Overton, Texas
City in the United States in Smith County, Rusk County
About Overton
Overton is a city in Rusk and Smith counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Overton lies in two counties as well as two metropolitan areas. The Rusk County portion of the city is part of the Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Smith County portion is part of the Tyler Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The population was 2,275 at the 2020 census.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How Overton is governed
Form of government not yet listed.
1 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.
Residents of Overton
Registered voters elect the officials below.
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Mayor
Executive
- Curtis Gilbert per Wikidata
The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.
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City Manager / Administrator
Executive
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The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).
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Police Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the police department.
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Fire Chief
Administration & departments
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Leads the fire and emergency services department.
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Public Works Director
Administration & departments
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Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.
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Finance Director
Administration & departments
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The budget, taxes, and city accounts.
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Planning & Zoning Director
Administration & departments
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Land use, zoning, building permits.
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Parks & Recreation Director
Administration & departments
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Parks, programs, and public facilities.
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City Council
Legislative
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The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.
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City Clerk
Administration & departments
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Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.
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City Attorney
Administration & departments
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The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.
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Boards & Commissions
Legislative
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Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.
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Municipal Court
Judicial
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Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.
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Municipal Judge
Judicial
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Presides over the municipal court.
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- Website
- ci.overton.tx.us
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Population over time
From 2,554 in 2010 to 2,275 in 2020 (−10.9%).
Show the numbers
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2,275 |
| 2010 | 2,554 |
History
It was known to the Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks who lived in the area as Tiyuk Hekia (Standing Pine); many years later, when it was incorporated, it became known as Overton.
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 (26 km) long, was completed and was later joined by the International-Great Northern. When the nearby communities of Bellview, 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 skyrocketed 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.
Overton has a historical voting base consisting primarily of older, Republican-leaning voters.
"Republic of Texas" secessionist movement
In 2003, the City of Overton became home to the headquarters of only surviving faction of the Texan secessionist group, the Republic of Texas led by Daniel Miller. The group was founded on the belief that the United States never legally annexed the Republic of Texas and that Texas is therefore an independent nation, repudiating the Texas State Government and the federal government of the United States' authority over Texas.
The group was considered controversial by the residents of Overton, especially with the group's checkered past, which includes a week-long hostage situation after the incarceration of two members (leading to one death after the siege) with the hostages being called "prisoners of war". Another event occurred involving the arrest and conviction of two members who planned to assassinate then President, Bill Clinton, and other high-ranking officials. Both events are listen in the group's Terrorist Organization Profile. Although, Daniel Miller's faction was separated when these events occurred, there was still a stigma in Overton around the faction as they still retained the core beliefs that the other factions shared, including advocacy for illegal activities such as bank fraud and paper terrorism. The group is also accused of practicing white-supremacy.
The Republic of Texas also minted their own currency which included a one gram silver coin with a Texas star and the word "Overton" emblazoned around it, with members attempting to purchase goods with the currency instead of the United States dollar in Overton. Edward J. Williams, Overton's then chief of police, described several run-ins with the group, including a violent altercation between two members over an AR-15 automatic rifle, members using Republic of Texas passports instead of a driver's license; driving unregistered vehicles; and illegally redesigning license plates to show the original Republic of Texas' territorial claims prior to its annexation which includes territory in New Mexico and narrow strips of land in Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming. Diana Sieber, a resident and business owner in Overton, would comment: "No one really approves of them," and "They're not the best kind of publicity for our community."
The Republic of Texas operated in a former hospital within the city limits up until the headquarters mysteriously burned down on August 31, 2005; one person was moderately injured. This led to the group leaving Overton and rebranding as the Texas Nationalist Movement.
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