Van, Texas
Van is a city in Van Zandt County in the wooded country of East Texas, about 23 miles northwest of Tyler. The town is known for the Van oil field, a major East Texas petroleum discovery that shaped its economy and growth in the twentieth century. Surrounding the town is the rolling, timbered landscape of the Piney Woods region.
Place essentials
Official Census snapshot- Census place type
- City
- July 2025 population
- 2,993
- Change from 2020 base
- +12.2%
- Land area
- 3 sq. mi.
- County footprint
- Van Zandt County
Place type, county footprint, and land area use the Census Bureau's January 1, 2025 geography. Population uses Vintage 2025 estimates through July 1, 2025; change compares that estimate with the April 1, 2020 estimates base. Geography file | Population file
Property here runs through the appraisal district and tax office for Van Zandt County. The homestead exemption, appraisal cap, protests, and any MUD, PID, or special districts all sit at the parcel level.
Official routes
Use the office for the parcel address; a mailing city is not always the governing city.
County context
What to know around Van
County lines carry much of the property, land, water, and outdoors context around Van.
Local History
Why Van Zandt County is called the Free State
Van Zandt County has long carried the nickname 'Free State of Van Zandt,' rooted in several historical acts of independence.
Property Tax
Who handles property taxes in Van Zandt County
The Van Zandt Appraisal District sets property values, but the appraisal district itself also collects most local property taxes.
County Origins
Van Zandt County was carved out in 1848 and named for a Republic leader
The Texas Legislature created Van Zandt County in 1848 from part of Henderson County and named it for Isaac Van Zandt, a key Republic of Texas figure.
Nearby
Places near Van
Nearby counties
Local notes for nearby counties
Next steps for Van
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