Gregg County, Texas

Gregg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 111,379. It is named for John Gregg, a Confederate general killed in action during the American Civil War. Its seat is Longview.^[1]

Gregg County is part of the Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Longview•Marshall Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 276 square miles (716 km²), of which, 274 square miles (710 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (6 km²) of it (0.85%) is water.

Major highways

• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 80
• U.S. Highway 259
• U.S. Highway 271
• State Highway 31
• State Highway 42

Adjacent counties

• Upshur County (north)
• Harrison County (east)
• Rusk County (south)
• Smith County (west)

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 111,379 people, 42,687 households, and 29,667 families residing in the county. The population density was 406 people per square mile (157/km²). There were 46,349 housing units at an average density of 169 per square mile (65/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.89% White, 19.86% Black or African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.55% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. 9.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 42,687 households out of which 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.70% under the age of 18, 10.30% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,006, and the median income for a family was $42,617. Males had a median income of $33,186 versus $21,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,449. About 12.00% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.

History

Gregg County was created in 1873. When the Texas State Legislature convened in January 1873, Democratic representative B. W. Brown of Upshur County introduced a bill to create a new county from parts of Harrison, Rusk, and Upshur counties. Under Brown's proposal, the county was to be named Roanoke and Longview was to be the county seat. The proposed name was later changed to honor Texas leader and Confederate Genearal John Gregg, and the county seat was determined by popular election. Harrison and Rusk counties resisted efforts to incorporate their portions. When Gregg County was created, it first consisted of approximately 143 square miles (370 km²) taken from Upshur County, and the Sabine River was its southern boundary. In April 1874 about 141 square miles (370 km²) south of the Sabine River in Rusk County was added to Gregg County. The third portion of about 145 square miles (380 km²) from Harrison County was never realized.

Texas Attorney General John Ben Shepperd, who served from 1953-1957, maintained a ranch in Gregg County near his native Gladewater. He also served on the Gregg County Commissioners Court for a brief period in 1949.^[3]

Cities and towns

• Clarksville City
• Easton (partly in Rusk County)
• Elderville (unincorporated; partly in Rusk County)
• Gladewater (partly in Upshur County)
• Judson (unincorporated)
• Kilgore (partly in Rusk County)
• Lakeport
• Liberty City (unincorporated)
• Longview (partly in Harrison County)
• Shiloh (unincorporated)
• Warren City (partly in Upshur County)
• White Oak

Education

The following school districts serve Gregg County:

• Gladewater ISD (partly in Smith, Upshur counties)
• Kilgore ISD (partly in Rusk County)
• Longview ISD
• Pine Tree ISD
• Sabine ISD
• Spring Hill ISD
• White Oak ISD

Gallery

References

1. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^ "George E. Christian, “John Ben Shepperd”, The Handbook of Texas". tshaonline.org. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsh65.html. Retrieved July 21, 2009.

External links

• Gregg County government's website
• Gregg County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas

Coordinates: 32°29′N 94°49′W / 32.48°N 94.81°W

Categories: Texas counties | Gregg County, Texas | Longview, Texas metropolitan area