Wise County, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wise County
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The Wise County Courthouse in Decatur, a Romanesque Revival structure, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
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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 | 1856 |
| Named for | Henry Alexander Wise |
| Seat | Decatur |
| Largest city | Decatur |
| Area | |
| • Total | 923 sq mi (2,390 km2) |
| • Land | 904 sq mi (2,340 km2) |
| • Water | 18 sq mi (50 km2) 2.0% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 68,632 |
| • Density | 74.36/sq mi (28.710/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional districts | 12th, 13th |
Wise County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 68,632. Its county seat is Decatur. Wise County is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area. Its Wise Eyes crime-watch program, eventually adopted by mostly rural counties in several states, was started in 1993 by then-Sheriff Phil Ryan.
Contents
History
On November 10, 1837 the Battle of the Knobs was fought in what is now Wise County between about 150 Indian warriors and just 18 Republic of Texas soldiers under Lieutenant A. B. Benthuysen. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Texas soldiers held their ground, with an estimated 50 Indians killed or wounded and 10 of the Texans dead. Settlers began coming into the area not long afterwards. Wise County itself was founded in 1856. It was named after Virginia Congressman Henry A. Wise, who had supported Texas annexation by the United States.
Hydraulic fracturing
In recent years, Wise County allowed an increase in hydraulic fracturing. In 2011, the Parr family and others filed a lawsuit against several energy companies, including Republic Energy, Inc. and Ryder Scott Petroleum, claiming the extracting processes have created health complications for their family and neighbors. In April 2014, the Parrs won a $2.9 million award from a Dallas jury.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 923 square miles (2,390 km2), of which 904 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (2.0%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Montague County (north)
- Cooke County (northeast)
- Denton County (east)
- Tarrant County (southeast)
- Parker County (south)
- Jack County (west)
National protected area
- Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland (majority)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 3,160 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,450 | −54.1% | |
| 1880 | 16,601 | 1,044.9% | |
| 1890 | 24,134 | 45.4% | |
| 1900 | 27,116 | 12.4% | |
| 1910 | 26,450 | −2.5% | |
| 1920 | 23,363 | −11.7% | |
| 1930 | 19,178 | −17.9% | |
| 1940 | 19,074 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 16,141 | −15.4% | |
| 1960 | 17,012 | 5.4% | |
| 1970 | 19,687 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 26,575 | 35.0% | |
| 1990 | 34,679 | 30.5% | |
| 2000 | 48,793 | 40.7% | |
| 2010 | 59,127 | 21.2% | |
| 2020 | 68,632 | 16.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850–2010 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 47,122 | 50,495 | 79.70% | 73.57% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 573 | 657 | 0.97% | 0.96% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 341 | 474 | 0.58% | 0.69% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 234 | 372 | 0.40% | 0.54% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 15 | 12 | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 35 | 172 | 0.06% | 0.25% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 695 | 2,756 | 1.18% | 4.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 10,112 | 13,694 | 17.10% | 19.95% |
| Total | 59,127 | 68,632 | 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.
Transportation
Major highways
U.S. Highway 81
U.S. Highway 287
U.S. Highway 380
State Highway 101
State Highway 114
State Highway 199
Airports
These public-use airports are located in the county:
- Bishop Airport (76T)
- Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP)
- Decatur Municipal Airport (LUD)
- Heritage Creek Airstrip (58T)
- Rhome Meadows Airport (T76)
Communities
Cities
- Aurora
- Bridgeport
- Chico
- Decatur (county seat)
- Fort Worth (mostly in Tarrant County with small parts in Denton, Parker and Wise Counties)
- Lake Bridgeport
- New Fairview
- Newark (small part in Tarrant County)
- Paradise
- Rhome
- Runaway Bay
Towns
Census-designated places
- Briar (partly in Tarrant and Parker Counties)
- Pecan Acres (mostly in Tarrant County)
Unincorporated communities
Education
These school districts lie entirely within Wise County:
- Alvord Independent School District
- Boyd Independent School District
- Bridgeport Independent School District
- Chico Independent School District
- Decatur Independent School District
- Paradise Independent School District
- Northwest Independent School District
- Slidell Independent School District
This private educational institution serves Wise County:
- Victory Christian Academy
This higher education institution serves Wise County:
- Weatherford College
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Wise (Texas) para niños
