Wise

Wise County

Updated on: November 19, 2021
Coordinates
33 13' 12" N, 97 39' 0" W (33.22, -97.65)
State
Texas
Region
North Central
County Seat:
Decatur
Year Organized:
1856
Total Square Miles:
922.584
904 square miles (2,340 km2) land
18 square miles (47 km2) water
Population:
66181 (2017)
Population: 64,455 est. (2016) 59,127 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
72
Wise County Website
http://www.co.wise.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Montague (N)
Cooke (NE)
Denton (E)
Tarrant (SE)
Parker (S)
Jack (W)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
66181
25 to 64 Years of Age:
52.48%
65 Years of Age and Older:
14.92%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$3.8 B
Labor Force:
30,816
Unemployment Rate:
3.40%

County Contact

PO BOX 899
County Courthouse
Decatur, TX, 76234-0899

http://www.co.wise.tx.us

Wise County is named after Henry A. Wise, a US senator who hailed from Virginia. Wise was among individuals who were for the Texas annexation. The county was established in 1856. The county seat is Decatur which means “the place of good water.” Visiting this county will be like visiting another world as it has its own unique culture and traditions. It’s also home to the largest oil fields in North America. This county is on the border with Oklahoma and New Mexico. 

History of Wise County 

Wise is among the oldest counties in Texas; it was founded before any other county in Texas. On March 1st, 1856, the Republic of Texas became an independent nation. During that time, there were only three counties: Austin, Fayette, and Washington.  

These counties had been created by Stephen F. Austin when he first settled here in 1824. He called his new settlement “Liberty” but later changed the name to San Felipe de Austin. After independence, these counties remained unchanged until they were organized into their present form during the 1850s.  

During those years, many people moved westward across the plains, looking for better opportunities. They came through what would become known as the Chisholm Trail. Many settlers arrived at the end of the trail near Fort Worth. Others continued north along the Red River, where they found fertile land.  

Still, others went south toward Houston. Some stayed around Liberty or San Felipe, while some traveled further east to find more land. By 1860, the population of the area was about 2,000. That year, the legislature decided to create two additional counties out of parts of Washington and Travis Counties.  

One of them was named Wise because Senator Henry A. Wise lived nearby. His family owned large tracts of land in the area. 

Early Settlers 

Indians inhabited the region long before Europeans ever set foot here. Several Native American tribes live in the area today, including Comanches, Kiowas, Wichitas, Tonkawas, Lipans, Kickapoos, and Apaches.  

They lived off hunting and fishing. Their primary source of food was buffalo meat. Buffalo herds roamed freely throughout the prairies. When the Spanish explorers discovered the area, they thought the Indians looked like monkeys.  

So they gave the natives names such as Cimarrons and Coahuiltecanos. Later, the Spaniards learned that the native Americans spoke languages similar to each other, so they began calling all of them Tejanos. Today, most Texans call themselves Texanos instead of Tejanos.  

The early pioneers did not come directly from Europe. Instead, they came from the United States. Most of them were German immigrants. However, there were also Englishmen, Irishmen, French-Canadians, Swiss Germans, Dutch, Swedes, and Norwegians. 

Activities By Early Settlers 

Some of the activities carried out by the earliest settlers included farming, ranching, trading, mining, lumbering, manufacturing, banking, education, politics, religion, and law enforcement. Farming was probably the most common activity.   

They grew a variety of crops on small plots of land. The soil was impoverished. It took a lot of work just to grow enough corn to feed one person. But farmers could make money if they sold surplus grain. Ranching was another prevalent occupation.   

Farmers raised cattle and horses for sale. Lumbering was important too. People needed wood to build homes, barns, fences, and bridges. Mining was primarily done for gold. Gold prospectors often dug holes in the ground, hoping to strike pay dirt. Other miners searched for coal and oil.  

Manufacturing made products such as clothing, furniture, shoes, tools, machinery, and household items. Banking provided loans to help with business ventures. Education helped children learn how to read, write and do math. Politics involved voting for candidates who represented your interests. Religion played an essential role in life. 

The Community 

The Wise community is a beehive of activities. Each day brings something different. Here you can enjoy shopping, dining, entertainment, sports, recreation, arts and culture, health care services, schools, churches, libraries, museums, parks, trails, festivals, and much more! You will never get bored in this town. 

There are over 100 businesses within the city limits. These businesses offer employment opportunities for residents.  

The community planning committees have worked hard to create a safe environment where people feel comfortable walking around night or during inclement weather. This has been accomplished through lighting improvements, street paving projects, sidewalk construction, calming traffic measures, public safety initiatives, and many other programs. 

Besides these efforts, the City Council has passed ordinances regulating parking lots, sidewalks, streets, signs, trees, landscaping, building codes, zoning regulations, etc. All of these laws protect our citizens’ property rights while ensuring their safety. 

News and information are available to the community via county websites, texts, newsletters, and newspapers. Citizens can also require information about local government operations, events, and issues that affect them. There are several ways to stay informed: 

County Offices and Roles 

County offices are critical players in providing essential services to the community. Their staff members provide vital support to elected officials, departments, and agencies throughout the county. Some examples include: 

Clerk/Treasurer’s Office – provides financial records management; maintains tax rolls and accounts payable; prepares checks and payrolls; handles all real estate transactions. The office is under Sherry Lemon. Contact her at 940-627-3351. 

Sheriff’s office – protects lives and property from crime and civil disturbances. Provides police protection, investigates crimes, arrests offenders, processes warrants, conducts court hearings, and administers bail bonds. Sheriff Lane Akin supervises this office. Contact them at 940-627-5971. 

Office of Emergency Management- provides emergency response capabilities, including fire prevention, rescue, hazardous materials cleanup, medical help, and disaster preparedness. 

Public Works Department – manages roads, utilities, drainage systems, stormwater control facilities, water supply system, and wastewater treatment plant. Also responsible for maintaining park grounds, cemetery maintenance, solid waste collection and disposal, tree trimming, snow removal, and litter pickup. The office is under Boyd. Contact them at 940-627-9332.  

The tax collector’s office is under Monte S. Shaw. Call them at 940-627-3304. 

Conclusion 

Finally, Wise County offers an excellent quality of life with friendly neighbors who welcome visitors into their homes. They invite families and friends to join them on weekends as they relax together, enjoying time spent outdoors. It’s not uncommon to see children playing outside after school until dark.  

Neighbors often greet each other by name when passing one another on the road. People here work hard but play harder. We hope you find your new home in Wise County.