Upshur County

Upshur County, Texas
Upshur County is in northeastern Texas. The center of the county lies at 32°44' north latitude and 94°54' west longitude. Gilmer, the seat of government, is near the center of the county, twenty-three miles northwest of Longview. The county was named for Abel Parker Upshur, the secretary of state under President John Tyler. Upshur County encompasses 587 square miles of land that slopes gradually from northwest to southeast, with altitudes that range from 225 to 685 feet above sea level. It is in the Piney Woods vegetation region and is covered by grasslands; loblolly, shortleaf, longleaf, and slash pines; and hardwoods such as oak, hickory, and maple. Generally sandy, acidic, light-colored surface soils cover deep reddish, mottled subsoils. Upshur County straddles both of the major drainage systems of Texas. The northern portion drains into the Mississippi River via Little and Big Cypress creeks, while the waters of the southern portions flow to the Gulf of Mexico by means of the Sabine River, which forms the southwestern border of the county. The county has a subtropical humid climate and an average annual rainfall of 45.74 inches. Temperatures range from an average minimum of 37° F in January to an average maximum of 96° in July; the average growing season lasts 245 days. Prehistoric Upshur County was almost entirely forested with a blend of pine, maple, sweet and black gums, hickory, birch, ash, and many kinds of oaks, such as are found in the mixed deciduous-pine forests throughout the Eastern Woodlands region. The lumber industry has been a major operation from the early days of settlement, and none of the area's virgin forest now exists. In the 1980s more than half the county was forested. While the local flora and fauna generally belong to the mixtures common to the Mississippi Valley and the Eastern Woodlands, during the drought of the 1950s road runners, armadillos, and other species from West Texas migrated into the county and have since remained. Mineral resources include oil, natural gas, lignite, and industrial sand.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Mary Laschinger Kirby | © Texas State Historical Association
Upshur County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Upshur County
- Upshur County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Upshur County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
228 ft – 685 ft
Places of Upshur County
Photos of Upshur County and surrounding areas

Upshur County, Texas
The Upshur County Courthouse is housed in the city of Gilmer, Texas. Photograph by Michael Barera.

Upshur County, Texas
Map of Upshur County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.

Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer is the seat of Upshur County, Texas. Photograph by Michael Barera. Gilmer

A view from the fishing pier on Lake Gilmer
Photo by Jdf088, CC 3 Lake Gilmer

Sunset on Lake O' the Pines
Photo by Audreylski, CC3 Lake O’ the Pines

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Upshur County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Upshur County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
41,753 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Upshur County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
17,085 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$36,645 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Upshur County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
3,044,826,277 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Upshur County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
249,030,841 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Upshur County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
78,914,460 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.0 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
47.1 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
31.4 | 93.4 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Upshur County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
583.0 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Upshur County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
592.6 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |