Education in Longview is rated high for all levels, from preschool through college. This city offers four school districts to include East Texas Charter Schools, Longview Independent School District, Pine Tree Independent School District, and Spring Hill Independent School District. Looking at schools in all four districts, the top five rated include Hudson Elementary School, Spring Hill Middle School, Spring Hill Intermediate School, Spring Hill High School, and Johnston Elementary School.

Keep in mind that throughout the city, 50 preschools, 36 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, 13 high schools, and several colleges and universities are found, both as public and private education institutions. Regarding colleges and universities, some are in the city of Longview and others in nearby cities. People have eight choices to include:

East Texas Baptist University – $14,680 annually (undergraduate)

Jarvis Christian College – $7,416 annually (undergraduate)

Kilgore College – $504 annually in district, $1,632 annually in state, and $2,400 annually out of state (undergraduate)

LeTourneau University – $17,710 annually (undergraduate)

Northeast Texas Community College – $672 annually in district, $1,344 annually in state, and $2,396 annually out of state (undergraduate)

Panola College – $504 annually (undergraduate)

Texas State Technical College – $2,340 annually in state and $6,554 annually out of state (undergraduate)

Wiley College – $7,600 annually (undergraduate)

In addition to the more conventional colleges and universities listed, other specialty colleges are also in Longview such as Brown Institute of Court Reporting and Business, which is a two-year private school with tuition of $19,140 and Star College of Cosmetology, which offers two certification types. This college has programs in Cosmetology, Barber, Styling, and Nail Instructor, as well as Cosmetology and Cosmetologist, and Nail Technician, Specialist, and Manicurist.

• Great Texas Balloon Race – Held every July, this event began in 1978 as a small gathering of people who shared an interest in hot air balloons.  This balloon race has now become a top international event in which hundreds of bright colored and unique designed balloons fill the sky.

• Memorial Day Weekend Motorcycle Rally – This event, also called “Party in the Pines, is an open rally motorcycle race for drivers and riders.  Motorcyclists participate in a parade through the city and the opportunity to enjoy live music, vendors, and a variety of daily activities.

• Campbell Honeymoon Home – Originally built in Rusk, this home was the first in which Thomas Mitchell Campbell and his wife lived.  Initially, Campbell was the Gregg County clerk, becoming a lawyer, and then serving two terms as the Governor of Texas.  Campbell had the home moved to Longview in 1892, which is now a Texas Historic Landmark

• Northcutt House – Designed and built in 1902 by the Reverend W.B. Allen, this large wood structure was built from heart pine lumber in a Queen Anne style.  The ornate staircase was made from east Texas curly pine, a species of wood now extinct, and boasts beautiful hand-carved mantles, fish scale shingles, and an elaborate two-level wraparound veranda.

• Museums – Longview has numerous museums, each unique.  The Longview Art Museum focuses on works of Southwest artists, specifically from Texas and the Michelson Museum of Art, originally displaying works of Leo Michelson, a Russian American artist.  Currently, the museum has a display of a permanent collection of works from several artists.  Additionally, the Marshall Visual Art Center offers works by regional artists and a children’s art and drama camp.

• Outdoor Activities – A number of fun outdoor activities are also available to include golf, fishing, camping, swimming, backpacking, hiking, swimming, and picnicking in numerous parks

The latest census shows that 75,000 people call Longview home, as well as 28,363 households and 19,116 families, creating a population density of 1,341.8 people per every square mile.  For race, just a little more than 70% are white, slightly more than 22% African American, and the minor races consist of Native American, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Latino, and miscellaneous races.

Regarding the number of families with children, current numbers show that of 28,363 households, 33.2% had children 18 years of age and younger still living at home.  In addition, of these households close to 50% were occupied by married couples, 27.9% by individuals, 14.5% single mothers, and 32.6% by non-family members.  Then, 27.9% of households in Longview consisted of individuals, 10.7% being 65 and older.  As for household size, the average was 2.50 with the average size of a family being 3.06.

Breaking down the population of Longview by age, 26.7% are under the age of 18, 10.8% for people 18 to 24, 28.7% for ages 25 to 44 years of age, 20.4% ages 45 to 64, and 13.3% 65 years and older.  However, when looking at median age for this city, the average is 34.  The men to women ration is 93 men to every 100 women but when looking at the category of 18 and older, the ratio changes to 89.4 men to every 100 women.

Finally, the median household income for Longview is $33.858 but for a family unit, $42,378.  Looking at income for men versus women, the median income for men is $33.079 whereas for women, far less at just $21,400 but Longview income per capita is $156,768.  Unfortunately, 16.0% of the population overall falls below the poverty line, which is broken down by 22.7% for individuals younger than 18 and 10.6% for people 65 years of age and older.  However, for family households living below the poverty line, numbers dropped slightly to 13.0%.

Although the city of Longview has been able to maintain a relatively stable economy during the recent financial crisis, some trends have been documented.  For instance, the housing market is starting to stabilize but this year, Gregg County appraisers estimate than over half a billion dollars in property value loss have occurred for 2010, making it the second year in a row to see a decrease.  For Longview specifically, the loss is around $250 million, which represents 5% of property losses for Gregg County, as well as a small part of Harrison County.

As far as property value, Gregg County experienced an overall 6.96% decrease in 2010 thus far.  In addition, county emergency services is down 16.82%, road/bridge down 6.97%, and water down by 12.14%.  For the city of Longview, the areas in Gregg County have seen a decline of 5.17% whereas areas in Harrison County have been unchanged.

It is also expected that a 15% reduction in mineral values will be seen, reducing value from 2009 of $594 million to $444 million by the end of 2010.  While the mineral sector is being hit, the sectors being hit even harder include governments located around the Sabine River that depend heavily on gas and oil revenues.