History blends with a close-knit feel in Diboll
Diboll is a small East Texas town with deep roots and a strong sense of community. Businessman Thomas Lewis Latane Temple drew employees to town in the late 1800s as he grew his lumber empire. Today, that industry is still a big part of life, but Diboll is less known as a company town and more for its close-knit feel. “Everybody who lives here is very civic-minded,” says Sandra Pouland, the broker-owner of Pouland Real Estate, who has lived here since the 1940s. Locals pack Lumberjack Stadium’s bleachers to support the public high school’s football team, and they attend the biannual Diboll Day festival, which raises money for community spaces. This friendly atmosphere attracts new residents to Diboll, located 11 miles south of Lufkin. “You can spend one day here and immediately be able to tell that a neighbor would help you paint your house or lend you a cup of sugar,” Pouland says.
Houses may sit on timber farms or cattle ranches
Housing includes ranch styles and cottages built between the mid-20th century and early 2000s. Modern farmhouses from the 2020s are also common. Pine and oak trees often shade grassy lawns, with the median lot size at nearly half an acre. A few timber farms are still in the area, and properties on the outskirts of town may also be part of cattle ranches. Diboll’s median single-family home price is around $205,500, which is less than the national median. Fixer-uppers and older homes can cost between $75,000 and $200,000, while newer builds typically range from $250,000 to $450,000.
Locals support the Lumberjacks and the Lady Jacks
Diboll Independent School District serves the community. Kids can attend kindergarten through second grade at H.G. Temple Elementary, which Niche grades a B-minus. They may continue to H.G. Temple Intermediate, Diboll Junior High and Diboll High, all of which earn Bs. A Lumberjack is the mascot for the high school’s men’s athletic teams, while a Lady Jack represents the girls. High school games are typically well attended, whether it's football, baseball or basketball. “We really show up for our local sports, and it doesn’t matter if someone went to the high school or not,” Pouland says.
There’s a golf course, civic center and biannual fundraiser in Diboll
Diboll is home to a few recreation spaces, including the public, 18-hole Neches Pines Golf Course on the east side of town. Locals often rent the Lottie & Arthur Temple Civic Center for Quinceañeras, charity events and weddings. A 5-mile-long hiking and biking trail starts at the civic center and ends at Old Orchard Park, which has a splash pad, a fishing pond and a playground. In October, the green space hosts Diboll Day, a biannual fair and fundraiser for the city that’s been around since 1953. “Every single penny goes back into Diboll,” Pouland says. “The money from Diboll Day has helped update the library, the Little League diamonds and so much more since it started.” Floats, marching bands and vintage cars parade across town at the beginning of the day. Then, locals head to the park, where they can jump in bounce houses, play tug of war and see who is crowned the Diboll Day Queen. As part of the bible belt, Diboll has multiple houses of worship, with denominations including Baptist, Catholic and Methodist.
A few stores and restaurants are on U.S. Route 59
A Brookshire Brothers grocery store, a Dollar General and an Ace Hardware sit along U.S. Route 59, which stretches across Diboll’s core. Drive-throughs, like Jack in the Box, and locally owned Mexican spots, including the casual Los Jarritos, are also on the highway. Though the town doesn’t have many restaurants and stores, locals tend to like it that way. “Route 59 can get traffic-heavy, so the less stuff we have on it, the better,” Pouland says. Lufkin is home to several hospitals, big-box stores like Walmart Supercenter and the Lufkin Mall, where retailers include Hibbett Sports and Boot Barn.
The Diboll Relief Route has reduced traffic in the area
Diboll is a car-dependent community with asphalt and dirt roads. Route 59 often experiences heavy traffic with commuters going to and from Lufkin. However, in 2025, the Diboll Relief Route opened on the town’s eastern edge to alleviate this problem. “We still get some back-ups in town, but so far, the new route has really helped,” Pouland says. East Texas Regional Airport, about 90 miles north, has the closest commercial flights. The freight railroad passing through town may cause temporary traffic stops at intersecting streets. Several industrial warehouses are here, and the Diboll Correctional Center is a state prison in the southwestern part of town.
