About Gun Barrel City

Gun Barrel City is a small city in Henderson County, East Texas, sitting on the eastern shore of Cedar Creek Lake roughly 55 miles southeast of Dallas. Home to about 6,190 residents as of the 2020 Census, it is the retail and commercial hub of the Cedar Creek Lake area — and one of the most memorably named towns in the state.

Understanding Gun Barrel City means understanding three things at once: the lake that created it, the name that made it famous, and the community that keeps it running. This page is your starting point. Below, we summarize what the city is and where it sits, then point you to detailed guides on its history, its name and slogan, the hard facts and statistics, and how to find it on a map.

Location and character

The city covers roughly 6.63 square miles at an elevation of about 364 feet. Two roads define daily life here: State Highway 198 — the original "Gun Barrel Lane" — and State Highway 334, the main commercial strip that carries shoppers and visitors through the heart of town. Neighboring communities include Mabank, Seven Points, Payne Springs, Tool, and the Henderson County seat of Athens, about 15 miles away.

Gun Barrel City is a lake town first and foremost. Its population of around 6,190 swells to more than 10,000 during boating season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when weekenders and second-home owners fill the marinas and the lakeside restaurants along the shore. That seasonal rhythm shapes everything from traffic to the local economy, and it is why the town punches well above its year-round size as a shopping and dining destination.

The three pillars

Everything about Gun Barrel City traces back to three connected ideas — the lake, the name and history, and the community.

The lake

Cedar Creek Lake is the reason the town exists. Completed in the mid-1960s by damming Cedar Creek, this large East Texas reservoir has more than 220 miles of shoreline and is popular for boating on the lake, water sports, and fishing for largemouth bass and crappie, white bass, and catfish. The lake drew people, the people needed services, and Gun Barrel City grew up to provide them.

The name and history

Few town names spark as much curiosity. Gun Barrel City took its name from Gun Barrel Lane — now State Highway 198 — a stretch of road locals said ran "straight as a gun barrel." The city leaned into it, adopting the slogan "We Shoot Straight With You" and an official emblem featuring a rifle with two crossed antique pistols. Incorporated on May 26, 1969, the town has a colorful backstory that includes a nationally famous teenage mayor.

The community

Behind the lake views and the memorable name is a working community. Gun Barrel City charges no city property tax, was designated a Texas Certified Retirement Community in 2008, and its families are served by Mabank ISD. It is a place where retirees, families, and weekend visitors all find something that fits.

Explore the About section

Dig deeper into the story of Gun Barrel City with these guides.