Pineywoods

The area is interspersed with native pine-hardwood vegetation, farm lands, and pasture. Deer are locally abundant throughout the Piney Woods. Ranches are varied in size; cattle are the primary livestock. Paper pulp production is an important economic pursuit within this region.

Attractions - The Pineywoods region includes most of the National Forest land in Texas. The Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine and Sam Houston National Forests are all found here. The area is also home to Big Thicket National Preserve. The Preserve was established in 1974 to protect the area of rich biological diversity where the eastern hardwood forests, the southern coastal wetlands, the western prairies and the arid southwest converge. In 1981, the Preserve was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere program.

Pineywoods offers several large reservoirs including Sam Rayburn which is virtually surrounded by the Angelina National Forest. The region offers numerous state parks and state historic parks. Some of the more popular ones include Caddo Lake, Huntsville, Martin Creek Lake, Tyler State Parks.

Recreation - This region offers an array of outdoor recreation opportunities. The most popular include fishing, boating, sailing, water skiing, camping, picnicking, biking and hiking. Other activities include viewing nature, viewing wildlife, birdwatching and viewing historic sites.

Climate - The average annual rainfall of 35 to 50 inches in the Pineywoods region is fairly uniformly distributed throughout the year. Humidity and temperatures are typically high and the area is comparatively free from persistent winds.

Location - The Pineywoods region covers northeast Texas. It includes the areas surrounding Longview, Tyler, Nacogdoches and Lufkin. The primary highways through the region include Interstates 20 and 30, as well as U.S. Highways 59 and 259