Where is Longview, Texas

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Longview As A Place To Live

Longview is the county seat of Gregg County. Gregg, Harrison, and Upshur Counties comprise the Longview-Marshall-Gilmer Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the largest MSA in the eastern part of Texas.

There are 27 hotels and motels in the area with over 1900 rooms. There are 13 banks in the area and three savings and loans.

The community has a convention center, a modern public library, the LeTourneau University Library, the Gregg County Historical Museum, Longview Museum of Fine Arts, R.G. LeTourneau Museum, 25 movie screens, a rodeo arena, fair grounds, pavilions, and an exhibit building.

Longview is the regional shopping center for all East Texas. The diversity of shops and goods available in our community draws shoppers from throughout the Ark-La-Tex. On the north side of town, the Longview Mall with more than 80 merchants and restaurants offers convenience under one roof. Traditional, yet progressive, downtown Longview offers boutiques, art galleries, fine furniture, and professional service businesses.

Longview has two major regional medical centers: Good Shepherd Medical Center and Longview Regional Medical Center with almost 500 beds between them. Minor emergencies may be treated at either hospital or at one of several private health care clinics located throughout the city.

Longview's 911 emergency system is designed to put you in immediate contact with law enforcement and medical personnel in case of emergencies. With one 911 call, the dispatcher will connect you with the appropriate agency for help - be that the police, sheriff's department, ambulance, or fire department.

There are more than 100 places of worship, encompassing most congregations. Many churches offer day care and school opportunities in addition to their worship programs.

Along with its strong beliefs, Longview is a community dedicated to working and playing together, and helping others. Many organizations exist from volunteer service to neighborhood associations to clubs. For women, opportunities range from professional organizations to family and special interest clubs to sport teams. Men's organizations range from service-oriented international clubs to just-for-fun sporting groups. And, there are Boy Scouts, CampFire, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 4-H, sports teams, and junior civic organizations for children.

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School Systems

Longview has five excellent public school systems and many parochial and private schools. Additionally, seven colleges are within 40 miles of our community. You will find the following public school systems in the Longview area:

Longview Independent School District
Pine Tree Independent School District
Spring Hill Independent School District
Hallsville Independent School District
White Oak Independent School District

Parochial schools in our area are religious-based and funded primarily by tuition and personal gifts. These schools include Longview Christian Academy, St. Mary's School, Trinity School of Texas, East Texas Christian School and Christian Heritage School.

Colleges and universities serve a wide variety of needs in our community and make a big contribution to the good life in Longview. Kilgore College, a state funded, two year college is located in nearby Kilgore and operates a branch campus in Longview. Kilgore is home to the world-famous Rangerettes and offers excellent computer, art, drama, and technical degree programs.

LeTourneau University, a four-year nondenominational university, is considered one of the finest schools in the United States. Their aviation and engineering programs are ranked among the highest in both Texas and the nation. LeTourneau attracts nearly 2,000 students to this school in the piney woods because of its religious value-based, world class education.

Longview University Center is a component of The University of Texas at Tyler. Courses offered at the Center are being delivered by a faculty member physically present in the classroom, via interactive television, over the Internet, or a combination of these formats. The degree programs that are being offered at the Center are designed to meet the educational needs of the greatest number of current and prospective students, based on enrollment data, information from area community colleges, and a survey of East Texas residents.

Located nearby are Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins and Texas State Technical College, Wiley College and East Texas Baptist University in Marshall

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Things to See and Do Around Longview

Longview has a fascinating history spanning the early years when cotton was king in East Texas through the oil boom days to the present. Located in the heart of Longview's One Hundred Acres of Heritage, the Gregg County Historical Museum and the Longview Museum of Fine Art are favorite places of visitors and residents alike.

The Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau publishes a variety of brochures on tourism venues.

There is an abundance of restaurants, both national chains and local favorites. The Longview community is blessed with a variety of preforming arts organizations.

Longview serves as the hub for visitors to the East Texas area, and is the site of AlleyFest, an annual three day festival on the streets Downtown Longview the first weekend in June, and The Great Texas Balloon Race an annual event held in mid July.

AlleyFest, begun in 1979 with 39 artists now includes over 100 artisans, live music on two stages, a large children's festival, a new and improved 10k runners course with 5k and 1 mile routes PLUS outrageously good food.

The Great Texas Balloon Race, also begun in 1979 is the first and largest such event in the state. This competitive event attracts world class hot-air balloon pilots from around the world who compete for points toward National and International titles. A three-day event in mid-July holds 5 races, two night time balloon glows and is a fun festival with full carnival, air-shows, food and commercial venders, live music Fri. & Sat. night.

Christmas at the Courthouse celebrates the holiday season with one of the most dramatic lighting displays in East Texas. The Gregg County Courthouse and grounds as well as many blocks in Downtown Longview come alive with and thrill Longview residents and visitors alike.

Longview's rodeo arena is the stage for a variety of exciting rodeo action including the Longview Rodeo in the springtime, the Juneteenth Rodeo, and the PBR Barrels and Bulls each August.

Longview has four golf courses. Longview's Parks and Recreation Department offers year-round organized youth and adult activities from softball to swimming and tennis.

Outdoor team sports are exceedingly popular among children and adults. The Lear Park and Sports Complex is consolidating baseball, tennis, soccer and girls' softball venues in one. It also includes the community-volunteer-built Kidsview, a dream playground designed by area schoolchildren.

