Wise County, Texas

Wise County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 68,632.[1] Its county seat is Decatur.[2] 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.[3]

Wise County
County
The Wise County Courthouse in Decatur, a Romanesque Revival structure, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The Wise County Courthouse in Decatur, a Romanesque Revival structure, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Map of Texas highlighting Wise County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°13′N 97°39′W
Country United States
State Texas
Founded1856
Named forHenry Alexander Wise
SeatDecatur
Largest cityDecatur
Area
 • Total923 sq mi (2,390 km2)
 • Land904 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water18 sq mi (50 km2)  2.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total68,632
 • Density74/sq mi (29/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts12th, 13th
Websitewww.co.wise.tx.us

History

On November 10, 1837, the Battle of the Knobs was fought in what is now Wise County between about 150 Native American warriors and 18 Republic of Texas soldiers under Lieutenant A. B. Benthuysen. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Texan soldiers held their ground, killing or wounding an estimated 50 Native Americans and losing 10 of their own men. More settlers began coming into the area not long afterward, with people relocating from both the Upper South and Deep South. Wise County was not founded until 1856. It was named after Virginia Congressman Henry A. Wise, who had supported annexation of Texas by the United States. He was elected governor of Virginia in 1856.[4]

As few residents of Wise County were slaveholders, opinions were mixed at the time of the Civil War, and many people opposed secession. Unionists were persecuted in North Texas, and some were lynched. Forty-two men were murdered in the Great Hanging at Gainesville in October 1862, over the course of several days in neighboring Cooke County. This was one of the worst examples of vigilante justice in American history.

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.[5] In April 2014, the Parrs won a $2.9 million award from a Dallas jury.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 923 sq mi (2,390 km2), of which 18 sq mi (47 km2) (2.0%) are covered by water.[7]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18603,160—
18701,450−54.1%
188016,6011,044.9%
189024,13445.4%
190027,11612.4%
191026,450−2.5%
192023,363−11.7%
193019,178−17.9%
194019,074−0.5%
195016,141−15.4%
196017,0125.4%
197019,68715.7%
198026,57535.0%
199034,67930.5%
200048,79340.7%
201059,12721.2%
202068,63216.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1850–2010[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]
Wise County, Texas demographic profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 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.

In 2000 there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families were residing in the county.[12] The population density was 54 people per square mile (21 people/km2). The 19,242 housing units averaged 21 units per square mile (8.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.01% White, 1.23% Black, 0.75% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 5.07% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. About 10.76% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. By 2020, its population increased to 68,632;[11] the racial and ethnic makeup of the county in 2020 was predominantly non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found about 3.4 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.[13]

Politics

Wise County, like most rural counties in Texas, votes reliably for Republican candidates in statewide and national elections.

United States presidential election results for Wise County, Texas[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 27,032 83.52% 4,973 15.37% 360 1.11%
2016 20,670 83.43% 3,412 13.77% 694 2.80%
2012 17,207 82.95% 3,221 15.53% 317 1.53%
2008 15,973 77.39% 4,471 21.66% 195 0.94%
2004 15,177 75.71% 4,783 23.86% 87 0.43%
2000 11,234 68.63% 4,830 29.51% 304 1.86%
1996 6,330 48.81% 5,056 38.99% 1,582 12.20%
1992 4,555 33.57% 4,478 33.00% 4,535 33.42%
1988 6,064 53.22% 5,288 46.41% 43 0.38%
1984 6,958 64.11% 3,856 35.53% 39 0.36%
1980 4,350 47.26% 4,674 50.78% 181 1.97%
1976 2,856 35.64% 5,133 64.06% 24 0.30%
1972 4,230 70.43% 1,741 28.99% 35 0.58%
1968 1,983 33.82% 2,774 47.31% 1,107 18.88%
1964 1,386 26.45% 3,852 73.50% 3 0.06%
1960 2,562 50.72% 2,470 48.90% 19 0.38%
1956 2,058 45.49% 2,443 54.00% 23 0.51%
1952 2,309 42.49% 3,121 57.43% 4 0.07%
1948 448 11.86% 3,064 81.10% 266 7.04%
1944 444 11.16% 3,114 78.26% 421 10.58%
1940 498 11.71% 3,751 88.24% 2 0.05%
1936 348 11.26% 2,737 88.58% 5 0.16%
1932 286 9.60% 2,681 89.97% 13 0.44%
1928 2,141 66.20% 1,093 33.80% 0 0.00%
1924 532 14.61% 2,958 81.24% 151 4.15%
1920 579 21.25% 2,031 74.53% 115 4.22%
1916 263 10.73% 2,023 82.57% 164 6.69%
1912 156 6.78% 1,842 80.05% 303 13.17%

Education

These school districts lie entirely within Wise County:

This private educational institution serves Wise County:

This higher education institution serves Wise County:

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

These public-use airports are located in the county:[15]

See also

References
  1. "Wise County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. WCMessenger.com: Wise Eyes expands its vision
  4. "Wise County, Texas". www.co.wise.tx.us. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  5. "Wise County Family Sues over Natural Gas Fracking", CBS.com, 8 March 2011
  6. "Wise County pair wins $3 million jury award in drilling lawsuit". Star-Telegram (Fort Worth TX). Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  8. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  9. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wise County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wise County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. Leonhardt, David; Quealy, Kevin (June 26, 2015), "Where Same-Sex Couples Live", The New York Times, retrieved July 6, 2015
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  15. "Wise County Public and Private Airports". www.tollfreeairline.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Wise.

33.22°N 97.65°W / 33.22; -97.65

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