Kilgore, Texas

The World's Richest Acre is the place to start. The Handbook of Texas says part of one downtown block held the greatest concentration of oil derricks in the world in the early 1930s. The Kilgore Historic Preservation Foundation says 24 derricks once stood side by side there. The foundation built the World's Richest Acre park next to the railroad depot, with most construction finished in October 1996. One original derrick stood on the site when the work began, and donated derricks have been re-erected around it, including one with a working pumping unit. Kilgore calls itself "The City of Stars" because derricks around town are topped with lighted stars.

The East Texas Oil Museum is on the Kilgore College campus at 1301 S. Henderson Blvd. (Hwy 259 at Ross Ave.). The Handbook says it was dedicated on October 3, 1980, the 50th anniversary of the oilfield's discovery. Its centerpiece is "Boomtown, USA," which Kilgore College describes as a full-scale town of stores, people, animals and machinery. The museum's own site lists hours of Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. Parking is on Ross Ave. behind the building.

The Handbook of Texas says Kilgore College was established in 1935 and run by the Kilgore ISD board until 1946. After that, a union junior-college district of neighboring school districts took over. The campus has hosted the Texas Shakespeare Festival since 1986, the Handbook notes.

The Rangerettes began in 1940 under Gussie Nell Davis, and they debuted at a football game that September. Kilgore College says they were "the first of their kind." According to the Handbook, they have performed at the Cotton Bowl, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and other national events, and have made world tours since the 1970s. Their red, white and blue uniform has barely changed. The college opened a Rangerette Showcase on campus in 1979.

Most of Kilgore is in Gregg County, and the southern part of the city extends into Rusk County. Most of the city is served by Kilgore ISD, which covers parts of both counties. The Handbook lists US 259 and State Highways 31, 42 and 135 through town. Longview, Tyler and Henderson are all within about half an hour by car, so many day-to-day errands and jobs are close at hand.

Lake Cherokee, southeast of town, is not a public lake. The Cherokee Water Company describes it as a private residential community created in 1948. Its 1,500 residential lots each carry a share in the company, and the lake property crosses both Gregg and Rusk counties.