Upshur County, Texas

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 South-western States Mission organized a colony at Kelsey, Texas.

Geography

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) is land and 9.7 square miles (25 km²) (1.6%) is water.

Major Highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 14,930 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.70% White, 10.15% Black or 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. 3.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,290 households out of which 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 non-families. 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 spread out with 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 the median income 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 House of Representatives by the Republican David Simpson, from Longview. Per the Texas Constitution of 1876, the chief administrative body of Upshur County is the five-member Upshur County Commissioners Court.

The job of the county commissioner calls for hands-on service delivery, as well as policy-making decisions about a variety of important matters. Four commissioners, each elected from single-member districts representing a quarter of the county's population, serve along with the county judge on the commissioners court. The County Judge is elected separately. The commissioners court is responsible for building and maintaining the roads and bridges of the county. However, in Upshur County, the county road maintenance is centralized under a unit road system 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 also has the responsibility to adopt the budget and tax rate that is sufficient to fund the personnel, equipment and infrastructure necessary to deliver the services provided by the county. The Upshur County Commissioners Court is responsible for conducting business on behalf of the county, and only the commissioners court can enter into contracts on behalf of the county.

The commissioners court oversees all of the Upshur County government’s operations. It establishes precinct boundaries for election of commissioners and justices of the peace, determines the number and type of county employees and their compensation for all offices and departments, acquires property for rights of way or other public uses, supervises emergency management, and controls the county courthouse and other county buildings and facilities.

The Texas Constitution vests broad judicial and administrative powers in the position of County Judge, who presides over the five-member commissioners court, which, as described above, has budgetary and administrative authority over county government operations.

The county judge handles such widely varying matters as hearings for occupational driving licenses, missing vehicle titles, beer and wine license applications, hearings on admittance to state hospitals for the mentally ill and intellectually disabled, juvenile work permits and temporary guardianships for special purposes. The judge is also responsible for calling elections, posting election notices, and for receiving and canvassing the election returns. The county judge may perform marriages.

In Upshur County the county judge has judicial responsibility for certain criminal, civil and probate matters. The county judge has appellate jurisdiction over matters arising from the justice courts. The county judge is also head of civil defense, disaster relief, and county welfare.

Upshur County Judge Dean Fowler is in his fourth term and has presided over the Upshur County Criminal, Probate, Civil, and Commissioners Court since January 1, 2003. Commissioner Paula Gentry is in her first term and has served Precinct One since January 1, 2013. Commissioner Don Gross is in his first term and has served Precinct Two since January 1, 2015. Commissioner Frank Berka is in his first term and has served Precinct Three since January 1, 2013. Commissioner Mike Spencer is in his second term and has served Precinct Four since January 1, 2011.

Education

The following school districts serve Upshur County:

Town

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