Our History

Pittsburg is a small Northeast Texas town with deep roots and a proud history. Located ten miles south of Interstate 30—and about 60 miles southwest of Texarkana and 90 miles northeast of Dallas—Pittsburg sits at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 271 and State Highway 11. With a population of roughly 4,500, it is both the largest and oldest town in Camp County and serves as the county seat.  

 The land that is now Pittsburg was once home to the Caddo and Cherokee Native Americans, though they had moved from the area by the time settlers arrived in the 1830s. A community slowly took shape, and in 1855 a post office was established. The town was named in honor of early settler William Harrison Pitts. 

Pittsburg grew rapidly in the 1870s when two railroad lines were built through the area, transforming the town into a major trade center and shipping point for local farmers. In 1902, Pittsburg gained national attention as the reported site of a “flying machine” flight that preceded the Wright Brothers. 

From 1890 to 1980, every census recorded steady population growth.  Until the 1930s, Pittsburg remained primarily a trade center for area farmers, the town diversified in the 1940s, shifting toward industry, retail, and services. Even during periods when Camp County’s overall population declined, Pittsburg continued to grow—reflecting its role as the economic and cultural heart of the region.