary cultural events make Kilgore a unique small city. Classic Shakespearean theater, the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the East Texas Oil Museum and the star-topped oil derricks appeal to visitors of all ages.

For all of this and more, you have to come and see Kilgore! It's a place on the move, and growing by leaps and bounds.