Overton is a city with most parts situated in Rusk County and a small portion extending into Smith County. 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. With a total area of 6.8 square miles, it became was the second largest town in Rusk County in the 1980s. By the 1990s Overton extended into neighboring Smith County. The town was named after Frank Overton, early settler and landowner who donated the townsite and even offered free lots to any Jamestown businessman who would relocate, and many did. It was also platted in 1873 and a post office was also granted that year. The Masons and Odd Fellows built the first school and a church was constructed in 1875. Although Overton was primarily a farming center, it became successful too when oil was discovered in the area around 1930, and funds were raised by residents to finance the drilling of C. M. (Dad) Joiner's third well. The success of the East Texas oilfield led to prosperity for Overton. Finally, the population was 2,498 at the 2017 census.
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