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Kilgore, Texas

15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1936 and the latest in 1986. It stands in the Kilgore census division. It lies in ZIP code area 75662. It stands on Turkey Creek. The Survey maps it on the Kilgore NW quadrangle. 13,470 people lived here at the 2024 count. It stands 358 feet above sea level.

Kilgore within Gregg County

Population over time

3 figures

Kilgore grew from 300 to 13,376 between 1880 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
1880300
201012,975
202013,376+401 (+3%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 15 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

470 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 470 fires within 5 miles of Kilgore between 1992 and 2020, burning about 2,698 acres in total. 14 started naturally. 45 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning249
Missing data/not specified/undetermined95
Arson/incendiarism45
Power generation/transmission/distribution20
Equipment and vehicle use18
Natural14
Misuse of fire by a minor11
Smoking7
Recreation and ceremony5
Railroad operations and maintenance4
Fireworks1
Other causes1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 2013Debris and open burningunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceTRASH FIRE
7 September 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined50 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHENDERSON - 206
7 September 1993Arson/incendiarism2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
6 September 2011Power generation/transmission/distribution12 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHENDERSON - 512
6 September 2009Misuse of fire by a minor1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHENDERSON - 205
6 September 1993Debris and open burning2.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
5 September 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceHENDERSON - 525
5 September 1998Missing data/not specified/undetermined8.0 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Gregg County

Mines and quarries near this place

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Kilgore: 1 producer. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Kilgore Ceramics Corp PlantClayProducer

Every working recorded in Gregg County

Storms near this place

60 of 80 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Kilgore in 80 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 45 thunderstorm wind, 13 flash flood, 11 hail, 4 lightning. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
May 1999Tornado (F2)Kilgore2 hurt, $19,000,000Major damage to homes and businesses. Stoneridge Apartment complex lost portions of its roof and walls collapsed. The complex was condemned. This tornado is separate from the Gree County to Rusk County to Gregg County tornado event which occurred at the same time.
May 1999Tornado (F2)Kilgore$6,000,000Numerous homes and businesses damages. This tornado continued into Rusk County, TX then reentered Gregg County, TX.
January 1999Thunderstorm WindKilgore$640,000Numerous roofs were damaged. Several mobile homes were destroyed and extensive roof damage to an apartment complex.
March 2008Thunderstorm WindKilgore$500,000A roof was blown off a gas station on Highway 259 in Kilgore, Texas. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed in town. Damage was also reported to 5 local schools in and near the Kilgore, Texas area.
August 2002Thunderstorm WindKilgore$150,000Numerous trees down. Several trees fell on a house doing considerable damage to the roof and frame of the home while another tree crushed a pickup truck.
October 2025Tornado (EF1)Kilgore$115,000An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 94 mph touched down along CR 1122 in Southern Gregg County, just east of FM 2012 west of Kilgore, where a few trees were snapped and uprooted. A doublewide manufactured home lost most of its metal skirting and sustained the loss of about half of its roof and porch covering. The tornado continued east and caused significant roof damage to a second doublewide manufactured home. As the tornado entered the city of Kilgore, two businesses along Industrial Blvd lost most of their roofs. The tornado then tracked across Commerce Street at the Harris Street Park, where multiple trees were snapped and uprooted, and dugouts were damaged at Driller Park. The tornado then took a slight southeast turn, crossing into Northern Rusk County.
April 2019LightningKilgore$50,000The Sabine Fire Department reported that a tank battery was struck by lightning on Watson Road, causing the tank to catch fire. Officials stated that mud and high water prevented them from getting equipment close enough to extinguish the flames. The fire melted power lines hanging near the tanks. No injuries were reported.
March 2008Thunderstorm WindKilgore$50,000Numerous trees and power lines downed across the northern portion of the county. Many residents without power. One tree fell across a home on Vinewood Street.
September 1993Thunderstorm WindKilgore$50,000Thunderstorm winds damaged trees and power lines. A few trees were blown onto houses, and some windows were broken from flying debris.
October 1993Thunderstorm WindKilgore$50,000Strong winds blew power lines down. Signs were also blown down.
November 1993Thunderstorm WindKilgore$50,000Strong winds blew power lines down. Signs were also blown down.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindKilgore$35,000Several large trees were downed in Kilgore, Texas. One tree fell on top of a carport on Lantrip Street off of Hwy. 259. Another tree fell across a fence in town. Trees were also downed at the Kilgore, Police Department and a tin roof was blown off a building.
May 1999Tornado (F2)Kilgore$25,000Minor damage to homes and a school lost a few shingles. This tornado is continued from the Gregg County to Rusk County, TX tornado event.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindKilgore$20,000Strong wind gusts lifted damaged a roof under repair at the Kilgore College Longview campus allowing water to flow inside and flood the Joe Hendrix and Cosmetology buildings. The storm also blew down trees in Liberty City and near Shiloh Road. Another large tree was downed in Longview, Texas on Lakeshore Drive.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindKilgore$7,000A couple of homes suffered roof damage when trees fell on them.
October 1993HailKilgore$5,000Car windshields were damaged by hail.
November 1993HailKilgore$5,000Car windshields were damaged by hail.
July 1997LightningKilgore$2,000Lightning struck the side of a house causing a small house fire on Monroe Street. Damage was minor and no injuries occurred.
August 1995Thunderstorm WindKilgore$2,000Numerous reports were received of trees and power lines being blown down leaving over 1,000 people without electricity.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindKilgore$1,000Trees down and the tin was torn off a carport at Rabbit Creek RV Park near I-20 and exit 587.
July 1997LightningKilgore$1,000Lightning struck a church sparking a small fire with was quickly extinguished by the fire department.
May 2025Flash FloodKilgore-Highway 135 north of the traffic circle in Kilgore was flooded.
August 2025Flash FloodKilgore-High water covered Nolen Street in Kilgore.
February 2024HailKilgore-Quarter size hail reported via social media.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Tree downed on FM Road 1639 west of Kilgore.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindKilgore-A tree was downed on Denman Road.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees and power lines down in Kilgore.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees were downed on FM 1639 just west of Kilgore.
March 2019Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Significant tree damage, structural damage, and vehicle damage was reported in Kilgore as a result of a downburst. Numerous power lines were downed.
March 2019Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Large pine trees 1.5 - 2 feet in diameter were downed near Kilgore Intermediate School.
May 2019Flash FloodKilgore-Numerous roads were flooded and closed in Kilgore.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Numerous trees were blown down across Kilgore.
April 2018HailKilgore-Quarter size hail fell in Kilgore.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees and power lines were downed throughout Kilgore. A downed power line and utility pole temporarily closed Highway 259 near Stone Road.
December 2018FloodKilgore-The Highway 135 overpass in Kilgore was closed due to flooding.
December 2018FloodKilgore-Willow Springs Road between Moccasin Trail and Woodway Street along Bighead Creek was closed due to high water well after the heavier rains had ended.
October 2018Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Several trees were blown down across Kilgore.
October 2018Thunderstorm WindKilgore-A large oak tree fell down blocking the 2900 block of Florence Street in Kilgore.
April 2017HailKilgore-Penny size hail fell on Dudley Road on the southeast side of Kilgore.
April 2017Flash FloodKilgore-Highway 259 in Kilgore was reduced to one lane in each direction due to flash flooding.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees and power lines were blown down in Kilgore.
March 2016Flash FloodKilgore-Multiple high water rescues were reported in Kilgore, Texas.
March 2016Flash FloodKilgore-Road closures were reported near Hwy. 259 and Hwy 31 between Interstate 20 and the Kilgore city limits. Both southbound and northbound lanes were closed.
March 2016Flash FloodKilgore-Road closures from flooding in the Kilgore, Texas area included Turkey Creed, Houston Street, Stone Road, Pentecost Road, the Highway 135 underpass, Andrews Street, East North Street and Scene Street. A State Of Emergency was declared for the city of Kilgore, Texas as Turkey Creek, Big Head Creek and Rabbit Creeks had water pouring out of them so fast that it swamped roads, automobiles and homes. The park near Turkey Creek and the homes surrounding it were totally swallowed by the floodwaters. Mandatory evacuations were ordered. A Union Pacific train became stuck on the tracks off of FM. 349 and began to flood. Union Pacific workers were forced to abandon the train and climb to higher ground. |||Three shelters were set up to help residents with the emergency flood threat in the city of Kilgore, Texas. The total number of structures and their monetary damage estimates were not available for this entry.
May 2015Flash FloodKilgore-Several roads were flooded and closed in and around Kilgore, Texas.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees and powerlines were downed near Hwy. 259 near Kilgore, Texas.
October 2014Thunderstorm WindKilgore-A tree was downed west of Kilgore, Texas.
April 2014Flash FloodKilgore-Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in the closure of the Circle in Kilgore, Texas.
April 2012Thunderstorm WindKilgore-A tree was downed near U.S. Hwy. 259 just south of Kilgore, Texas.
August 2012Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Powerlines were downed southeast of town at the 11000 block of CR. 173.
October 2010HailKilgore-One inch hail fell at Hwy. 43 and Interstate 20 just north of Kilgore, Texas.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindKilgore-A few trees were downed in Kilgore, Texas.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Numerous trees were reported downed in the city of Kilgore, Texas.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindKilgore-A tree was downed onto a powerline in Kilgore, Texas.
May 2008Flash FloodKilgore-Several roads were under water including Hwy 135.
March 2008HailKilgore-Hail reported on Stone Road.
July 2007Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Several trees were blown down along county road 2011.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees were downed along Hwy. 2087 on the east side of town.
August 2006Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees were downed near Hwy 349 and 1208.
June 2004Thunderstorm WindKilgore-Trees downed.

Every storm recorded in Gregg County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Danville2.8 miles16
Rolling Meadows4.0 miles16
Kinsloe4.3 miles16
Fredonia4.4 miles16
Liberty City5.6 miles15
Elderville7.9 miles16
Greggton8.9 miles16
Lakeport9.2 miles16

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on KilgoreAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q973998The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1339101. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.