Pittsburg is a rural community known for its signature sausages
In Pittsburg, food links people together, especially hot links. The city has been Texas’ main source of hot links since the late 1800s, when an entrepreneur named Charlie Hasselback brought his German family’s hot links recipe to Camp County. Hasselback sold the sausages on butcher paper with hot sauce and saltine crackers. The food has been a staple of East Texas ever since. In 2019, the community was officially named the Hot Link Capital of Texas.
They may share sausages, but in other ways, residents of the rural community have no beef with one another. “It has a neighborhood feel,” says Lily Jesmore, the director of the Pittsburg-Camp Public Library. “People are friendly and helpful.” The city throws several celebrations each year, and its school system receives high marks.
Traditional and New Traditional homes for below-median prices
The city has several traditional brick houses, including some ranch-style properties, and a handful of New Traditional houses. The median sale price is close to $215,000, well below the national median, though homes here have a slightly higher value than in other parts of the Mount Pleasant Metro Area. Large parcels of land are also available for building, often between $10,000 and $35,000 per acre. The car-dependent community’s asphalt roads are frequently narrow and rarely have sidewalks. Yards are usually grassy and feature medium or large trees, plus small bushes.
Hot links, daiquiris, homestyle meals and a nonprofit thrift store
Pittsburg Hot Link Restaurant sells the city’s famous sausages, made with a family recipe that dates back to the late 1800s. Customers can order a sit-down meal or purchase a bulk order; the eatery ships its hot links across the country. “It’s an acquired taste,” Jesmore says. “The well-done ones have less grease. They poke holes in them and let the grease run out.” Herschel’s Restaurant is a homestyle eatery with classic American food, while Racks, Daqz & Axe blends Texas-style barbecue with steaks, a daiquiri menu and an ax-throwing area. Zepeda Vineyard & Winery’s tasting room is open Fridays and Saturdays.
The community has a Brookshire’s and a Dollar General. City Meat Market sells locally-sourced, custom-cut meats. Several retail stores line the city’s downtown historic district along Highway 11, including God’s Closet/Camp County Cares, a nonprofit thrift store that also supplies food to families in need.
The Pittsburg Independent School District gets high marks from Niche
Students are zoned for the Pittsburg Independent School District. Those in prekindergarten through first grade can attend Pittsburg Primary School, which holds a B-plus Niche score. Pittsburg Elementary School, for grades 2-4, gets a B-minus, while Pittsburg Intermediate School, for grades 5-6, earns an A. Grades 7-8 go to Pittsburg Junior High School, which has an A-minus. Pittsburg High School students can enroll in dual credit collegiate classes through a partnership with Northeast Texas Community College. It receives a B-plus rating.
Starting in 2026, Texas’ school choice voucher program will give accepted families close to $10,000 to spend on private school tuition. The community’s Bethel Christian Academy does not have a Niche rating, but Mount Pleasant Christian School, about 12 miles north, earns a B-plus.
Visit a prayer tower, a splash park and Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
The community’s Witness Park features a 75-foot prayer tower, fountains and a Biblical statue. The tower’s bells chime and play music at the top of each hour, and its chapel has stained glass windows. For recreation, Fair Park offers baseball fields, basketball courts and a fishing pond. It is also home to Splash Pittsburg, a water-themed park that costs $3 per day in the summer. On the city's western side, Julius A. Moore Park has basketball courts, a baseball diamond, a playground and covered picnic tables. Broach Park Recreational Complex has additional sports facilities like tennis and pickleball courts.
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park is around 10 miles northwest and has a $5 entrance fee; Boating, fishing, hiking, biking and camping are among the park's popular activities. Anglers can catch bass, crappie and catfish in the lake's waters.
Pittsburg Pioneer Days is a week-long celebration of the community
In April, the Texas Hot Link Festival draws visitors from across the area who want a taste of the town delicacy. Pittsburg Pioneer Days is a week-long celebration of the region, including the Little Miss Peach Queen Ball and Pageant, Latin Heritage Night, a float-filled parade and a community street dance. The city throws a downtown Trick or Treat event each Halloween with family-friendly games and lots of candy.
Access to U.S. Route 271 and UT Health Pittsburg
U.S. Route 271 and Texas State Highway 11 cut through the area, crossing on the city’s eastern side. Several railroads run through the town. “There’s no traffic unless you get caught behind a train at 7 a.m. or if school is letting out,” Jesmore says. Shreveport, Louisiana, is around 95 miles southeast, and Downtown Dallas is about 130 miles west. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is close to a 150-mile drive. UT Health Pittsburg has a 24-hour emergency department. Jesmore says the area typically avoids tornadoes but can have intense storms with high winds that topple trees.
