Gun Barrel City, Texas
Lake life with a loaded name
Gun Barrel City is a city in Henderson County, Texas, in East Texas, about 49 miles west of Tyler as the crow flies, with a population of about 6,999.
Henderson
County
6,999
Population
East Texas
Region
6.3 sq mi
Land Area
49 mi
straight line to Tyler
Updated October 2026 · Population: U.S. Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2024. Land area and coordinates: U.S. Census Bureau. · Gun Barrel City on Wikipedia
Gun Barrel City City Limits
The official city boundary and the major highways through Gun Barrel City.
Major roads: FM 85 · State Hwy 198 · State Hwy 334 · US Hwy 175
Boundary & roads: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line).
Gun Barrel City from our research
What we've verified about Gun Barrel City, one line per topic. Each links to the full page and its sources.
- History
- Born from the Old Bethel community after Cedar Creek Reservoir was built, incorporated in 1969, and named for a road 'straight as a gun barrel.' Details →
- Dining
- 45 verified places to eat and drink; most common: Mexican & Tex-Mex · Burgers & American · Coffee, Sweets & Bakery; 10 have a full bar. Details → Source: Texas Comptroller sales-tax permit records, checked place by place
- Schools
- 18 public schools within 12 miles, across 4 districts and charters, mainly Mabank ISD, Kemp ISD and Eustace ISD. Details → Source: Texas Education Agency AskTED directory — open campuses, enrollment as of Oct 2025
- Utilities
- A deregulated electricity market on the Oncor grid, East Cedar Creek water, Republic Services trash, and internet on Cedar Creek Lake. Details →
- Outdoors
- Nearest state parks: Purtis Creek (8 mi), Lake Tawakoni (36 mi), Tyler (51 mi). Nearest lakes: Cedar Creek Lake (2 mi), Lake Athens (24 mi). Details → Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department — park locations
- Contractors
- 3 licensed plumbers, 4 licensed HVAC contractors and 4 licensed electricians serve Gun Barrel City. Details → Source: TSBPE and TDLR license records, checked business by business
You hear "Gun Barrel City" and you picture something rough, maybe a dusty Old West outpost. What you actually find is a lake town. Gun Barrel City sits on the eastern shore of Cedar Creek Reservoir in northwestern Henderson County. The Handbook of Texas puts it about twenty miles northwest of Athens, and the city describes it as fifty-five miles southeast of Dallas. The 2020 Census counted 6,190 residents, according to the Handbook. The town is younger than the lake. Cedar Creek Reservoir was completed in 1965, and the community grew up along its shore afterward. The Handbook counts just 60 residents in 1970, 3,526 by the early 1990s, and 5,145 in 2000. According to the Handbook, residents voted to incorporate so that local establishments could sell beer and wine. The name comes from the city's motto, "We Shoot Straight With You," and its symbol, a rifle. There's an older road in the story too. Long before the lake, Gun Barrel Lane was a mud-road shortcut across Cedar Creek from Mabank to Trinidad and Seven Points. Today that road is State Highway 198.
Why People Move to Gun Barrel City
The draw is the lake. Cedar Creek Reservoir is right there, and the town was built around it. The city says it received the Go Texan Award for becoming a Certified Retirement Community in 2009.
It's a drive to the bigger cities. Athens is about 24 minutes (19 miles) away via US 175 Business and TX 334. Tyler is about an hour and five minutes (53 miles) via TX 31 and US 175, and Dallas is about the same, roughly 65 minutes (56 miles) via US 175 and TX 198. Those are typical routed drive times without traffic. People who do well here tend to be the ones who wanted to slow down in the first place.
Cedar Creek Reservoir: The Lake That Built the Town
Texas Parks and Wildlife lists Cedar Creek Reservoir at 32,623 acres, impounded in 1965 and controlled by the Tarrant Regional Water District. The city says the lake is about 18 miles long and just over 2 miles wide, with more than 220 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 62 feet. It was built as a water source for Fort Worth and other North Texas communities.
For anglers, TPWD lists the main species as largemouth bass, blue, channel, and flathead catfish, white and hybrid striped bass, and crappie. Three islands in the lake are managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife as wildlife management areas for aquatic birds. Beyond fishing, the lake is used for boating, water sports, and birdwatching.
Community Events
The city hosts two annual festivals: a July 4th Festival and Concert in the Park, and a Christmas Festival and Parade. Check the city's website for this year's dates and details.
FAQ: Gun Barrel City, Texas
Henderson County. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 place-by-county list places all of Gun Barrel City in Henderson County.
The Handbook of Texas says the name comes from the town's motto, "We Shoot Straight With You," and its symbol, a rifle. The area also had an older road called Gun Barrel Lane, a mud-road shortcut across Cedar Creek from Mabank to Trinidad and Seven Points. That road is now State Highway 198.
Cedar Creek Reservoir, often called Cedar Creek Lake. It isn't Lake Palestine. The Handbook of Texas places the town on the reservoir's eastern shore. TPWD lists the lake at 32,623 acres, impounded in 1965 and controlled by the Tarrant Regional Water District.
The city says it received the Go Texan Award for becoming a Certified Retirement Community in 2009. Whether it suits you depends on how much you value lake access over big-city conveniences. Tyler and Dallas are each roughly an hour away.
About an hour and five minutes, or roughly 53 miles, via TX 31 and US 175. Athens is about 24 minutes away, and Dallas is roughly 65 minutes.
Sources
East Texas guides
Region-wide guides that put Gun Barrel City in context — where to go, what things cost, and how people actually live here.
Moving to East Texas: What You Need to Know
Thinking about moving to East Texas? A fact-checked guide to healthcare, schools, getting around, weather, and daily life in Tyler, Jacksonville, and the towns around them.
Read Guide →Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →Cost of Living in East Texas
What it costs to live in East Texas, using Census figures: home values and rents in Tyler, Jacksonville and Athens compared with Texas and the big metros, plus taxes, utilities, healthcare and driving.
Read Guide →Retiring in East Texas: Why Retirees Love It Here
Retiring in East Texas: Tyler's trauma-designated hospitals, Texas 65+ school-tax exemptions, lake towns like Gun Barrel City and Hideaway, and sourced drive times and weather.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
Want Your Business Featured in Gun Barrel City?
People are searching for businesses like yours in Gun Barrel City. Get listed in our city guide and local directory so they can find you.