Upshur County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Upshur County
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Upshur County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Texas
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 Texas's location within the U.S. |
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| 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)
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| • Total | 40,892 |
| • Density | 68.96/sq mi (26.625/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 5th |
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. The county seat is Gilmer. 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.
Contents
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.
The first European-American settler in Upshur County was probably Isaac Moody, who settled there in 1836. Upshur County was named for Abel Parker Upshur, Secretary of State under John Tyler.
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.
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. This tornado was a part of the tornado outbreak of March 21–23, 2022.
Geography
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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.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 80
U.S. Highway 259
U.S. Highway 271
State Highway 154
State Highway 155
State Highway 300
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
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 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 29,728 | 32,257 | 31,287 | 84.24% | 82.06% | 76.51% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,557 | 3,388 | 2,908 | 10.08% | 8.62% | 7.11% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 191 | 206 | 261 | 0.54% | 0.52% | 0.64% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 65 | 146 | 177 | 0.18% | 0.37% | 0.43% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 7 | 3 | 9 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 30 | 35 | 150 | 0.09% | 0.09% | 0.37% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 319 | 661 | 2,114 | 0.90% | 1.68% | 5.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,394 | 2,613 | 3,986 | 3.95% | 6.65% | 9.75% |
| Total | 35,291 | 39,309 | 40,892 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 census, there were 40,892 people in the county. As of the census 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 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.
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)
- Pittsburg ISD
- Union Grove ISD (small part in Gregg County)
- Union Hill ISD (mostly in Upshur County, partly in Wood County)
The service area of Kilgore Junior College includes areas in Big Sandy, Gilmer, Gladweater, New Diana, and Union Grove ISDs. Areas in Harmony, Ore City, and Union Hill ISDs are in the service area of Northeast Texas Community College.
Media
The main newspaper for Upshur County is The Gilmer Mirror. The Gladewater Mirror has been published since 1949, first, as a daily newspaper and then became a weekly newspaper.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Upshur (Texas) para niños
