The population declined to 620 during World War II, as workers moved away to jobs in war-related industry, but increased steadily thereafter.

Mechanization of the oilfield occurred in the 1940s, and by the 1950s, Van had a Humble Oil refinery, five churches, and a consolidated independent school district.

According to the National Weather Service and tornado chasers, a severe thunderstorm spawned a tornado that touched down in a heavily wooded thicket just south of Van Zandt County Road 4609, just west of the small community of Primrose, 10 miles south of Van.

An oil pump derrick toppled to the ground, along with a large metal high-tension truss tower.

Two people were killed and 47 were injured, prompting local emergency management officials to declare a mass-casualty incident.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 sq mi (7.7 km2), all land.

Van is served by: As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,664 people, 951 households, and 710 families residing in the city.