Longview prides itself as being a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Our location offers the best of both worlds. For people seeking an escape from rush hour traffic and overcrowded venues, Longview is the perfect place. A typical commute across town takes less than 30 minutes and traffic is essentially non-existent. Situated between two major cities (Dallas and Shreveport), Longview’s location gives its residents the ability to experience small town life while taking advantage of the attractions that surrounding cities provide.
With a low crime rate, affordable housing, quality healthcare facilities, low cost of living, and exceptional schools, Longview has something to offer everyone. Our national rankings explain why residents who visit Longview overwhelmingly decide to stay. And why those who venture off always manage to find their way back home.
- Longview ranked #9 in the 2011 Milken Institute's Best-Performing Cities Index on the smallest metro list. Ranking is based on how well the metro is creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth.
- Longview's cost of living is below the national average.
- Longview's unemployment rate is consistently lower than the state and the nation. December 2011 Longview's unemployment rate was 5.9%, the State's 7.2% and the Nation's 8.3%.
Longview has no match for its beautiful, pine-covered hills, public and private golf courses, trophy-yielding bass lakes, antiques shops and an abundance of community and regional festivals.
Click to open map of golf courses
Click to open map of area lakes
| Amenity |
# in area |
| Public Parks |
33 |
| Swimming Pools |
5 |
| Tennis Courts |
47 |
| Football / Soccer Fields |
14 |
| Mall |
1 |
| Cinemas |
4 |
| Public Libraries |
1 |
| Theatres |
1 |
| Symphonies |
1 |
| Orchestras |
1 |
| Ballets |
1 |
| Museums / Galleries |
3 |
| Protestant Churches |
98 |
| Catholic Churches |
7 |
| Jewish Synagogues |
1 |
Climate
Longview enjoys a moderate climate all year long with an average of 268 sunny days. Winters are moderately cold with very little snow and ice precipitation. Total snowfall for the whole season is usually less than 2 inches. Summers are warm and dry. Average annual rainfall ranges from 45-50 inches per year.
Temperature:

Average Precipitation

| Climate(1) |
| Average Daily Temperatures |
High |
Low |
Average |
| Annual |
76 |
56 |
66 |
| January |
56 |
38 |
47 |
| July |
93 |
74 |
84 |
| Rainfall in Inches |
46.5 |
|
|
| Snowfall in Inches |
1.0 |
|
|
| Wind speed in Miles per Hour (Annual Average) |
|
|
|
| Number of Days Sunny or Partly Sunny (Annual) |
268 |
|
|
| Elevation (Mean Feet Above Sea Level) |
330 |
|
|
(1) www.weather.com |
| Annual days with precipitation |
97 |
| Annual Snowfall (inches) |
1 |
| Average high temp in July °F |
93.8 |
| Average low temp in January °F |
37.8 |
| Average annual temp °F |
64.0 |
| Average annual rainfall (inches) |
46.5 |
Crime Statistics

| City |
Population |
Murder |
Rape |
Robbery |
Assault |
Burglary |
Larceny- Theft |
Vehicle Theft |
Total Crime Index |
Crime Rate per 1000 People |
| Longview |
78,319 |
10 |
41 |
134 |
396 |
857 |
3,073 |
360 |
4,871 |
62.19 |
| Tyler |
100,125 |
6 |
44 |
99 |
495 |
1,040 |
3,828 |
223 |
5,735 |
57.28 |
| Shreveport |
199,900 |
26 |
121 |
355 |
1,031 |
2,616 |
6,317 |
526 |
10,992 |
54.99 |
| Dallas |
1,306,775 |
148 |
505 |
4,487 |
4,021 |
19,594 |
36,147 |
8,384 |
73,286 |
56.08 |
| Houston |
2,280,859 |
269 |
712 |
9,449 |
12,061 |
27,924 |
74,582 |
12,817 |
137,814 |
60.42 |
| Austin |
796,310 |
38 |
265 |
1,231 |
2,256 |
8,749 |
34,827 |
2,250 |
49,616 |
62.31 |
| Waco |
127,039 |
5 |
51 |
195 |
587 |
1,856 |
4,373 |
210 |
7,277 |
57.28 |
| New York |
8,336,002 |
536 |
1,036 |
19,608 |
27,309 |
17,926 |
111,370 |
10,319 |
188,104 |
22.57 |
| Los Angeles |
3,841,707 |
293 |
923 |
10,924 |
9,344 |
17,410 |
55,248 |
17,046 |
111,188 |
28.94 |
| Washington DC |
601,723 |
132 |
184 |
3,914 |
3,238 |
4,224 |
18,050 |
4,864 |
34,606 |
57.51 |
| USA 2010 |
308,745,538 |
14,748 |
84,767 |
367,832 |
778,901 |
2,159,878 |
6,185,867 |
737,142 |
10,329,135 |
33.46 |
Housing
| Housing (2) |
| Number of Homes on the Market |
|
| Single Family |
330 |
| Townhouses & Condominiums |
5 |
| Average Selling Prices |
New and Existing |
| Single Family Home (3,500 Sq.Ft/-4 Bedrooms) |
$205,045 |
| 2,500 Sq. Ft. -3 Bedrooms |
$121,050 |
| Townhouse 1,500 Sq. Ft., 0-2 Bedrooms |
$112,100 |
| Condominiums 1,200 Sq. Ft., 0-2 Bedrooms |
$38,950 |
| Number of Single Family Homes for sale by Price (New and Existing) |
|
| Under - $150,000 |
120 |
| $150,001 - $200,000 |
75 |
| $200,001 - $250,000 |
40 |
| $250,001 - Over |
95 |
| Rentals |
Average Monthly Rent |
| Executive Style (3,000 Sq. Ft. 3 Bedroom Home) |
|
| New 2 Bedroom Apartment |
$574 |
| Apartment Vacancy % |
2.4 |
(2) Longview Board of Realtors, February 2001; www.realtor.com
* The 11 counties are Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Wood.
Education
| Education (3) |
| Number of School Districts |
54 |
| Central City & Selected Suburban School Districts |
11 -County region statistics |
| Elementary School Enrollment |
65,498 |
| Secondary School Enrollment |
54,289 |
| Spending per Student |
|
| Total |
$7,836.95 |
| Instructional |
$3,629 |
| Student Teacher Ratios- Overall |
12.7 |
| 7th Grade Standard Achievement Test Results |
|
| Test Name |
TAAS |
| Average Score |
89.9% Passing |
| ACT |
|
| Average Score |
19.5 |
| SAT |
997 |
| % of Students Taking the ACT/SAT |
61 |
| % of High School Seniors |
|
| Attending College |
68.9 |
| Entering the Labor Market |
31.1 |
| Mandatory Competency Testing for High School Graduation (Yes or No) |
Yes |
| If Yes, % of Students Passing on First Attempt |
89 |
| Science and Technology Magnet Schools |
1 |
| Specialized High Schools |
0 |
| Tech Prep Programs |
Yes |
| Occupational Clusters or Career Pathways |
Yes |
| Vocational High Schools |
2 |
| Public Schools |
|
| No. of Schools |
230 |
| Total Enrollment |
109,000 |
| Private Schools |
|
| No. of Schools |
23 |
| Total Enrollment |
4,700 |
(3) Texas Education Agency, Academic Excellence Indicator System
* The 11 counties are Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Wood.
Sports
| Sports |
| Major & Minor College & Professional Teams |
Professional |
College |
| Major |
Minor |
Major |
Minor |
| Football |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
|
Tyler Junior College Apaches, Trinity Valley Cardinals, SFA Lumberjacks, Kilgore Rangers |
| Baseball |
Texas Rangers |
Tyler Roughnecks, Shreveport Captains |
|
Tyler Junior College Apaches, Panola Ponies, Lon Morris Bearcats |
| Basketball |
Dallas Mavericks |
|
|
Tyler Junior College Apaches, Panola Ponies & Fillies,Trinity Valley Cardinals& Lady Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Lon Morris Bearcats, SFA Lumberjacks, Kilgore College Rangers & Lady Rangers |
| Hockey |
Dallas Stars |
Shreveport Mudbugs |
|
|
| Soccer |
|
|
|
Tyler Junior College Apaches,SFA Ladyjacks |
Culture
| Culture (6) |
| Top Annual Events |
Dates |
| Alleyfest |
Early-June |
| Texas Shakespeare Festival |
June-July |
| Great Texas Balloon Race |
Mid-July |
| Festival on the Square |
Mid Sept. |
| Gladewater Arts & Crafts Festival |
End of Sept. |
| Tyler Rose Festival |
Mid-October |
| East Texas Yamboree |
Mid-October |
| Winnsboro Autumn Trails |
October |
| Wonderland of Lights |
Thanksgiving-Christmas |
| Cultural Places & Amenities (11 county area) |
Number |
| Museums |
25 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Symphony Orchestras |
5 |
| Opera Companies |
1 |
| Theater Companies |
5 |
| Recreational Outlets |
25 lakes within this region |
(6) Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau, East Texas Tourism Association
* The 11 counties are Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Marion, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Wood.
Economy
New investments and recent expansions in the area have helped to create a stable and growing economy for the Longview area. Longview has consistently maintained a cost of living at least 10% below the national average. Average Weekly Wages have increased steadily over the last several decades, as have per capita income and median effective buying income. Texas led the nation in job growth from 2006 to 2009. Unemployment for the Longview Labor Market Draw area maintained at 8% during 2009-2010 and in 2011 is under 8%.
Healthcare
Longview’s two major medical centers provide the region with state-of-the-art health care services. With a spectrum of options ranging from primary care and prevention to highly specialized surgery and disease treatment, nearly every health situation is managed within the community.
Emergency, home health care, elder care and outpatient facilities are just some of the many services available to the business community and residents.
“Longview has exceptional medical services,” quoting a Longview industrialist. “We find the medical community to be growing, providing innovative treatment and always on the cutting edge of technology for our employees and families.”
Good Shepherd Medical Center
Longview Regional Medical Center
Gregg-Upshur Medical Society
East Texas Medical Center
| Hospitals |
|
No. of Beds |
| Good Shepherd Medical Center |
|
425 |
| Longview Regional Medical Center |
|
131 |
Community Services
| Motels/Hotels |
34 |
| Bed & Breakfasts |
1 |
| Total Number of Rooms |
1,900 |
| Banks |
16 |
| Major Daily Newspapers |
1 |
| Television Stations |
7 |
| Radio Stations |
5 |
| Local Telephone Services |
9 |
| Long Distance Services |
6 |
| Weekly Newspapers |
3 |
| Cable Television Channels |
69 |
| Civic Center / Auditorium |
Maude Cobb Auditorium |
Entertainment
From music to theatre to outdoor activities, Longview has it all. Among the area’s many cultural landmarks are the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, The Longview Ballet and The Longview Symphony Orchestra.
For the avid outdoorsman there are several lakes perfect for fishing, swimming, and boating. Parks are scattered throughout the area providing plenty of opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty while walking, jogging, or cycling.
Shopping in Longview is truly an experience with several retail, gift, antique and craft shops.