Upshur

Formed March 1, 1846 (55^th county)

Upshur County (39,309), Gilmer (4,905)

The many angles to the tan brick structure make it different than most Modern styles.  It is located at Tyler and Simpson streets.  Elmer G. Withers designed this 1933 facility.  The building was renovated in 1974.  There were five courthouses in Upshur County since its March 1, 1846 founding, all in Gilmer, the previous courthouse was built in 1889.  The county was formed from Nacogdoches and Harrison counties as the 55^th county.  Upshur County is named for United States Secretary of State, Abel Pucker Upshur.  Gilmer got its name from Thomas W. Gilmer who was the United States Secretary of the Navy when the county formed. 

The area of the county is 593 square miles.  It is 234 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 77 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 66.29 persons per square mile making it 57 out of 254 in the state.  Upshur County has 28.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 80 cuts across the south east to west from Gregg County to Wood County.  United States Highway 259 goes along the eastern side north to south from Morris County to Gregg County.  United States Highway 271 enters from the north, Camp County, and exits to the south, Gregg County.  The county is shaped like a tall rectangle on the west, north, and east.  The south border is wavy since the Sabine River forms it.  Gilmer is slightly south of the county center. 

Upshur County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Upshur and Marion counties and One County Court Judge serves Upshur County.  Upshur County is northeast of Tyler, Texas and west of Shreveport, Louisiana in northeast Texas.  The county center is 2.9 miles Northeast of Gilmer.  Gilmer is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 12.5% of the county population.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Camp, Morris, Marion, Harrison, Gregg, Smith, and Wood counties.  This county is in the Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area.