Gregg County

AgriLife Extension Service Office

Welcome to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Gregg County. The mission of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Gregg County is to improve county residents’ quality of life through educational programs and activities which are based on community-identified needs and developed by local volunteers. We provide research-based information in Agricultural/Natural Resources, Family & Community Health, and 4-H & Youth Development.

History

1800s – 1900s

Gregg County was inhabited by Caddo Tribes until the early 1800s and partly by Cherokee immigrants until 1839. Gregg County was settled by farmers from the southern United States after Texas achieved statehood in 1845. In 1860, the future Gregg County, consisted of parts of Upshur and Rusk counties with nine rural post offices but not towns.

The Southern Pacific Railroad established Longview (the county seat) at Earpville in 1870 and paused there in constructing its transcontinental line. The town was incorporated in 1871. During 1872, the International Railroad (later called International & Great Northern Railroad) built a line between Longview and Hearne, eventually reaching Mexico. Kilgore was created by the International Railroad near New Danville in 1872. The Southern Pacific was acquired by the Texas & Pacific Railroad, which resumed construction westward from Longview early in 1873 and established Gladewater near Point Pleasant. In 1877, Longview businessmen formed the Longview and Sabine Valley Railroad (later acquired by the Santa Fe Railroad), heading toward Sabine Pass. Meantime, Longview acquired enough influence to have a county of its own.

In 1873, State Representative B. W. Brown (of Summerfield Community north of Longview) introduced a bill to create a new county from parts of Upshur, Rusk and Harrison counties. However, Harrison County successfully resisted fragmentation, and the Rusk County portion turned out smaller than desired.

Gregg County Extension Service Newsletter

Resources Available in Gregg County

AgriLife Extension offers key programs across the state that are organized and supported at the county level. Click the links below for more information about local programming or contact your county office.

Donate to Gregg County 4-H Youth & Development

4‑H is America’s premier youth development program, serving nearly 6 million young people, ages 5–19, nationwide under the auspices of land‑grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Grounded in a positive youth development approach, 4‑H fosters youth strengths, supporting meaningful relationships, safe environments, hands‑on learning, and opportunities for leadership and contribution.
Core to the 4‑H philosophy is “learn by doing.” Youth gain life skills—like communication, problem‑solving, citizenship, and leadership—by exploring projects in areas such as STEM, healthy living, civic engagement, animal and plant sciences, and creative arts.

Programs in Gregg County

Texas Master Gardener of Gregg County

Meetings are the second Wednesday of every month 11:30am-1pm
405 E Marshall Ave Ste 101, Longview TX, 75601

https://txmg.org/gregg/
Longview Beekeeper Association

Meetings are the first Tuesday of every month 6pm-8pm
405 E Marshall Ave Ste 101, Longview, TX 75601
Potluck Dinner
Membership Application

Find us on Facebook here
Oil Belt Farm & Ranch Club

Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of every month 6pm-8pm
405 E Marshall Ave Ste 101, Longview TX, 75601
Membership Application

Find us on Facebook here
Gregg County 4-H Program Area Committee

PAC In-Person Meetings are Mondays 5:30pm
Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, Jan. 12, Mar. 2, May 4
405 E Marshall Ave Ste 101, Longview, TX 75601

Follow us on Facebook here

Program Schedule here