Editing Kilgore, Texas

{{short description|City in Gregg and Rusk counties in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Kilgore, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| motto              = "The City of Stars"<ref>{{cite web |title=Streets CIP FY21 - FY25 (Oct 2020) |url=https://www.cityofkilgore.com/DocumentCenter/View/2098/Streets-CIP-FY21---FY25-Oct-2020?bidId= |website=City of Kilgore |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Visit Kilgore |url=https://visitkilgore.com |website=Visit Kilgore |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref>
| nicknames          = Oil City of the World,<ref>{{cite web |title=Oil City of the World: Kilgore |url=https://greggcounty.texas.gov/assets/main/departments/historical-commission/historical-markers/Oil-City-of-The-World--Kilgore--1965.pdf |website=Gregg County Historical Commission |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref> The Dirty K,<ref>{{cite web |title=We always go back to the ‘Dirty K’ days, talking about coach (Willie) Gooden and the MTXE |url=https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2022/11/page/16/ |website=Natchitoches Parish Journal |date=November 2022 |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kilgore vs. La Vernia Football Game (December 13, 2024) |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/games/12-13-2024/football-24/kilgore-vs-la-vernia.htm?c=hdlaWvLII0y0DDttz-qa5A#tab=contribute&schoolid= |website=MaxPreps |date=December 13, 2024 |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Barstool Kilgore (@barstool_kilgore) |url=https://www.instagram.com/barstool_kilgore/ |website=Instagram |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref> K-Town,<ref>{{cite web |title=Showdown in K-town !!!! PAP |url=https://txbaseball.usssa.com/event/showdown-in-k-town-pap/ |website=USSSA Texas Baseball |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref> Home of the [[Kilgore College Rangerettes|Rangerettes]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Following great-grandmother's footsteps, Kilgore student becomes Rangerette on special day |url=https://www.kltv.com/2022/07/02/following-great-grandmothers-footsteps-kilgore-student-becomes-rangerette-special-day/ |website=KLTV |date=July 2, 2022 |access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rangerette Showcase and Museum |url=https://visitkilgore.com/rangerette-showcase-museum/ |website=Visit Kilgore |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Drill Team Itinerary |url=https://visitkilgore.com/drill-team-itinerary/ |website=Visit Kilgore |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref>
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
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  | total_width        = 300
  | caption_align      = center
  | image1             = Kilgore May 2016 16 (Main Street).jpg
  | alt1               = Worlds richest Arce
  | caption1           = World's Richest Acre Park in downtown Kilgore, where the greatest concentration of oil wells in the world once stood
  | image2             = Old Main at Kilgore College IMG 5916.JPG|
  | alt2               = Old Main
  | caption2           = Old Main at [[Kilgore College]]
  | image3             = St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Kilgore, TX IMG 5921.JPG
  | caption3           = St. Lukes [[United Methodist Church]] in downtown Kilgore
}}
| image_seal         = Seal of Kilgore.png
| image_blank_emblem = Kilgore wordmark.png
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Wordmark]]
| mapsize            = 250px
| image_map          = {{maplink
  | frame              = yes
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  | frame-width        = 290
  | frame-height       = 290
  | frame-coord        = {{coord|32.3863|-94.8758}}
  | zoom               = 11
  | type               = shape
  | marker             = city
  | stroke-width       = 1
  | stroke-color       = #5A5A5A
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  | stroke-opacity2    = 0
  | fill2              = #5A5A5A
  | fill-opacity2      = 0
}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Kilgore
| pushpin_map        = USA Texas#USA
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt    = Map of the U.S.
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Kilgore in the contiguous United States
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| established_title  = Established
| established_date   = 1872
<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flagicon|Texas}} [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of regions of Texas|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[East Texas]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Gregg County, Texas|Gregg]], [[Rusk County, Texas|Rusk]]
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[City Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]]&nbsp;R.E.&nbsp;Spradlin&nbsp;III<br/> Merlyn Holmes <br/> Alan VanDoren<br/> Missy Merritt <br/> Victor A. Boyd<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Council {{!}} Kilgore, TX |url=https://cityofkilgore.com/249/City-Council |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=cityofkilgore.com}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name1       = Josh Selleck<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Manager {{!}} Kilgore, TX |url=https://cityofkilgore.com/424/City-Manager |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=cityofkilgore.com}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 48.29
| area_land_km2      = 48.20
| area_water_km2     = 0.09
| area_total_sq_mi   = 18.65
| area_land_sq_mi    = 18.61
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.04
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 13376
| population_density_km2 = 308.12
| demographics_type2 = GDP (of [[Metropolitan area|MSA]])
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Total Gross Domestic Product for Longview, TX (MSA) |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NGMP30980|work=[[Federal Reserve Economic Data]] |publisher=[[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]]}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Metro
| demographics2_info1 = $20.259 billion (2022)
<!--for 2018 pop est.-->| population_density_sq_mi = 798.02
<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 351
| coordinates        = {{coord|32|23|08|N|94|52|07|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 75662-3
| area_code          = [[Area codes 903 and 430|903, 430]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-39124<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2411541<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411541}}</ref>
| blank2_name        = Airport
| blank2_info        = [[East Texas Regional Airport]]
| blank3_name        = Major highways
| blank3_info        = [[Image:I-20 (TX).svg|25px|link=Interstate 20 in Texas]] [[Image:US 259.svg|25px|link=US 259]] [[Image:Texas 31.svg|25px|link=TX 31]] [[Image:Texas 42.svg|25px|link=Texas State Highway 42]] [[File:Texas 135.svg|25px|link=Texas State Highway 135]]
| blank4_name        = Railways
| blank4_info        = [[Image:Union pacific railroad logo.svg|25px]] [[Union Pacific Railroad]]
| website            = {{URL|cityofkilgore.com}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Kilgore''' is a city in [[Gregg County, Texas|Gregg]] and [[Rusk County, Texas|Rusk]] counties in [[Texas]], United States. Located where [[Interstate 20]] and [[US 259]] converge just south of the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]]. Over three-fourths of the area within city limits are located in Gregg County, the remainder in Rusk County. The population was 12,975 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4839124| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Kilgore city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=March 23, 2017}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and 13,376 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/kilgore-tx-population|title = Kilgore, Texas Population 2021 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)}}</ref>

