Gladewater is a city in Gregg and Upshur Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, with a 2020 census population of 6,134.

In the early 20th century, Gladewater was an oil boom town. In 1995, the Texas Legislature proclaimed it the "Antique Capital of East Texas".

History

thumb|left|Gladewater in 1935

left|thumb|Gladewater City Hall

Gladewater was founded by the Texas and Pacific Railway Company in 1873 on land bought from Jarrett Dean and Anderson White. A community called St. Clair, to the east, moved to Gladewater when the railroad announced that the only mail stop in the area would be there; residents from Point Pleasant, also bypassed by the railroad, moved to Gladewater. The first post office at Gladewater was established on August 22, 1873. The town's name probably originated from its proximity to Glade Creek, a tributary of the Sabine River that rose in a rather barren region called the Glades.

In 1874, Gladewater was incorporated with a mayor-alderman government. The incorporation lapsed, and a new charter was not obtained until 1931, when an influx of population necessitated organized city government.

Bonnie and Clyde maintained Gregg County connections through Bonnie Parker's sister Billie Mace, who worked at a Gladewater café in early 1934.

In 1955, Gladewater adopted a council-mayor form of government. The population grew slowly during the 19th century; the town had only 163 people in 1880 and 259 in 1900. In the area around Gladewater, lumbering was a major activity, although farming was also important; cotton was the major crop. In 1908, the town had 10 stores, one bank, two blacksmith shops, two hotels, a gin, a sawmill, and a planing mill. It continued to grow slowly until 1931.

thumb|left|An oil derrick replica in downtown Gladewater recalls the oil-boom years.

On April 7, 1931, the first Gladewater oil well blew in. It was located outside town in the Sabine River bottom. Oil production led to a population increase during the 1930s from about 500 to around 8,000 people. In 1940, after the oil boom, Gladewater had a population of 4,454. Civic improvements in the 1940s included an extensive paving project and a commercial airfield. Between 1940 and 1960, the population grew to 5,742. Lake Gladewater, constructed on Glade Creek in 1954, provides recreation for city residents.

During the 1970s Gladewater moved from an oil-oriented to a more diversified economy, primarily because of depletion of oil resources in the area. The movement of salt water into the western edge of the large East Texas Oil Field affected Gladewater first. By 1980, the town had a total of 6,548 residents, 4,311 in Gregg County and 2,237 in Upshur County. The economy in the 1980s depended on the oil industry and related activities and on the manufacture of such products as furniture, clothing, paper products, and boats. The lumber and agricultural industry was still a driver for the economy, as well. By 1990, the community had become well known for its numerous antique stores. Notable annual festivals include the East Texas Gusher Days in April, the Gladewater Roundup Rodeo in June, the Arts and Crafts Festival in September, and Christmas in November.

In 1935, the Boston Red Sox franchise had a minor league baseball team in Gladewater, the Gladewater Bears. The minor league stadium has since been turned into a city park. The predominant features of the stadium are long gone, but the stadium is located near the Lee Building in Gladewater.

Geography

It is located in western Gregg County and southern Upshur County, primarily within Gregg County. U.S. Route 80 leads east to Longview and west to Big Sandy. U.S. Route 271 crosses US 80 in the center of Gladewater, leading north to Gilmer and southwest to Tyler.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Gladewater has a total area of , of which , or 4.61%, is covered by water. The Sabine River forms the southwestern border of the city.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Gladewater had a population of 6,134 and 1,283 families residing in the city. The median age was 37.8 years, with 24.2% of residents under the age of 18 and 17.0% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.3 males age 18 and over.

87.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 12.8% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,341 households in Gladewater, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.9% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 4,063 || 66.2%

|-

| Black or African American || 1,184 || 19.3%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 48 || 0.8%

|-

| Asian || 52 || 0.8%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 3 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 203 || 3.3%

|-

| Two or more races || 581 || 9.5%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 585 || 9.5%

|}

In 2020, the American Community Survey estimated the median household income was $40,000.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, 6,078 people, 2,257 households, and 1,593 families were living in the city. Most of the Upshur County portion is also in Gladewater ISD, while a portion is within the Union Grove Independent School District<!--UNI 43530-->.

School buildings include:

  • Gladewater Primary School, formerly Gay Avenue Primary School
  • Weldon Elementary School
  • Gladewater Middle School
  • Gladewater High School
  • Truman W. Smith High School

The other school districts serving parts of the city is Sabine Independent School District.

Areas in Gladewater and Union Grove ISD are in the service area of Kilgore Junior College.

Media

The newspaper Gladewater Mirror has been published in the community since 1949. It first was a daily newspaper from 1949 to 1968, and then became a weekly newspaper.

Notable people

  • Michael Bowen, actor and member of the Carradine family
  • Skip Butler, former punter for the Houston Oilers
  • John Floyd, former wide receiver with the San Diego Chargers
  • Winston Hill, (1941–2016), Pro Football Hall of Fame tackle, chiefly for the New York Titans and Jets
  • Tony Jeffery, former NFL player for the Arizona Cardinals
  • Chris Johnson, defensive back for the Oakland Raiders
  • Joe R. Lansdale, award-winning author
  • Harding Lawrence, president and chairman of Braniff International Airways
  • Daylon Mack, USFL Memphis Showboats reserve player
  • Delmonico Montgomery, cornerback in the NFL and defensive specialist in the Arena Football League
  • James Scott, former Chicago Bears wide receiver
  • John Ben Shepperd (1915–1990), former Texas attorney general and civic leader
  • Lovie Smith, former head football coach for the Houston Texans, NFL
  • Kelcy Warren, billionaire oil businessman, born in Gladewater

Notes

References

  • City of Gladewater official website
  • Gladewater Chamber of Commerce