Upshur County, Texas

Upshur County
Upshur County
County
	Upshur County Courthouse
	Location within the U.S. state of Texas
	Texas's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 32°44′N 94°56′W / 32.73°N 94.94°W
Country	United States
State	Texas
Founded	1846
Named for	Abel P. Upshur
Seat	Gilmer
Largest city	Gladewater
Area
• Total	593 sq mi (1,540 km2)
• Land	583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Water	9.7 sq mi (25 km2) 1.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	40,892
• Density	69/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 5th
Website	www.countyofupshur.com

Upshur County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,892.^[1] The county seat is Gilmer.^[2] The county is named for Abel P. Upshur, who was U.S. Secretary of State during President John Tyler's administration.

Upshur County is part of the Longview, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Longview–Marshall, TX Combined Statistical Area.

History

Humans have inhabited what is now Upshur County since at least 10,000 years ago. The Caddoan people lived in this area, but were driven out about 1750, probably due to losses from new infectious diseases carried chronically by Europeans.

Later, some Cherokee migrated to the area from their territories in the Southeast – Georgia and Alabama. The Cherokee were driven out of here by European-American settlers in 1839, after having been removed from the Southeast.^[3]

The first European-American settler in Upshur County was probably Isaac Moody, who settled there in 1836.^[3] Upshur County was named for Abel Parker Upshur, Secretary of State under John Tyler.^[3]

Upshur County has the distinction of being the county that has the largest settlement in Texas organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1904, the Latter-day Saint Southwestern States Mission organized a colony at Kelsey, Texas.^[4]

On March 21, 2022, Upshur County was hit by an EF-2 tornado with winds reported as high as 135 mph. Extensive damage was reported but no fatalities.^[5] This tornado was a part of the tornado outbreak of March 21–23, 2022.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 593 square miles (1,540 km²), of which 583 square miles (1,510 km²) are land and 9.7 square miles (25 km²) (1.6%) are covered by water.^[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Camp County (north)
Morris County (northeast)
Marion County (east)
Harrison County (southeast)
Gregg County (south)
Smith County (southwest)
Wood County (west)

Communities

Cities

Clarksville City (mostly in Gregg County)
East Mountain (a small part of Gregg County)
Gilmer (county seat)
Gladewater (partly in Gregg County and Upshur County )
Ore City
Union Grove
Warren City (mostly in Gregg County) Pritchett, Texas, Big Sandy, Texas, Bettie, Texas, and there are many other small communities in Upshur County.

Town

Big Sandy

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	3,394	—
1860	10,645	213.6%
1870	12,039	13.1%
1880	10,266	−14.7%
1890	12,695	23.7%
1900	16,266	28.1%
1910	19,960	22.7%
1920	22,472	12.6%
1930	22,297	−0.8%
1940	26,178	17.4%
1950	20,822	−20.5%
1960	19,793	−4.9%
1970	20,976	6.0%
1980	28,595	36.3%
1990	31,370	9.7%
2000	35,291	12.5%
2010	39,309	11.4%
2020	40,892	4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1850–2010^[8] 2010^[9] 2020^[10]

**Demographic Profile of Upshur County, Texas**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010^[9]	Pop 2020^[10]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	32,257	31,287	82.06%	76.51%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3,388	2,908	8.62%	7.11%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	206	261	0.52%	0.64%
Asian alone (NH)	146	177	0.37%	0.43%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	3	9	0.01%	0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	35	150	0.09%	0.37%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	661	2,114	1.68%	5.17%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,613	3,986	6.65%	9.75%
Total	39,309	40,892	100.00%	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

As of the 2020 census, there were 40,892 people in the county.^[10] As of the census of 2000, 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families resided in the county.^[11] The population density was 60 people per square mile (23 people/km²). The 14,930 housing units averaged 25 units per square mile (9.7 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.70% White, 10.15% African American, 0.63% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.10% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. About 3.95% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 13,290 households, 33.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.50% were not families. About 21.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was distributed as 27.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,347, and for a family was $38,857. Males had a median income of $31,216 versus $20,528 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,358. 14.90% of the population and 12.30% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.60% of those under the age of 18 and 14.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Politics

Upshur County is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bryan Hughes, from Mineola.

