Welcome to Overton, TX!
Designated Lone Star City
City Hall (903) 834-3171
Police Department (903) 834-3145 – Fax (903) 834-3216
Email us: info@cityofoverton.com or cityadmin@cityofoverton.com
Community Calendar: cityadmin@cityofoverton.com
Community Calendar
City of Overton Water Restrictions
Community Updates
BOIL WATER NOTICE RESCINDED
As of January 10, 2025 the boil water notice is no longer in effect.
WATER REPAIRS ON W. HENDERSON & SUNSET
The City of Overton will be making repairs on Sunset & W. Henderson beginning at 9am. This could result in little to no water pressure. That side of town will remain under a boil water notice.
BOIL WATER NOTICE 01.03.2025
Boil Water notice 1-3-25
WATER REPAIRS
On January 3, 2025 around mid morning, the City of Overton is planning on installing new water valves at the intersection of Pope & Patricia. This will cause water loss and a boil water notice for the residents on the west side of the rail road tracks.
HOLIDAY TRASH PICKUP
Holiday Trash Pickup: Wednesday routes will be picked up on Thursday & Thursday routes will be picked up on Friday. This will be the same for next week. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
History of Overton
The City of Overton, Texas located both in Rusk and Smith counties. Overton lies approximately 10 miles south of Kilgore (25 miles south of Longview), 15 miles west of Henderson and 20 miles southeast of Tyler.
The town was named after Major Frank Overton, an early settler and landowner who donated some of his land for the town site. It was platted in 1873 and a post office was granted that year.
Overton was originally intended to be a crossroads for two railroads. In 1875 the Henderson and Overton Branch Railroad, 16 miles long, was completed and was later joined by the International-Great Northern. When the nearby communities of Belleveu, Jamestown, Rocky Mount, and Salem were all bypassed by the railroad, Overton gained the businesses and people who wanted to benefit from the railroad lines. The town offered lots for businesses to relocate and many took the offer.
The Masons and Odd Fellows built the first school and a church was constructed in 1875. By 1888 the population had increased to 500 and had all essential businesses, including a newspaper. Overton prospered as an agricultural community and in 1904 the population had reached 568.
Oklahoman wildcatter C. M. (Dad) Joiner was drilling his third well in 1930 and the town of Overton helped raise the funds he needed to drill. When the well came in Overton, shared in Joiner’s success, as churches, schools, and a refinery were built. Hubbard College was founded during this time as well. The town’s once agrarian-based economy suddenly revolved entirely around the production of oil.
Overton’s population exploded from 426 in 1931 to 3,000 in 1933. By 1936 it was up to 4,500 and the town went through the Great Depression relatively unscathed. But by the end of World War II the population had declined by half – reaching just 2,000 in the 1950s and remaining at that level through the 1970s. In the 1980s Overton was Rusk County’s “second city” with a population of 2,430 in 1983. By the 1990s Overton extended into neighboring Smith County.