Kilgore, officially the City of Kilgore is a city in Gregg and Rusk counties in Texas, United States. It sits where Interstate 20 and US 259 meet. Most of the city is in Gregg County. The rest is in Rusk County. The city had 13,376 people in 2020.
A post office opened in 1873. Because the train helped farmers sell crops, people moved to Kilgore. By 1885, 250 people lived there. The town had two cotton cleaning machines, a church, and a school (only for white children). The school district started in 1910. By 1914, Kilgore had two banks and 700 people. By 1929, about 1,000 people lived there.
But hard times came. Cotton prices fell. Then the Great Depression started. Businesses closed. By 1930, only 500 people lived in Kilgore. It looked like the town might die.
At the height of the oil boom, there were over 1,100 oil wells inside the city. The town grew too fast. There was not enough water, roads, or police. So Kilgore became an official city in 1931. Many workers came to find jobs. Sometimes the police needed help from the Texas Rangers to keep order. By the mid-1930s, big oil companies bought out small ones. The boom ended around 1940. But oil is still important to the city. The number of people stayed around 10,000 in the 1950s.
In the 1940s, Kilgore had over 1,000 oil derricks. One small area was called "The world's richest acre." Today, 60 steel derricks stand in the city with stars on top. That is why Kilgore is called the "City of Stars."
Geography
Kilgore is in southern Gregg County. Part of it goes into Rusk County. U.S. Route 259 goes around the east side of the city. It goes 11 miles (18km) northeast to Longview and 17 miles (27km) south to Henderson. The city goes 3 miles (4.8km) north to Interstate 20. I-20 goes east 69 miles (111km) to Shreveport, Louisiana and west 119 miles (192km) to Dallas.
Kilgore has a total area of 18.65 square miles (48.3km²). Most of it is land. Water covers only 0.04 square miles (0.1km²).
In 2020, 13,376 people lived in Kilgore. There were 5,060 households and 3,476 families.
In 2000, 11,301 people lived in Kilgore. There were 4,403 households. The number of people per square mile was 734.3. The city was 78.22% White, 12.34% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.68% Asian, and 6.95% other races. 11.11% were Hispanic or Latino.
Of the households, 30.2% had children under 18. Half were married couples. 12.6% were women living alone. About 27.6% were single-person households. The average family had 3.03 people.
The city had 24.6% under age 18, 12.5% aged 18–24, 26.2% aged 25–44, 20.3% aged 45–64, and 16.5% 65 or older. The middle age was 36 years.
The middle income for a family was $61,765. About 9.7% of families and 15.1% of all people were poor.
Economy
In 2023, Kilgore had 309 local businesses. New factories and businesses invested $117 million in the city.
A company called Orgill has a big warehouse in Kilgore. It sells tools and home supplies.
Arts and culture
Performing arts
Kilgore College Rangerettes
Kilgore is home to the Kilgore College Rangerettes. They are the world's first precision dance team. They started in 1940. Their founder was Gussie Nell Davis. The Rangerettes are famous for their high kicks and neat lines. They wear red, white, and blue clothes with white boots.
Every November, Kilgore has the East Texas Pipe Organ Festival. It celebrates a man named Roy Perry (1906–1978). He built pipe organs. Perry lived in Kilgore. He helped make big organs for churches. The festival has music shows and tours.
East Texas Oil Museum: This museum is at Kilgore College. It shows what Kilgore looked like during the 1930s oil boom. Visitors can walk through a model town called "Boomtown, USA." It has displays about oil workers and how the town changed.
Rangerette Showcase and Museum: Also at the college. It tells the story of the Rangerettes. It has old uniforms, photos, and videos.
Kilgore Public Library, built in the 1930s.
Kilgore Public Library: Built between 1933 and 1939. It has a special style of building.
Festivals and events
Kilgore Oktoberfest: A yearly festival with German food, music, and dancing.
Reel East Texas Film Festival: A film festival showing movies by independent filmmakers.
The Balloon Glow was first at the Great Texas Balloon Race
Kilgore College Rangers Football and Kilgore College Rangers Basketball.
Park and recreation
Kilgore has a trail system for walking, running, and biking. It is 3.5 miles (5.6km) long. It goes through woods.
Government
Local government
The city government had $17.4 million in money coming in and $19.4 million in spending in a recent year.
State government
In the Texas Senate, Kilgore is represented by Bryan Hughes (Republican). In the Texas House of Representatives, it is represented by David Simpson (Republican) and Travis Clardy (Republican).
Federal government
Kilgore is in Texas's 1st congressional district. The U.S. representative is Nathaniel Moran (Republican). The U.S. senators from Texas are John Cornyn and Ted Cruz (both Republicans).
United States
Texas
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