Hot air balloon races in Longview in Upper East Texas |
The definition of East Texas varies. There's Upper East Texas and Deep East Texas, and even South East Texas.
As a generality, East Texas is considered to be the region east of Interstate 45, and west of the Louisiana border. The northern border is Oklahoma, while the southern edge is the Gulf of Mexico. In the northeast corner is the Ark-La-Tex Region
East Texas is comprised of 38 counties, with a population of about 1.9 million residents.
As you visit and navigate East Texas, it is hoped that the mapping provided on this site provides assistance for residents and visitors alike.
The 23-county Upper East Texas region stretches from the piney woods bordering Louisiana and Arkansas to the eastern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Nighttime scene in downtown Nacogdoches in Deep East Texas |
The current population of Upper East Texas totals about 1,149,000 people.
From Carthage in the east to Grand Saline in the west, from Paris southward to Jacksonville, Upper East Texas is a great place to live, and visit.
The 12-county Deep East Texas region stretches from Nacogdoches County south down to Tyler County, and from Trinity County eastward to Newton County on the Louisiana border.
It includes cities such as Nacogdoches, Crockett, Lufkin, Center, Livingston, Woodville and Groveton.
Crockett Street in Beaumont ... South East Texas |
Deep East Texas covers an area of 9,906 square miles, and supports a population of about 371,000 residents.
The 3-county South East Texas region includes Hardin, Orange and Jefferson Counties, and cities such as Orange, Beaumont, Lumberton, and Port Arthur. It borders the Sabine River to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south.
The population of the 3-county area is about 397,000 residents.
There are literally dozens of communities all across East Texas. Among the more well-known cities, towns and unincorporated communities in the East Texas area are the following:
Boston Burkeville Chapel Hill De Berry Diana Earle's Chapel Elysian Fields Gallatin Garden Valley |
Golden Groves Karnack Lamesa Larue Maydelle Mixon Mount Selman Neches |
New Chapel Hill Omen Reklaw Starrville Teaselville Tecula Tennessee Colony Turnertown Uncertain Yantis |
In East Texas, there are a number of cities and small towns located in several counties, as shown on the maps on this website.
Harrison County Courthouse in Marshall during the Wonderland of Lights |
From larger cities such as Beaumont and Tyler, to smaller communities such as Paris, Rusk, Jasper, Crockett, and Canton, East Texas offers excellent living and recreational opportunities.
Located in rolling hills, deep woods, prairies and pasture land, East Texas has a wide range of appeal, and things to do in the cities and on short road trips.
Over 30 East Texas lakes provide fishing, skiing, boating and other recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Popular destinations include Lake Sam Rayburn, Lake Palestine, Lake Fork, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Lake Livingston and others in every corner of East Texas.
There are things to do year-round in East Texas! Visit the Texas Rose Festival in Tyler in October, and the Tyler Azalea Trail in the spring.
Summer brings balloon races to Longview, and Christmas time is a delight in Marshall. Spring is crawfish time in Orange and Port Arthur.
And don't miss the ever-popular First Monday Trade Days in Canton.
From world-class golf courses, walking trails, cultural attractions, state parks, festivals, antique shopping, fall motoring and art museums, the East Texas area has something for everyone.
The following is a list of East Texas counties, county seats and estimated 2020 population:
County Name |
County Seat |
Population |
Area |
Anderson | Palestine | 57,922 | Upper East Texas |
Angelina | Lufkin | 86,395 | Deep East Texas |
Bowie | New Boston | 92,893 | Upper East Texas |
Camp | Pittsburg | 12,464 | Upper East Texas |
Cass | Linden | 28,454 | Upper East Texas |
Cherokee | Rusk | 50,412 | Upper East Texas |
Delta | Cooper | 5,230 | Upper East Texas |
Franklin | Mt. Vernon | 10,359 | Upper East Texas |
Gregg | Longview | 124,239 | Upper East Texas |
Hardin | Kountze | 56,231 | South East Texas |
Harrison | Marshall | 68,839 | Upper East Texas |
Henderson | Athens | 82,150 | Upper East Texas |
Hopkins | Sulphur Springs | 36,787 | Upper East Texas |
Houston | Crockett | 22,066 | Deep East Texas |
Jasper | Jasper | 32,980 | Deep East Texas |
Jefferson | Beaumont | 256,526 | South East Texas |
Lamar | Paris | 50,088 | Upper East Texas |
Marion | Jefferson | 9,725 | Upper East Texas |
Morris | Daingerfield | 11,973 | Upper East Texas |
Nacogdoches | Nacogdoches | 64,653 | Deep East Texas |
Newton | Newton | 12,217 | Deep East Texas |
Orange | Orange | 84,808 | South East Texas |
Panola | Carthage | 22,491 | Upper East Texas |
Polk | Livingston | 50,123 | Deep East Texas |
Rains | Emory | 12,164 | Upper East Texas |
Red River | Clarksville | 11,587 | Upper East Texas |
Rusk | Henderson | 52,214 | Upper East Texas |
Sabine | Hemphill | 9,984 | Deep East Texas |
San Augustine | San Augustine | 7,918 | Deep East Texas |
San Jacinto | Coldspring | 27,402 | Deep East Texas |
Shelby | Center | 24,022 | Deep East Texas |
Smith | Tyler | 233,479 | Upper East Texas |
Titus | Mt. Pleasant | 31,247 | Upper East Texas |
Trinity | Groveton | 13,602 | Deep East Texas |
Tyler | Woodville | 19,798 | Deep East Texas |
Upshur | Gilmer | 40,892 | Upper East Texas |
Van Zandt | Canton | 59,541 | Upper East Texas |
Wood | Quitman | 44,843 | Upper East Texas |
Total - 38 Counties | 1,918,718 | East Texas |