Longview in Gregg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Railroad Transforms a Pioneer Community

1871

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 17, 2015

1. The Railroad Transforms a Pioneer Community Marker

Inscription. Sale of lots began in September 1870, with the Southern Pacific buying another 50 acres from O.H. Methvin to extend its town site further west. To attract investors and to speed development, streets were given a metropolitan width of 100 feet. The Longview Post Office was established Jan. 27, 1871, with O.H. Pegues, Jr. appointed first postmaster.
On Feb. 22 that year, commercial train service began at Longview with great celebration. The track ended at a locomotive turntable between Center and High streets. In May 1871, the one-square-mile town of Longview was incorporated. At age 20, James Stephen Hogg (first native-born governor of Texas 1891-1893) founded the city's first newspaper, the Longview News.

Erected 2000 by One Hundred Acres of Heritage, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1870.

Location. 32° 29.733′ N, 94° 44.209′ W. Marker is in Longview, Texas, in Gregg County. It can be reached from the intersection of East Methvin Street and North Green Street. Located in Heritage Plaza. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 219 East Methvin Street, Longview TX 75601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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walking distance of this marker: Longview Becomes the Hub for Railroad Expansion (here, next to this marker); First Came the Railroad (here, next to this marker); A New County is Born (here, next to this marker); Rails, Timber and Cotton Bring Growth (a few steps from this marker); The Good Old Days (a few steps from this marker); A Railroad Boom Town Settles Down (a few steps from this marker); "Dolly" — Longview's First Fire Engine (a few steps from this marker); Longview Charters First Industry in Texas (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Longview.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Longview, Texas. (Submitted on September 28, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Photographed by Mansfieldphoto.com, December 6, 2025

2. The Railroad Transforms a Pioneer Community Marker

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 17, 2015

3. The Railroad Transforms a Pioneer Community Marker

Photo from marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 17, 2015

4. Photo from marker.

Heritage Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 17, 2015

5. Heritage Plaza

Intersection for the Heritage Plaza at Green & Methvin Streets. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 17, 2015

6. Intersection for the Heritage Plaza at Green & Methvin Streets.

Heritage Plaza dedication plaque. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, September 17, 2015

7. Heritage Plaza dedication plaque.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 464 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 28, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 28, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.