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Kilgore is a city in Gregg and Rusk counties in East Texas, positioned along the corridor between Longview and Tyler. With a population of about 13,400, it is one of the larger cities in the region and a center for commerce, education, and the oil and gas industry that defines much of East Texas. The city's identity was forged in the East Texas oil boom of the early 1930s. When the vast East Texas Oil Field was discovered, Kilgore transformed almost overnight from a small farm community into a booming oil town crowded with derricks—a history preserved at the East Texas Oil Museum on the Kilgore College campus and at the World's Richest Acre Park downtown, which recalls the famously dense concentration of wells once packed into a single city block. Today energy-related industries remain part of the local economy alongside healthcare, education, and retail. Kilgore College is the community's cultural anchor. The two-year public college draws students from across the region and is world-famous as the home of the Kilgore College Rangerettes, the precision dance-drill team founded in 1940. The Rangerette Showcase and Museum celebrates that legacy, while the Texas Broadcast Museum adds to the city's downtown cultural district. Residentially, Kilgore offers a range of established neighborhoods. Areas south and west of town—including Country Club Estates, Bell Haven Estates, and Rolling Meadows—hold much of the family-oriented housing stock, with larger lots and a mix of mid-century and newer construction. The average commute is short by regional standards, and residents enjoy proximity to Longview's larger employment, retail, and healthcare offerings while living in a self-contained East Texas community. Interstate 20 runs south of the city, and U.S. Highway 259 provides the main north-south route, keeping Kilgore well-connected across the Piney Woods region.

Population 13,376

County Gregg County, Rusk County

Active Listings 252

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Frequently Asked Questions

What counties is Kilgore in?

Kilgore spans Gregg and Rusk counties in East Texas. Most of the city lies in Gregg County, with a portion extending into Rusk County. It sits between Longview and Tyler, roughly 12 miles from Longview.

What is Kilgore known for?

Kilgore is known for its 1930s East Texas oil boom heritage, preserved at the East Texas Oil Museum and the World's Richest Acre Park. It is also home to Kilgore College and the world-famous Kilgore College Rangerettes drill team, celebrated at the Rangerette Showcase and Museum.

What college is in Kilgore?

Kilgore College, a public two-year community college, is based in Kilgore. Founded during the oil-boom era, it is internationally known as the home of the Kilgore College Rangerettes precision drill team and serves students from across East Texas with academic and workforce programs.

How far is Kilgore from Longview and Tyler?

Kilgore lies roughly 12 miles from Longview and about 25 miles from Tyler, connected by U.S. Highway 259 and Interstate 20. The average local commute is a little over 20 minutes, and East Texas Regional Airport in Longview provides regional air service.

City Guide

About Kilgore

Real Estate & Housing

Kilgore's housing stock is anchored by established single-family neighborhoods, with much of the family-oriented market concentrated south and west of downtown in areas such as Country Club Estates, Bell Haven Estates, and Rolling Meadows. Homes range from mid-century ranches and traditional brick construction to newer developments, often on larger lots. As a college town, Kilgore also supports a stock of rental housing and student-oriented units near the Kilgore College campus, giving the market a mix of owner-occupied and rental properties.

Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods south and west of the city center—Country Club Estates, Bell Haven Estates, and Rolling Meadows—form the core of Kilgore's family-oriented housing, known for larger lots and a mix of established and newer homes. Areas near Kilgore College include student-oriented rental housing, while the downtown district, anchored by the World's Richest Acre Park and the cultural district, remains the civic and commercial heart. The surrounding countryside extends into the pine woods of Gregg and Rusk counties.

Lifestyle in Kilgore

Kilgore blends East Texas small-town life with the energy of a college community. The Kilgore College Rangerettes are a point of local pride, and the downtown cultural district—with the Rangerette Showcase and Museum, the East Texas Oil Museum, and the Texas Broadcast Museum—gives the city a distinctive cultural identity. High school and college athletics, community festivals, and church life anchor the social calendar, while Longview and Tyler provide larger entertainment and shopping nearby.

Schools & Education

Kilgore Independent School District serves the city with a network of elementary, middle, and high school campuses. Kilgore College provides accessible two-year higher education and workforce programs, anchoring the community's educational offerings. The broader area includes additional districts such as Sabine ISD and, regionally, LeTourneau University and the University of Texas at Tyler, giving families and students a range of options across East Texas.

Getting Around

Kilgore sits along U.S. Highway 259, the main north-south route through the city, with Interstate 20 running just south and connecting Kilgore to Longview, Tyler, and the wider interstate network. Longview is roughly 12 miles away, and the average local commute runs a little over 20 minutes. The East Texas Regional Airport in Longview and regional highways give residents access to air travel and the broader Piney Woods region.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation in Kilgore centers on the city's parks, the Kilgore College campus, and the downtown cultural district. The East Texas Oil Museum and World's Richest Acre Park offer distinctive local attractions, while city parks provide sports fields, playgrounds, and walking areas. Nearby Lake Cherokee and the lakes and pine woods around Longview and Tyler add fishing, boating, and hiking opportunities within a short drive.

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