==History==
<!-- !!!!! REMEMBER to check Kilgore's official history page before editing to see if any topics have already been discussed, and rather its appropriate to add it to the cities history section, or the official History of Kilgore page linked below!!!!! -->
{{Main|History of Kilgore, Texas}}

Kilgore was founded in 1872 when the [[International–Great Northern Railroad]] completed the initial phase of rail line between [[Palestine, Texas|Palestine]] and [[Longview, Texas|Longview]]. The rail company chose to bypass New Danville, a small community about {{convert|10|mi|0}} southeast of Longview, in lieu of a new townsite platted on {{convert|174|acre|km2}} sold to the railroad by [[Constantine B. Kilgore|Constantine Buckley Kilgore]], the town's namesake. That way the railroad gained the profits from sale and development of the lands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kilgore.edu/about-kilgore-college/history/#:~:text=C.M.%2520%E2%80%9CBuck%E2%80%9D%2520Kilgore%252C%2520whose,an%2520enrollment%2520of%2520125%2520students.|title = Kilgore College| date=December 12, 2022 }}</ref>

A post office was built in Kilgore in 1873 and with a station and transportation for getting [[commodity crop]]s to market, the city soon began drawing residents and businesses away from New Danville. By 1885, the population had reached 250, and the community had two [[cotton gin]]s, a church, and a school (for white children only). The [[racial segregation in the United States|racially segregated]] Kilgore Independent School District was organized in 1910. By 1914 the town had two banks, several businesses, and a reported population of 700. The 1920s 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 was still based), and the effects of the [[Great Depression in the United States|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]]. Many Blacks joined the [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] out of the South to northern, midwestern, and western cities for work.

