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Center, TX

View of Center, TX
Image credit: Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
5,246
U.S. Census Population Estimates Program · 2025
Elevation
367 ft
Median Home Value
$83,300
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Rent
$823/mo
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
Median Income
$48,293
U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-Year · 2024
General Quality
Overall rating out of 100

Highlights

What stands out in Center

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OverallBest places in TexasPopulation rankingHighest population places in TexasNearest larger communityNacogdoches, Texas31 miles away · 32,500 residents.

About Center

Center sits deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas, just a short drive from the Louisiana border and the waters of Toledo Bend Reservoir. With around 5,000 residents, it serves as the county seat of Shelby County, anchored by a historic downtown square with a striking 1885 courthouse modeled after an Irish castle. Timber and poultry farming drive the local economy, giving the community a hardworking, down-to-earth feel where neighbors know one another and daily life moves at an easy, unhurried pace.

Chamber of Commerce building in Center, TX IMG 0956

Community life centers around the square and the surrounding outdoors. Annual events like the East Texas Poultry Festival in October and the What-A-Melon Festival in July draw crowds for live music, parades, and local food, while the restored Rio Theatre offers weekend movies downtown. For outdoor enthusiasts, the nearby Sabine National Forest and Toledo Bend provide great fishing, boating, and camping, making Center an appealing spot for anyone seeking quiet, small-town Texas living.

Top Rating Signals

Highest current ratings for this town.

Lower Projected Late-Century County-Area Exposure to Sea-Level RiseA+100.0ratingLow State Income TaxA+100.0ratingSmall Town FitA+99.1rating

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