Gregg County is a county located in the state of Texas. As of 2000, the population is 111,379. Its county seat is Longview⁶. Gregg County is located in East Texas and is named for John Gregg , a Confederate war hero who died in the Civil War.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 716 km² (276 mi²). 710 km² (274 mi²) of it is land and 6 km² (2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.85% water.

Adjacent counties

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

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 111,379 people, 42,687 households, and 29,667 families residing in the county. The population density is 157/km² (406/mi²). There are 46,349 housing units at an average density of 65/km² (169/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

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

In the county, the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 93.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $35,006, and the median income for a family is $42,617. Males have a median income of $33,186 versus $21,432 for females. The per capita income for the county is $18,449. 15.10% of the population and 12.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.50% of those under the age of 18 and 11.40% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

History

Gregg County was created in 1873. When the Texas State Legislature convened in January of 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 general John Gregg , and the county seat was left up to an election by county voters. Harrison and Rusk counties resisted efforts to incorporate their portions. When Gregg County was created it first consisted of approximately 143 square miles taken from Upshur County, and the Sabine River was its southern boundary. In April of 1874 about 141 square miles south of the Sabine River in Rusk County was added to Gregg County. The third portion of about 145 square miles from Harrison County was never realized.

Cities and towns

• Clarksville City
• Easton
• Gladewater
• Kilgore
• Lakeport
• Liberty City
• Longview
• Warren City
• White Oak

External links

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