[[File:The Laird Building, Kilgore, Texas (7415448254).jpg|thumb|left|Kilgore’s downtown in 1930]]

Kilgore's fortunes changed dramatically on October 3, 1930, when [[wildcatter]] [[Columbus Marion Joiner|Columbus M. "Dad" Joiner]] struck [[petroleum|oil]] near the neighboring town of [[Henderson, Texas|Henderson]]. The well known as the Daisy Bradford #3, marked the discovery of the vast [[East Texas Oil Field]]. Seemingly overnight Kilgore was transformed from a small farming town on the decline into a bustling [[boomtown]]. The Daisy Bradford #3 was subsequently followed by the Lou Della Crim No. 1 and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.east-texas.com/joinerville-texas-daisy-bradford.htm|title=Joinerville in East Texas|last=East-Texas.com|website=www.east-texas.com}}</ref><ref name=oo>{{cite book |last1=Olien |first1=Diana |last2=Olien |first2=Roger |title=Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945 |date=2002 |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |isbn=0292760566 |pages=170–171}}</ref>  By 1936, the population had increased to more than 12,000, and Kilgore's skyline was crowded with [[oil derrick]]s.

Oil production continued at a breakneck pace throughout the early 1930s, 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 [[municipal corporation|incorporate]] in 1931. With the city flooded with male workers and [[roustabout]]s, law enforcement struggled to keep order among the [[Shanty town|shanties]], tents, and ramshackle [[honky-tonk]]s that crowded Kilgore's main streets. On one occasion, they had to summon help from the [[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Rangers]] to keep the peace. By the mid-1930s the [[oil boom]] was almost over and most of the small oil companies and wildcatters had sold out to major corporations. The boom was essentially over by 1940. But oil production has remained central to the city's economy. The population, which fluctuated wildly throughout the 1930s, stabilized at around 10,000 in the 1950s. A 2015 estimate placed it at just under 15,000 residents.

In the 1940s Kilgore had over 1,000 wooden oil derricks. One acre was known by the nickname "The world's richest acre." Now there are 60 steel replicas of the derricks in the city topped with stars. The city is Texas' City of Stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasescapes.com/EastTexasTowns/Kilgore-Texas.htm|title=Kilgore|last=Bowman|first=Bob|publisher=texasescapes.com|date=December 19, 2005|access-date=October 29, 2024}}</ref>

==Geography==
Kilgore is located in southern Gregg County and extends south into Rusk County. [[U.S. Route 259]] passes through the east side of the city as a limited-access bypass, leading northeast {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Longview, Texas|Longview]] and south {{convert|17|mi}} to [[Henderson, Texas|Henderson]]. Kilgore's city limits extend {{convert|3|mi|0}} north from the city center as far as [[Interstate 20]], with access from Exits 583, 587, and 589. I-20 leads east {{convert|69|mi}} to [[Shreveport, Louisiana]] and west {{convert|119|mi}} to [[Dallas]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Kilgore has a total area of {{convert|40.7|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|40.6|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.22%, are covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>{{clear left}}

Kilgore is located in the [[Piney Woods]] region south of the [[Sabine River (Texas–Louisiana)|Sabine River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 248
|1940= 6708
|1950= 9638
|1960= 10092
|1970= 9495
|1980= 11331
|1990= 11066
|2000= 11301
|2010= 12975
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=13376}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Kilgore racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4839124&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|7,762
|58.03%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,857
|13.88%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|34
|0.25%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|111
|0.83%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|5
|0.04%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|32
|0.24%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multi-racial]] (NH)
|577
|4.31%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|2,998
|22.41%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''13,376'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 13,376 people, 5,060 households, and 3,476 families residing in the city.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, 11,301 people, 4,403 households, and 2,963 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|734.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 4,766 housing units averaged {{convert|309.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|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. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.11% of the population.

