Wise County

Wise County, Texas
Wise County is in northwestern Texas, forty miles south of the Oklahoma border. Decatur, the county seat and largest town, is thirty-five miles northwest of Fort Worth on U.S. highways 81/287 and 380. The county, comprising 922 square miles, is divided from north to south between the Eastern Grand Prairie and the Western Cross Timbers regions of Texas. The topography of the eastern section consists of gently rolling hills with sandy loam topsoils and brick clay subsoils. Central Wise County has a combination of flat and undulating terrain; its waxy, light-colored surface soil covers deep layers of red clay. The western section is primarily hilly, with alluvial loam and sandy top layers over clay and limestone sublayers. Natural resources include stone, clay, gas, and oil. Vegetation ranges from natural and improved grasses to post and live oak, cottonwood, and mesquite trees. Approximately 40 percent of the total area is quality farmland, and 60 percent is forest and grazing land. The average elevation of Wise County is 800 feet above sea level, and two-thirds of the county is drained by the West Fork of the Trinity River. Two lakes, Lake Bridgeport and Eagle Mountain Lake, and numerous creeks and tributaries provide an abundant water supply and recreational facilities. The average annual rainfall is twenty-nine inches. Temperatures vary from an average low of 33° F in January to an average high of 96° F in July. The growing season lasts 248 days.
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.
B. Jane England | © Texas State Historical Association
Wise County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Wise County
- Wise County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Wise County is classified as a County
Pronunciations
- wīz
Altitude Range
649 ft – 1180 ft
Places of Wise County
Photos of Wise County and surrounding areas

Wise County, Texas
The Wise County Courthouse is located in Decatur, Texas, the county seat. Photograph by Larry D. Moore.

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

Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas Photo by Alton Stephens on Unsplash Fort Worth

Decatur, Texas
View of the downtown area of Decatur, Texas, the seat of Wise County. Photograph by Renelibrary. Decatur

Greenwood, Texas
Landscape view of Greenwood, Texas along the LBJ Grasslands west of FM 730.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Greenwood

Driftwood on the shore of Lake Bridgeport
Photo by Steven Martin, Flickr, CC2 Lake Bridgeport
A view of the lake from Tarrant County
Photo by Gordon Reid, CC 3 Eagle Mountain Lake

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Wise County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Wise County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
69,984 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Wise County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
31,401 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$43,752 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Wise County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
10,893,805,585 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Wise County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
805,802,209 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Wise County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
262,355,653 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
7.8 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
34.7 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
29.7 | 94.2 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Wise County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
904.4 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Wise County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
922.6 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |