Kilgore, Railroad city in Gregg County, Texas, United States
Kilgore is a city spanning Gregg and Rusk counties where Interstate 20 crosses US Route 259 near the Sabine River. Sixty steel oil derrick replicas line the city streets, marking where original structures once stood during the oil production era.
Kilgore was founded in 1872 when Constantine Buckley Kilgore sold land to the International-Great Northern Railroad for a route between Palestine and Longview. The settlement later expanded dramatically during the oil boom years in the 1930s.
The Kilgore College Rangerettes have performed precision drill routines since 1940 at major national events and regional celebrations. This tradition shapes how locals and visitors understand the community's identity and pride.
The city works best when explored by car or on foot, since the oil derrick replicas spread across different neighborhoods. Plan to visit during warmer months when walking around is more comfortable and you can see the details of each structure.
The steel derricks were built in the 1960s to preserve the oil boom legacy after most original wooden structures had disappeared. Walking past them reveals how the city chose to honor and remember this critical chapter in its past.
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