Of the 4,403 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were not families. About 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 distributed as 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 $43,129, and for a family was $61,765. Males had a median income of $45,995 versus $30,124 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,297. About 9.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_5YR/DP03/1600000US1245750
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212084841/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_5YR/DP03/1600000US1245750
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=February 12, 2020
|title=American Community Survey results for Kilgore, TX 2007-2011
|publisher=United States Census Bureau
|access-date=November 13, 2013}}</ref>

==Economy==
In 2023, Kilgore had 309 locally owned businesses, and attracted $117 million of new industrial investment.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Kilgore Official Website |url=https://www.cityofkilgore.com/ |website=City of Kilgore |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref>

[[Orgill (company)|Orgill]], a hardware distributor, has a distribution center in the city.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Ally Honeycutt of Kilgore, Texas, one of the approximately 75 Kilgore College Rangerettes, a choreographed dance team that first formed in 1940 LCCN2015631231.tif|upright|thumb|A Kilgore College Rangerette. Photo by [[Carol M. Highsmith]].]]
[[File:Kilgore, TX Library IMG 5893.JPG|thumb|Kilgore Public Library]]
[[File:Kilgore College May 2016 18 (Rangerette Showcase Museum and Joe H. Turner Physical Education Complex).jpg|thumb|Rangerette Showcase Museum and Joe H. Turner Physical Education Complex]]
[[File:East Texas Oil Museum building, Kilgore, TX IMG 5900.JPG|thumb|The East Texas Oil Museum is located on the campus of [[Kilgore College]].]]

Kilgore is the home of the [[Mount Tabor Indian Community]], a cultural heritage organization and [[nonprofit organization]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brewer |first1=Graham Lee |last2=Ahtone |first2=Tristan |title=In Texas, a group claiming to be Cherokee faces questions about authenticity |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mount-tabor-indian-community-texas-indigenous-rcna3746 |access-date=28 May 2022 |work=NBC News |date=27 December 2021}}</ref> The Reel East Texas Film Festival is an annual film festival.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.reeleasttexas.com/ | title=Reel East Texas
|publisher=Reel East Texas |access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref> The [[Kilgore College Rangerettes]] were founded in 1940, and were the world's first precision drill team.  The Rangerettes performed in the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]].<ref name="macys">{{cite web |last=Bass |first=Gary |url=http://www.ktre.com/2018/11/22/kilgore-rangerettes-performing-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |title=Kilgore College Rangerettes performing in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |date=November 22, 2018 |website=[[KTRE]] |access-date=March 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043933/http://www.ktre.com/2018/11/22/kilgore-rangerettes-performing-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cheerleading">{{cite book |author=Mary Ellen Hanson |title=Go! fight! win!: cheerleading in American culture |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press|Popular Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-87972-680-5}}</ref>

The [[Texas Shakespeare Festival]] is an annual summer [[repertory company]]. Founded in 1986, it performs at the Van Cliburn Auditorium.{{cn|date=October 2024}} Kilgore Public Library was completed in 1939.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The East Texas Pipe Organ Festival honors Kilgore resident Roy Perry; he supervised the installation of  pipe organs at [[St. Mark's Cathedral (Shreveport, Louisiana)|St. Mark's Cathedral]] and [[Washington National Cathedral]].<ref> http://www.easttexaspipeorganfestival.com/ </ref> The annual Kilgore Film Festival started in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 September 2008|title=Kilgore Film Festival celebrates ten years of unique movies|newspaper=Kilgore News Herald|url=https://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2008-09-21/front_page/004.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713151319/https://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2008-09-21/front_page/004.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 July 2011}}</ref> The East Texas Oil Museum depicts events of the early 1930s oil boom.{{cn|date=October 2024}} The Rangerette Showcase and Museum is located at Kilgore College.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

==Sports==
R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium  is a multi-purpose sports stadium primarily serving Kilgore College and the Kilgore Independent School District for football games and other events.<ref>{{cite web |title=R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium |url=https://www.kilgore.edu/additional-resources/facilities-rental/r-e-st-john-memorial-stadium/ |website=Kilgore College |access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref>

[[Driller Park]] is the home field for the Kilgore Drillers, and serving as the ballpark for Kilgore High School.<ref name="Visit Driller Park">{{cite web |title=Driller Park |url=https://visitkilgore.com/driller-park/ |website=Visit Kilgore |access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref>

===Baseball teams===
* [[Kilgore Drillers]] (1947 to 1950) in the East Texas League and the Lone Star League. They played home games at Driller Park, a venue originally built for them.<ref name="Visit Driller Park"/>
* [[Kilgore Gushers]]
* [[Kilgore Rangers]] (1937 to 1938)
* [[Kilgore Braves]]
* East Texas Pump Jacks (2009 to 2016)<ref name="PointstreakRoster">{{cite web | url = https://pointstreak.com/baseball/team_roster.html?teamid=19599&seasonid=25154&sortby=jersey | title = Team Roster | website = Pointstreak Sports Technologies | access-date = 12 February 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240212000000/https://pointstreak.com/baseball/team_roster.html?teamid=19599&seasonid=25154&sortby=jersey | archive-date = 12 February 2024 }}</ref><ref name="KilgoreBaseball">{{cite web | url = https://www.kltv.com/story/8108129/kilgores-minor-league-baseball-teams-name-revealed/ | title = Kilgore’s Minor League Baseball Team’s Name Revealed | website = KLTV | access-date = 12 February 2025 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240212000000/https://www.kltv.com/story/8108129/kilgores-minor-league-baseball-teams-name-revealed/ | archive-date = 12 February 2024 }}</ref>

===Kilgore College team===
* Kilgore College Rangers Football<ref>{{cite web |title=Kilgore College Rangers Football |url=https://www.kcrangernation.com/facilities/football |website=Kilgore College |access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> and Kilgore College Rangers Basketball.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==Park and recreation==
The Kilgore Trails System is {{convert|3.5|mi|km}} and was designed for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The trail system has access points throughout the city, and passes through wooded areas.<ref name="trail1">{{cite web | url=https://visitkilgore.com/trails/ | title=Trails – Visit Kilgore Texas }}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Kilgore May 2016 33 (Kilgore City Hall).jpg|thumb|Kilgore City Hall]]

===Local government===
According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city's various funds had $17.4 million in revenues, $19.4 million in expenditures, $19.5 million in total assets, $0.8 million in total liabilities, and $17.5 million in investments.<ref name="City of Kilgore 2009 CAFR">[http://www.cityofkilgore.com/sites/cityofkilgore.com/files/files/Audits/2009%20Annual%20Financial.pdf City of Kilgore 2009 CAFR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701121002/http://www.cityofkilgore.com/sites/cityofkilgore.com/files/files/Audits/2009%20Annual%20Financial.pdf |date=2014-07-01 }} retrieved 2010-11-11</ref>

===State government===
Kilgore is represented in the [[Texas Senate]] by Republican Bryan Hughes, District 1, and in the [[Texas House of Representatives]] by Republican [[David Simpson (Texas politician)|David Simpson]], District 7 and Travis Clardy, District 11.

===Federal government===
At the federal level, the two U.S. senators from Texas are Republicans [[John Cornyn]] and [[Ted Cruz]]. Kilgore is part of [[Texas's 1st congressional district]], which is currently represented by Republican [[Nathaniel Moran]].

==Education==

===Public schools===
Most of the city is within the [[Kilgore Independent School District]], which covers sections of Gregg and Rusk counties.<ref name=GreggCoSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48183_gregg/DC20SD_C48183.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gregg County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48183_gregg/DC20SD_C48183_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48401_rusk/DC20SD_C48401.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Rusk County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-28}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48401_rusk/DC20SD_C48401_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> A small portion of the city in Gregg County is within the [[Sabine Independent School District]].<!--Census code: UNI 38460--><ref name=GreggCoSDMap2020/>

===Higher education===
[[Kilgore College]] is home to the Rangers and the [[Kilgore College Rangerettes]].

