Van, TX

Van is a small town located in Van Zandt County, Texas. The population was 1,859 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Van Zandt County.

The town was founded in 1876 and named for General James Van Zandt, a hero of the Texas Revolution. The town's economy was initially based on agriculture and livestock, but today it is largely dependent on the oil and gas industry.

Today, Van is home to several businesses and institutions related to the oil and gas industry, including Schlumberger Limited (a world leader in technology services for the oil and gas industry), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (one of America's largest independent petroleum companies), Petrohawk Energy Services (a leading provider of offshore drilling services), Pioneer Natural Resources Company (the largest U.S.-based producer of coal reserves), Noble Energy Incorporated (one of America's largest energy producers), as well as numerous smaller firms. In addition to its economic importance, Van is also home to two public schools - Van Zandt Elementary School and Van Zandt High School - as well as several churches.

Real estate in Van consists primarily of single-family homes built between 1940 and 1990; most are ranch or 2-story houses with either brick or concrete exteriors. There are also a few newer homes built near the edge of town near some large oilfield developments; these homes are typically 3 or 4 stories tall with modern designs and features such as gated communities or pools within their yards. In general, real estate prices in Van are relatively high compared to other towns in Texas; however, due to its proximity to major oilfields, property values have increased rapidly over recent years even beyond what would be considered normal market rates for such a small town.