Longview, city, seat (1871) of Gregg county and partly in Harrison county, eastern Texas, U.S. It is situated near the Sabine River, 65 miles (105 km) west of Shreveport, Louisiana, and is the centre of a metropolitan and industrial area that includes Marshall and Kilgore.

The area was settled in the early 19th century and was developed after 1850 by planters. The town site was named in 1870 by surveyors for the Texas and Pacific Railroad, who were impressed by the long-distance view. The community became a trading centre for beef cattle, hogs, and horses raised in the river valley. The discovery of oil in the 1930s ushered in a period of industrial expansion and rapid population growth.

The city, characterized by its great concentration of oil derricks, is a business focus for the extensive East Texas oil field and has oil refineries and pipelines, machine shops, breweries, and food-processing plants. Other manufactures include chemicals; steel; transportation, farm, and earth-moving equipment; aircraft components; and clothing. Longview is an important regional commercial and medical centre. Institutions include the Gregg County Historical Museum, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, and LeTourneau University (1946). Lake Cherokee (impounded on Cherokee Bayou for flood control, irrigation, and recreation) is 12 miles (20 km) south. Inc. 1872. Pop. (2000) 73,344; Longview Metro Area, 194,042; (2010) 80,455; Longview Metro Area, 214,369.

Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.
Britannica Quiz
Guess the City by Its River Quiz
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.

Kilgore, city, on the Gregg-Rusk county line, northeastern Texas, U.S., about 50 miles (80 km) west of the border with Louisiana. The city is part of the Longview-Kilgore-Gladewater-Tyler oil complex in the middle of the East Texas oil field. In 1871 Judge C.B. Kilgore settled the site, which was then the terminus of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Lumber and cotton became the chief sources of income, but, after the discovery of the vast East Texas pool in 1930, Kilgore became an oil-producing and supply centre with more than 1,200 derricks within the city limits; some 50 derricks remain, mostly as a reminder of the city’s past. While a petroleum-based economy still prevails, some manufacturing (notably of plumbing fixtures and clothing) has also developed. Kilgore (junior) College (1935) is nationally known for its Rangerette precision drill and dance team, and the Rangerette Showcase Museum on campus relates the team’s history. The East Texas Oil Museum, also on campus, celebrates the city’s history. The college hosts the Texas Shakespeare Festival, established in 1986. Inc. 1931. Pop. (2000) 11,301; (2010) 12,975.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.