The boundary of Kilgore College includes the independent school districts of Kilgore and Sabine (the ones covering sections of Kilgore).<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.194. Sec. 130.184.  KILGORE JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]</ref><!--See https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48183_gregg/DC20SD_C48183.pdf and https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48401_rusk/DC20SD_C48401.pdf -->

==Media==
===Newspapers===
The ''[[Kilgore News Herald]]'' is a twice-weekly newspaper published in the city.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/common/Misc/Contact_Us.html| title=Kilgore News Herald
|publisher=Kilgore News Herald |access-date=August 2, 2012}}</ref>

===Radio===
{{Longview-Marshall Radio}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Frequency (MHz) !! Call letters !! Licensed location !! Type !! Format
|-
| 88.7 || [[KZLO]] || Kilgore || [[Radio broadcasting station|Broadcast station]]  [[KZLO]]|| [[Contemporary Christian]]
|-
| 96.1 || [[KKTX-FM]] || Kilgore || [[Radio broadcasting station|Broadcast station]]  [[KKTX-FM|KKTX]]|| [[Classic Rock]]
|-
| 105.3	|| [[K287AJ]] || Kilgore || [[Broadcast relay station|Translator]] of [[K287AJ|KDOK]] || [[Classic Hits]]
|-
|}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Major highways====
* [[Image:I-20 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 20 in Texas|Interstate 20]] connects Kilgore to [[Dallas]], about 119 mi (192 km) to the west and to Shreveport, Louisiana, around 69 mi (111 km) to the east.
* [[Image:US 259.svg|20px]] [[US Route 259|Highway 259]] is a {{convert|250|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} north/south highway providing an alternate route to [[U.S. Route 59|U.S. 59]] between Nacogdoches, Texas, and the [[Oklahoma]]/[[Arkansas]] border just south of [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]].
* [[Image:Texas 31.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 31|State Highway 31]] runs from [[U.S. Route 84 in Texas|U.S. 84]] connecting [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], [[Corsicana, Texas|Corsicana]], [[Athens, Texas|Athens]], [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]], to Kilgore and [[U.S. Route 80 in Texas|U.S. 80]]
* [[Image:Texas 42.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 42|State Highway 42]]
* [[File:Texas 135.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 135]]

====Airports====
* [[East Texas Regional Airport]] is located 8 miles east of Kilgore, and services the city.
* Kilgore Airport<ref>{{cite web | title = Kilgore Airport | publisher = Airnav.com | url = https://airnav.com/airport/4TX6 | accessdate = October 28, 2024}}</ref>

====Rail====
* [[Image:Union pacific railroad logo.svg|20px]] [[Union Pacific Railroad]]

A proposal is in the works for a over 200mph [[high-speed rail]] system from [[Dallas/Fort Worth]] to [[Atlanta, Georgia]] along the [[Interstate 20|I-20]] corridor, currently named the I-20X, that will pass directly through Kilgore, bringing [[passenger rail]] service to that corridor for the first time since the Texas and Pacific's unnamed successor to the [[Louisiana Eagle]] in the late 1960s.<ref>Streamliner Schedules, ''Louisiana Eagle,'' 1952 http://www.streamlinerschedules.com/concourse/track9/louisianaeagle195208.html</ref><ref>Texas & Pacific September 1960 timetable http://streamlinermemories.info/South/T&P60TT.pdf</ref>This initiative promises to support regional development, reduce [[car dependency]], and create jobs in areas like Tyler, Kilgore, and East Texas. Early phases of planning are in motion, with design on the Atlanta-Birmingham segment expected to start by 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=I-20X High-Speed Rail Project |url=https://i20x.com/ |website=I-20X High-Speed Rail Project |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref>

====Public transportation====
GoBus is a regional transit system serving Kilgore and nearby cities.<ref>{{cite web | title = Transportation Services | publisher = East Texas Council of Governments | url = https://www.etcog.org/transportation-services | accessdate = October 28, 2024}}</ref>

====Cycling====
Kilgore's cycling infrastructure includes the 3.5-mile Creekside Trail, part of the Kilgore Trails System, and the Big Head Mountain Bike Trail. Opened in phases from 2018 to 2020, the Creekside Trail follows Bighead Creek with multiple access points. The city continues to promote outdoor recreation through events and activities.<ref name="trail1"/>

