We're from here. This is East Texas, online.

The short version

East Texas Online is a guide to this corner of the state. We write about the towns out here — where they came from, what there is to do, where to eat, where to get on the water, and what it actually costs to live in them. From Tyler and Longview to the little places most maps skip over.

There was no single, honest place online to learn about East Texas. Travel sites cover Austin and the Hill Country and forget the Piney Woods exist. So we built one for here.

What you'll find

• City guides for more than a hundred East Texas towns — the overview, the vibe, and the practical stuff.
• Local history — how these towns were founded, the oil and timber and railroad booms that shaped them, and the people who came from here.
• Things to do, dining, and the outdoors — lakes, parks, festivals, barbecue, and the spots locals actually go.
• Cost of living and moving guides for anyone thinking about putting down roots out here.
• A local business directory — the plumbers, shops, restaurants, and trades that serve each town.

For local businesses

If you run a business out here, people are already searching for what you do. We'd rather send them to you than to a national chain three towns over. You can get your business listed and reach people who are looking for exactly what you offer, right where you are.

The area we cover

All of East Texas. Tyler and Longview, Nacogdoches and Lufkin, Athens, Jacksonville, Canton, Kilgore — and the dozens of smaller towns in between. If it's in the Piney Woods or the lakes region, we want it on here.

Browse all the cities or dig into our regional guides to get started.