Longview metropolitan area, Texas

The Longview metropolitan statistical area is a metropolitan area in Northeast Texas that covers four counties—Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, and Upshur. As of the 2010 census the MSA had a population of 280,000 (though a July 1, 2019 estimate placed the population at 286,657). Before 2023, it was also part of the larger Longview–Marshall combined statistical area. In 2023, the Marshall micropolitan area was disestablished and its sole county, Harrison County, was made part of the Longview metropolitan area.

Counties

 * Gregg
 * Harrison
 * Rusk
 * Upshur

Places with more than 50,000 people

 * Longview (Principal city)

Places with 10,000 to 25,000 people

 * Henderson
 * Kilgore
 * Marshall

Places with 1,000 to 10,000 people

 * Big Sandy
 * Gilmer
 * Gladewater
 * Ore City
 * Overton (partial)
 * Tatum (partial)
 * White Oak

Places with 500 to 1,000 people

 * Clarksville City
 * East Mountain
 * Easton
 * Lakeport
 * Mount Enterprise
 * New London

Places with fewer than 500 people

 * Reklaw (partial)
 * Union Grove
 * Warren City

Unincorporated communities

 * Concord
 * Diana
 * Elderville
 * Joinerville
 * Judson
 * Laird Hill
 * Laneville
 * Leverett's Chapel
 * Liberty City
 * Price
 * Selman City
 * Turnertown

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 194,042 people, 73,341 households, and 52,427 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 75.71% White, 17.93% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.02% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.03% of the population. The median income for a household in the MSA was $33,750 and the median income for a family was $40,220. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $20,570 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $17,160.

By the 2021 American Community Survey, there were 287,868 people residing in the Longview metropolitan area. Its racial makeup as of 2021 was 61% White, 16% African American, 1% Asian, 5% multiracial, and 17% Hispanic or Latino American of any race. With a median age of 38.3, 50% of the population was female, and 50% were male. The median household income within the metropolis was $56,777, and it had a per capita income of $29,315. An estimated 15.5% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.

According to the 2021 census estimates, there were 106,151 households and 60% were married-couples households; there was an average of 2.6 people per household. An estimated 48% of the population was married in contrast with 52% unmarried residents. Of its households, there were 121,614 housing units throughout the MSA. With an 87% occupancy rate, 71% were owner-occupied and 49% of the population from 2015-2017 were new residents. The median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $155,700, with 30% of housing units for sale under $100,000 in 2021; approximately 18% of housing units were from $200,000 to $300,000.

As of 2020's religion census by the Association of Religion Data Archives, Baptists were the largest set of Christians, with Christianity being the predominant religion. Altogether, Baptists from the American Baptist Association, Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Free Will Baptists, National Baptists, National Missionary Baptists, and Southern Baptists numbered 88,811. Non/inter-denominational Protestants numbered 26,874. Other large Christian communities for the MSA were Methodists, Pentecostals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormons. Its Catholic Christian community numbered 22,952.

Education
The MSA is home to LeTourneau University, Kilgore College, and the University of Texas at Tyler's Longview University Center.

Transportation
The Longview metropolitan area is serviced by East Texas Regional Airport.

Amtrak passenger rail service is available on the Texas Eagle through a downtown terminal. Longview's Amtrak station is the fifth-busiest in Texas and the fourth-busiest station along the Texas Eagle route. Daily trains between Chicago and San Antonio stop each morning (Chicago–San Antonio) and each evening (San Antonio–Chicago). Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Longview station serves the Chicago to Los Angeles trains.

The return train, Los Angeles to Chicago, stops in Longview on Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. It serves about 20–50 passengers per day. From the station, passengers can connect to Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Houston, and Galveston, as well as Shreveport, Louisiana, by motorcoach. A proposal is in the works for a high-speed rail system from Dallas/Fort Worth to Shreveport along the I-20 corridor, bringing passenger rail service to that corridor for the first time since the Texas and Pacific's unnamed successor to the Louisiana Eagle in the late 1960s.

Longview is served by Amtrak, the BNSF Railway, and the Union Pacific Railroad.