===Healthcare===
Allegiance Specialty Hospital of Kilgore is a 60-bed hospital in Kilgore.<ref>{{cite web | title = Allegiance Specialty Hospital of Kilgore | publisher = American Hospital Directory | url = https://www.ahd.com/free_profile/450488/Allegiance_Specialty_Hospital_of_Kilgore/Kilgore/Texas/ | accessdate = October 28, 2024}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Main category|People from Kilgore, Texas}}<!--Check within the main category if you want to keep this list up to date there might be more people in there that have not yet been displayed in this section, as new people could be tagged as form Whitehouse but this section does not update to display that change -->
===Sports===
* [[Ricky Collins]], football player for the [[Green Bay Packers]] and the [[Canadian Football League]]
* [[Wayne Daniels]] (born 1987), played in the [[NFL]]
* [[Buddy Humphrey|Loyie Nawlin "Buddy" Humphrey]] (1935–1988), Kilgore High School quarterback
* [[Lane Johnson]] (born 1990), plays in the [[NFL]] and was a football player for [[Kilgore College]]
* [[Randy Matson|James Randel "Randy" Matson]] (born 1945), Olympian
* [[Alvin Reed]] (born 1944), played in the [[NFL]] for the [[Houston Oilers]] and [[Washington Redskins]]
* [[Ed Red|Walter Edward "Ed" Red]] (born 1942), Olympian
* [[Ron Shepherd]] (born 1960), former outfielder for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]; attended [[Kilgore High School]]
* [[Demorrio Williams]], played football for Kilgore College, the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska]], and the NFL

===Music, acting, dance, arts===
* [[Van Cliburn]] (1934–2013), piano virtuoso, lived and grew up in Kilgore
* [[Gussie Nell Davis]] (1906-1993), created the [[Kilgore College Rangerettes|Rangerettes]] at [[Kilgore College]] in 1940
* [[Will Jennings]] (1944-2024), [[composer]]
* [[Hank O'Neal]] (born 1940), music producer, author and photographer, veteran
* [[Robert Patrick (playwright)|Robert Patrick]] (1937-2023), [[actor]]
* [[Ally Venable]] (born 1999), blues rock guitar player, singer, and songwriter

===More===
* [[Dana Dodd]] (1985–2003), murder victim; body found in Kilgore in 2006
* [[Bob Goss (Texas Ranger)|Robert G. "Bob" Goss]] (1898-1978), former police chief of Kilgore, and a [[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Ranger]]
* [[Charles Hurwitz]] (born 1940), businessman and financier<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Meyers|first=Bill|title=Money: the Charles Hurwitz story|url=http://www.iiipublishing.com/hurwitzm.htm|access-date=2021-04-17|website=|publisher=Coast Magazine}}</ref><ref name="harris">{{Cite book|last=Harrris|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WDvNaVv_sX4C|title=The Last Stand: The War Between Wall Street and Main Street over California's Ancient Redwoods|publisher=Sierra Club Books|year=1996|pages=27|isbn=9780871569448}}</ref>
* [[David Van Os]] (born 1950), civil rights activist, labor lawyer, politician; attended Kilgore High School

==See also==
{{portal|Texas|United States|Cities}}
* [[List of museums in East Texas]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Gregg County, Texas]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Rusk County, Texas]]
* [[List of municipalities in Texas]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=11 February 2025|En-Kilgore-Texas-article.ogg}}
<!--{{Sister project links|Kilgore|voy=Kilgore}}-->
* {{official|http://cityofkilgore.com}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|8367283}}
*[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hek02 Texas State Historical Association]
* [http://mounttaborcommunity.org/ Mount Tabor Community]

{{Kilgore, Texas}}
{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Centre    = Kilgore
| North     =
| Northeast =  [[Longview, Texas|Longview]]
| East      =  [[East Texas Regional Airport]]
| Southeast =
| South     =
| Southwest = 
| West      =  [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]]
| Northwest =
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles relating to Kilgore and [[Gregg County, Texas|Gregg County]]
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[[Category:Kilgore, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Gregg County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Rusk County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in the Ark-La-Tex]]
[[Category:Longview metropolitan area, Texas]]
[[Category:East Texas| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1872]]
[[Category:Mexican-American culture in Texas]]
[[Category:Railway_towns_in_Texas]]
[[Category:Constantine B. Kilgore]]