Upshur County, Texas

Upshur County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,309.[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
U.S. 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
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1846
Named forAbel P. Upshur
SeatGilmer
Largest cityGladewater
Area
 • Total593 sq mi (1,540 km2)
 • Land583 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Water9.7 sq mi (25 km2)  1.6%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total39,309
 • Estimate 
(2019)
41,753
 • Density67/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts1st, 4th
Websitewww.countyofupshur.com

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]

Geography
Upshur County Courthouse

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.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18503,394—
186010,645213.6%
187012,03913.1%
188010,266−14.7%
189012,69523.7%
190016,26628.1%
191019,96022.7%
192022,47212.6%
193022,297−0.8%
194026,17817.4%
195020,822−20.5%
196019,793−4.9%
197020,9766.0%
198028,59536.3%
199031,3709.7%
200035,29112.5%
201039,30911.4%
Est. 201941,753[6]6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1850–2010[8] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families resided in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km²). The 14,930 housing units averaged 25 per square mile (10/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 Jay Dean, from Longview.

Upshur County, along with Marion County, is part of the 115th Judicial District of Texas. The presiding judge of the 115th Judicial District is Judge Dean Fowler. Prior to serving as judge of the 115th Judicial District, Fowler served as the Upshur County Judge from 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. He presides over the Upshur County Misdemeanor Criminal Docket, Probate, Civil, and Commissioners Courts. Commissioner Paula Gentry is in her second term and has served Precinct One since January 1, 2013. Commissioner Dustin Nicholson began his first term as Commissioner of Precinct Two on January 1, 2019. Commissioner Frank Berka is in his second term and has served Precinct Three since January 1, 2013. Commissioner Jay Miller began his first term as Commissioner of Precinct Four on January 1, 2019.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 82.5% 13,209 14.9% 2,380 2.7% 424
2012 79.4% 12,015 19.6% 2,971 1.0% 152
2008 74.0% 11,222 25.0% 3,790 1.0% 152
2004 70.4% 10,232 29.1% 4,225 0.5% 69
2000 66.0% 8,448 32.6% 4,180 1.4% 180
1996 45.7% 5,174 44.5% 5,032 9.8% 1,114
1992 37.0% 4,511 39.1% 4,776 23.9% 2,921
1988 53.2% 5,991 46.5% 5,242 0.3% 32
1984 61.2% 7,325 38.5% 4,614 0.3% 37
1980 49.1% 4,836 49.7% 4,894 1.2% 122
1976 39.9% 3,272 59.7% 4,902 0.5% 37
1972 71.5% 4,736 28.4% 1,879 0.1% 9
1968 22.1% 1,519 36.0% 2,480 41.9% 2,886
1964 35.5% 2,222 64.3% 4,027 0.2% 13
1960 40.7% 2,262 58.5% 3,248 0.8% 44
1956 57.5% 2,737 41.9% 1,995 0.7% 32
1952 44.0% 2,391 55.9% 3,040 0.1% 6
1948 17.5% 555 66.9% 2,118 15.5% 492
1944 13.2% 446 70.3% 2,369 16.4% 554
1940 13.0% 518 87.0% 3,480
1936 12.5% 321 87.4% 2,243 0.1% 3
1932 4.2% 129 95.4% 2,900 0.4% 11
1928 29.4% 649 70.3% 1,553 0.4% 8
1924 8.9% 258 89.7% 2,611 1.4% 42
1920 26.4% 616 52.5% 1,222 21.1% 492
1916 11.8% 198 80.4% 1,346 7.8% 131
1912 13.9% 168 74.1% 896 12.0% 145

Education

These school districts serve Upshur County:

Media

The Gladewater Mirror has been published since 1949, first as a daily newspaper[11] and then became a weekly newspaper.[12]

Communities

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities
  • Bethlehem
  • Bettie
  • Brumley
  • Coffeeville
  • Cox
  • Diana
  • Enoch
  • Enon
  • Ewell
  • Grice
  • Indian Rock
  • Kelsey
  • Latch
  • Little Mound
  • Mings Chapel
  • Pritchett
  • Rhonesboro
  • Rosewood
  • Sand Hill
  • Shady Grove
  • Simpsonville
  • West Mountain
  • Glenwood
  • Lake Providence
  • James
  • Red Rock
  • Sand Hill
  • Center Point
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Smith
  • Snow Hill
  • Valley View
  • Concord
  • Hopewell
  • Zion Hill
  • Cross Roads
  • Union Hill
  • Piedmont

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. UPSHUR COUNTY | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)
  4. Jenson, Andrew. Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 129
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  8. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  10. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-07-31.
  11. "Gladewater Mirror @ Gladewater". Texas Press Association. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  12. "About The Gladewater mirror. (Gladewater, Tex.) 1968-current". United States Library of Congress. Retrieved December 20, 2019.

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