Wise County, Texas

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 mostly from the Upland South, especially Tennesseans and Kentuckians. 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.

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

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 923 sqmi, of which 18 sqmi (2.0%) are covered by water.

Adjacent counties

• Montague County (north)
• Cooke County (northeast)
• Denton County (east)
• Tarrant County (southeast)
• Parker County (south)
• Jack County (west)

National protected area

• Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland (majority)

Communities

Cities

• Aurora
• Bridgeport
• Decatur (county seat)
• Fort Worth (mostly in Tarrant County with small parts in Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise Counties)
• Lake Bridgeport
• New Fairview
• Newark (small part in Tarrant County)
• Paradise
• Rhome
• Runaway Bay

Towns

• Alvord
• Boyd
• Chico
• Crafton

Census-designated places

• Briar (partly in Tarrant and Parker Counties)
• Pecan Acres (mostly in Tarrant County)

Unincorporated communities

• Allison
• Balsora
• Boonsville
• Cottondale
• Greenwood
• Slidell
• Sycamore

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1850–2010 2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 68,632. The median age was 39.8 years, with 24.5% of residents under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.5 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 78.8% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian,

9.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 90.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 24,306 households in the county, of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 60.1% were married-couple households, 15.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 26,813 housing units, of which 9.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 79.5% were owner-occupied and 20.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.3%.

2023 American Community Survey estimates

The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Wise County’s population was 78,097. It was also estimated that the county was 21.5% Hispanic or Latino, 73.5% NH White, 1.8% NH Black, 0.6% NH Asian, 0.7% NH Native American, 0.1% NH Pacific Islander, 1.7% NH Multiracial.

2010 census

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

2000 census

In 2000 there were 48,793 people, 17,178 households, and 13,467 families were residing in the county. The population density was 54 /mi2. The 19,242 housing units averaged 21 /mi2. 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; the racial and ethnic makeup of the county in 2020 was predominantly non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

Politics

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

Education

These school districts lie entirely within Wise County:

• Alvord Independent School District
• Boyd Independent School District
• Bridgeport Independent School District
• Chico Independent School District
• Decatur Independent School District
• Paradise Independent School District
• Slidell Independent School District

This private educational institution serves Wise County:

• Victory Christian Academy

This higher education institution serves Wise County:

• Weatherford College

Transportation

Major highways

• [[Image:US 81.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 81
• [[Image:US 287.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 287
• [[Image:US 380.svg|25px]] U.S. Highway 380
• [[Image:Texas 101.svg|20px]] State Highway 101
• [[Image:Texas 114.svg|20px]] State Highway 114
• [[Image:Texas 199.svg|20px]] State Highway 199

Airports

These public-use airports are located in the county:

• Bishop Airport (76T)
• Bridgeport Municipal Airport (XBP)
• Decatur Municipal Airport (LUD)
• Heritage Creek Airstrip (58T)
• Rhome Meadows Airport (T76)

References

• Wise County Genealogy Resources
• Wise County on the Web
• Wise County government's website
• "Liberally Lean From The Land of Dairy Queen" - A Local Blog About Wise County
• Wise County in Handbook of Texas Online at the University of Texas

References

1. "Wise County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. [http://www.wcmessenger.com/data/business/EEkpZkEpkywmbzsqbk.php WCMessenger.com: Wise Eyes expands its vision]{{dead link. (March 2018)
4. "Wise County, Texas".
5. [https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/wise-county-family-sues-over-natural-gas-fracking/ "Wise County Family Sues over Natural Gas Fracking"], CBS.com, March 8, 2011
6. "Wise County pair wins $3 million jury award in drilling lawsuit". Star-Telegram (Fort Worth TX).
7. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
8. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
10. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010". Texas Almanac.
11. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wise County, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
12. "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]].
13. "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]].
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
16. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
17. "County Population by Characteristics: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
18. (June 26, 2015). "Where Same-Sex Couples Live". The New York Times.
19. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
21. (November 5, 2024). "2024 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
22. "Wise County Public and Private Airports".
23. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Wise County, Texas".