Van’s quirky history and rich oil field have shaped its charm
Van is a small town in East Texas with a long and curious history. Several sources report that it has gone through multiple name changes, being known as Ratty Towns, Who’d-a-Thought-It and Swindall before the establishment of a post office finally settled the matter. The population boomed with the discovery of oil in 1929, and despite a decline during World War II, it has steadily increased through the years, leading to a loyal citizenry of nearly 3,000. “I’ve lived in Van my whole life, and I’m 80 years old,” says Darlene Tunnell, owner of Tunnell Real Estate. “I’ve had my office in Van for over 50 years now, and I like it cause everybody’s pretty close. We all know each other.” At the same time, this small town has seen a surge in interest that has brought new development. “We’re getting more businesses, more restaurants,” Tunnell adds. “We’re already got two truck stops and two motels, and we’re fixing to get a McDonald’s in town now. There’s been quite a bit of demand lately.”
Traditional homes line Van’s neighborhood streets
The residential streets of Van are lined with low-lying, ranch-style homes, many built between 1940 and the early 1990s, and stately Modern Traditional builds built in the mid-2000s. While new construction on the tree-shaded streets has increased, it is sporadic. “Mostly it’s traditional houses, not anything real big,” Tunnell says. “Most of them are around 2,000 square feet. We’re not like Dallas, where they have big new developments. One house will go up on one side of town, then another will go up on the other side. It’s been like that pretty much since the beginning.” Lot sizes are often large enough to accommodate backyard swimming pools. Prices begin around $70,000 for smaller, older homes in need of repairs, rising as high as $565,000 for larger and newer units.
Van’s two parks offer play areas and walking paths
A pair of green spaces define outdoor recreation in Van. “We have two parks in town that have a lot of outdoor attractions for the kids,” Tunnell says. “The city has built pavilions at both, and kids like to have their birthday parties there.” There is a splash pad, a playground and a small rock climbing wall at Van City Park on the west side of town. To the east, McMillan Park offers a disc golf course, a small play area and a walking path around a pond. There is also a small dog park at Love’s, a truck stop just off the interstate.
Stoney’s Dinner Bell is a family-owned community staple
Brookshire’s is the town’s main supermarket, located just across from a Walgreen’s and a Dollar General, where residents can pick up daily household items. The nearest Walmart is 14 miles west in Canton, although many will prefer to head east to the Supercenter in Lindale. While the prospective addition of a McDonald’s has proved exciting for area residents, locally owned restaurants are also an important part of Van’s commercial footprint. “Stoney’s Dinner Bell has been here as long as I have,” Tunnell says. “The one sister just sold her half of the business to the other sister, so it’s going to stay in the family.” Other popular options include Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, a regional chain located near the interstate.
Families choose Van for the community-oriented school district
Students in Van are zoned to attend schools in the Van Independent Schools District, which earns an overall A-minus grade from Niche. “Lots of people move here for the school system,” Tunnell says. “It’s very hometown-oriented, and the teachers are great with the kids.” Children begin at Rhodes Elementary, rated A, for kindergarten and first grade. They then proceed to Van Middle School, which receives a B-plus, for grades 2 through 6. Van Junior High also scores a B-plus, and Van High School earns a B. Students at Van High can enroll in Career and Technical Education programs such as digital communications, animal science and engineering.
The Van Oil Festival celebrates nearly 100 years of history
While the Friday night high school football game is the main event during the season, the town celebrates its oil town heritage every October with the Van Oil Festival. It has been held for 96 years and features attractions such as carnival games, a vendor fair, live music and a parade that sweeps through the downtown district. Tours of the Van Area Oil and Historical Museum are also popular during this time.
Key roads link Van to Tyler and county services
Several important regional throughways intersect in this small town. “Interstate 20, Farm to Market Road 314 and state Highway 110 all come together in Van,” Tunnell says. “Interstate 20 is the biggest for commuters. You take it down to Linden, turn right on Route 69 and it takes you right to Tyler.” Highway 110 provides an important connection north to the Van Zandt Regional Hospital.