There are dozens of state parks for camping, hiking, and picnicking. Several nationally known fishing lakes in the area include Lake O' The Pines, Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, Martin Creek, Monticello, and Caddo. No matter where you live in the area, you are never more than 30 minutes from a major recreational lake. In fact, 33 public lakes offer fishing, boating, skiing, sailing, and swimming, almost year round. East Texas is a favorite haven for hunters and woodsmen. Seasons include deer, quail, squirrel, dove, and duck.

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Transportation

Longview is served by East Texas Regional Airport, which is less than 10 miles from downtown. Commercial air services is provided by American Eagle through the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The facility includes an FAA Control Tower and state-of-the-art landing, lighting, and navigation systems. The airport includes three 150' wide runways with 75' wide interconnecting taxiways. NW-SW Runway 4-22 is 5,204' long.

Longview is served by Amtrak's Longview Depot and Amtrak's Texas Eagle.

Private and commercial service is provided by FBO's. Taxi and car rental services are also available. Rail freight and motor freight service are also provided.

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Climate - Monthly averages

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Longview's Local Government Structure

Longview operates under a Home Rule Charter with a council/city manager form of government. The Longview City Council is composed of seven people, six elected from geographic districts and the Mayor is elected at-large. At least two of the seven come up for election each year, and serve three-year terms.

The city limits of Longview incorporate over 50 square miles, and have over 400 miles of paved streets. The City has an annual budget of about $100 million and has a total long-termed bonded indebtedness of less than $155 million. Longview has 144 police officers and 148 fire fighters. The fire ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rate is 3.

Longview is the county seat of Gregg County, with parts of the city limits extending east into Harrison County. Gregg and Harrison Counties are governed by county commissioners courts, which are composed of four County Commissioners elected from geographic precincts, and chaired by the County Judge, who is elected at-large. Other elected County officials include the Sheriff, District Judges, Tax Collector, County Clerk, Justices of the Peace, and Constables. All of the elected officials in the counties are compensated by salaries and benefits.

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Longview's Tax Rates

All property values for tax purposes are determined by the Gregg County Appraisal District, and then each taxing entity sets its own tax rate per $100 accessed value.

The property taxing entities in Longview are the City of Longview, Gregg, or Harrison County, and Longview, Pine Tree, Spring Hill, or Hallsville Independent School Districts. The rates are based upon assessed valuation as determined by a central appraisal agency, and are stated in terms of rates per $100 of assessed valuation.

The tax rates are as follows:

The City of Longview receives a 1.5% Sales Tax. Gregg County receives 0.5% and the State of Texas collects 6.25% for a total sales tax of 8.25%. There are no State or City corporate or personal income taxes in Texas.

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Utilities in Longview

Longview's water supply is municipal and is supplied by the City of Longview.

Raw water is treated in two separate facilities. The Cherokee treatment plant and the Sabine River treatment plant can produce up to 42 million gallons per day, with a potential of expansion by several million gallons. The average daily consumption rate is 18 million gallons per day, and the highest is 39.9 million. Storage capacity is 16 million gallons.

Longview's waste water treatment facility utilizes primary, secondary, nitrification and tertiary treatment systems along with ultra violet disinfections. The facility can treat 21 million gallons per day, and meets or exceeds EPA discharge standards.

Electricity is provided by AEP/Southwestern Electric Power.

Natural Gas is provided by either Center Point or Oncor, depending upon location within the community.

Telephone service is provided by several telecommunication companies.

The local daily newspaper is the Longview News Journal.

Longview Cable Television offers 61 standard channels and 123 digital channels. Longview Cable Television also offers high-speed cable modem Internet access.

There are 16 radio stations in the area and 7 television channels available without cable.

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Population and Work Force

The 2000 census recorded 73,000+ people in Longview. The racial composition of Longview is 77% White, 19% Black, and 3.2% Hispanic.

For more information on Longview area workforce, see the Community Profile

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Major Employers (Manufacturing)

There are almost 40 manufacturing companies among the areas major employers. The largest is Eastman Chemical Company with approximately 2000 employees. Other large manufacturing employers with 400 or more employees are, LeTourneau, Inc. with approximately 1,100; Trinity Industries with approximately 1,100; and Dana Corporation with 500.

STEMCO, Crosby/Lebus Manufacturing, Southwest Steel Castings, and Norris Cylinder each employ between 200-400. There are over 10,000 manufacturing employees in the area.

Major Employers (Non-manufacturing)

Non-manufacturing major employers include Good Shepherd Health System with approximately 2100 employees. Other non-manufacturing employers with 400 or more are, Longview Independent School District with approximately 1300; The City of Longview with approximately 730; Sitel with approximately 700; Pine Tree Independent School District with approximately 620; Longview Regional Medical Center with approximately 480; Neiman Marcus with approximately 400.

TCIM, Diagnostic Clinic, Longview News-Journal, LeTourneau University, and Spring Hill Independent School District each employ between 200-400. Longview Mall and its stores employ approximately 700 in their retail operations.

Longview, Texas, reflects a community that has emerged from the forge of economic recession stronger and more vibrant than at any time in its past. Very little of the tremendous growth in business and industry in Longview since 1987 has been within or dependent upon the oil and gas industry. The community's efforts to diversify the local economy has worked, and now they are paying dividends in the form of the establishment of Longview as not only the industrial, but also the retail, entertainment and service hub of East Texas.

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Working For A Better Community

Whether you are looking for tourism information, community demographics, potential business sites, or simply a nice place to live, we are only a call away. Whenever in town, we hope you come by to see us in the downtown area at 410 North Center Street, one block south Marshall Ave.(U.S. Hwy. 80)

If you would like additional information about Longview contact:

Longview Partnership
410 N. Center Street
Longview, Texas 75601
903 237-4000

e-mail

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Helpful Telephone Numbers