Upshur County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Cole Hefner, from Mount Pleasant.

Upshur County, along with Marion County, is the 115th Judicial District of Texas. The presiding judge of the 115th Judicial District is Judge Dean Fowler. He began his first term as District Judge on January 1, 2019, and was unopposed in his re-election, to that office, beginning January 1, 2023. Prior to serving as judge of the 115th Judicial District, Fowler served for sixteen years as the Upshur County Judge, beginning January 1, 2003, until December 31, 2018.

Per the Texas Constitution of 1876, the chief administrative body of Upshur County is the five-member Upshur County Commissioners Court. The County Judge is elected separately. The county road maintenance is administrated by the County Road Administrator. This system was adopted in Upshur County in November 2002 and reaffirmed by two subsequent elections. The commissioners court oversees all of the Upshur County government's operations.

Upshur County Judge Todd Tefteller began his first term on January 1, 2019, and began his second term on January 1, 2023. He presides over the Upshur County Misdemeanor Criminal Docket, Probate, Civil, and Commissioners Courts. Commissioner Gene Dolle is in his first term and has served Precinct One since January 1, 2021. Commissioner Dustin Nicholson began his first term as Commissioner of Precinct Two on January 1, 2019. Nicholson was elected to a second term beginning January 1, 2023. Commissioner Michael Ashley is in his first term and has served Precinct Three since January 1, 2021. Commissioner Jay Miller began his first term as Commissioner of Precinct Four on January 1, 2019. He was elected to his second term beginning January 1, 2023.

United States presidential election results for Upshur County, Texas^[12]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	15,809	83.56%	2,877	15.21%	233	1.23%
2016	13,209	82.49%	2,380	14.86%	424	2.65%
2012	12,015	79.37%	2,971	19.63%	152	1.00%
2008	11,222	74.00%	3,790	24.99%	152	1.00%
2004	10,232	70.44%	4,225	29.09%	69	0.48%
2000	8,448	65.96%	4,180	32.64%	180	1.41%
1996	5,174	45.71%	5,032	44.45%	1,114	9.84%
1992	4,511	36.95%	4,776	39.12%	2,921	23.93%
1988	5,991	53.18%	5,242	46.53%	32	0.28%
1984	7,325	61.16%	4,614	38.53%	37	0.31%
1980	4,836	49.09%	4,894	49.68%	122	1.24%
1976	3,272	39.85%	4,902	59.70%	37	0.45%
1972	4,736	71.50%	1,879	28.37%	9	0.14%
1968	1,519	22.06%	2,480	36.02%	2,886	41.92%
1964	2,222	35.48%	4,027	64.31%	13	0.21%
1960	2,262	40.73%	3,248	58.48%	44	0.79%
1956	2,737	57.45%	1,995	41.88%	32	0.67%
1952	2,391	43.98%	3,040	55.91%	6	0.11%
1948	555	17.54%	2,118	66.92%	492	15.55%
1944	446	13.24%	2,369	70.32%	554	16.44%
1940	518	12.96%	3,480	87.04%	0	0.00%
1936	321	12.50%	2,243	87.38%	3	0.12%
1932	129	4.24%	2,900	95.39%	11	0.36%
1928	649	29.37%	1,553	70.27%	8	0.36%
1924	258	8.86%	2,611	89.69%	42	1.44%
1920	616	26.44%	1,222	52.45%	492	21.12%
1916	198	11.82%	1,346	80.36%	131	7.82%
1912	168	13.90%	896	74.11%	145	11.99%

Education

These school districts serve Upshur County:

Big Sandy ISD (partly in Wood County)
Gilmer ISD
Gladewater ISD (partly in Gregg County, partly in Upshur County)
Harmony ISD (partly in Wood County)
New Diana ISD (small portion in Harrison County)
Ore City ISD (small portion in Marion counties)
Union Grove ISD (Small Part in Gregg County)
Union Hill ISD (mostly in Upshur County, partly in Wood County)

Media

The main newspaper for Upshur County is The Gilmer Mirror. The Gladewater Mirror has been published since 1949, first, as a daily newspaper^[13] and then became a weekly newspaper.^[14]