Kilgore, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Kilgore, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = World's Richest Acre


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Kilgore, Texas

---

mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Gregg, Rusk

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 40.0
area_land_km2 = 39.9
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 15.4
area_land_sq_mi = 15.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 12,067
population_density_km2 = 283.5
population_density_sq_mi = 734.3

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 109
elevation_ft = 358
latd = 32 |latm = 23 |lats = 8 |latNS = N
longd = 94 |longm = 52 |longs = 7 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 75662-75663
area_code = 903
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-39124GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1339101GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Kilgore is a city in Gregg and Rusk Counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the home of Kilgore College, and was also the childhood home (from age six) of famous classical pianist Van Cliburn. The population was 11,301 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Kilgore is located at coor dms|32|23|8|N|94|52|7|W|city (32.385534, -94.868502)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.4 square miles (40.0 km²), of which, 15.4 square miles (39.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,301 people, 4,403 households, and 2,963 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.3 people per square mile (283.5/km²). There were 4,766 housing units at an average density of 309.7/sq mi (119.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.22% White, 12.34% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.95% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.11% of the population.

There were 4,403 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,910, and the median income for a family was $40,737. Males had a median income of $31,575 versus $20,149 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,314. About 9.7% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

History

Kilgore was founded in 1872 when the International-Great Northern Railroad completed the initial phase of rail line between Palestine and Longview. The rail chose to bypass a small community approximately 10 miles southeast of Longview, New Danville, in lieu of a new townsite platted on 174 acres sold to the rail by Constantine Buckley Kilgore, the town's namesake. The new town received a post office in 1873 and soon began to draw residents and businesses away from New Danville. By 1885 the population had reached 250 and the community possessed two cotton gins, a church, and its own school. The Kilgore Independent School District was organized in 1910, and by 1914 the town had two banks, several businesses, and a reported population of 700. The 1920's showed continued steady growth and by 1929 Kilgore was home to an estimated 1,000 residents.

Prosperity came to a halt, however, when Kilgore was dealt severe blows by a steep decline in cotton prices (on which most of the town's economy had been based), and the effects of the Great Depression. Businesses began to close and by the middle of 1930 the population had fallen to 500; the community appeared destined to become a ghost town.

Kilgore's fortunes changed dramatically, however, on October 3, 1930 when wildcatter Columbus M. "Dad" Joiner struck oil near the neighboring town of Henderson. This well, known as the Daisy Bradford #3, marked the discovery of the vast East Texas Oilfield, and seemingly overnight Kilgore was transformed from a small farming town on the decline into a bustling boom town. By 1936, the population had increased to over 12,000 and Kilgore's skyline was crowded with oil derricks. Oil production maintained a breakneck pace throughout the early 1930's, with more than 1,100 producing oil wells within city limits at the height of the boom. The explosive growth left most civic services overwhelmed, and as a result Kilgore was forced to incorporate in 1931. Law enforcement struggled to keep order amongst the shanties, tents, and ramshackle honkytonks that now crowded Kilgore's main streets. On one occasion, help had to be summoned from the Texas Rangers in order to keep the peace.

By the mid 1930's the oil boom had begun to subside, and most of the small oil companies and wildcatters had sold out to major corporations. The boom was essentially over by 1940, though oil production remained central to the city's economy, and still does to this day. The population, which fluctuated wildly throughout the 1930's, stabilized at around 10,000 in the 1950's and a 2006 estimate placed it at just under 12,000 residents.

Education

The City of Kilgore is served by the Kilgore Independent School District.

Kilgore College - Home of the Rangers and the World-Renowned [http://www.rangerette.com/ Kilgore College Rangerettes] .

Notable Events

September 23, 1983: The Kentucky Fried Chicken murders. Five men and women were executed at a KFC restaurant in Kilgore.

December 18, 2004: The Kilgore Bulldogs football team completes a perfect season (16-0) after winning the Class 4A Division II state championship game 33-27(2OT) against the Dallas-Lincoln Tigers at Floyd-Casey Stadium in Waco, TX.

References

External links