Wise County Texas. (original) (raw)
Texas | Counties 33� 13' 12" N, 97� 39' 0" W (33.22, -97.65)
Population: 64,455 est. (2016) 59,127 (2010)
Total area: 923 square miles (2,390 km2)
904 square miles (2,340 km2) land
18 square miles (47 km2) water
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Wise County History
The first known inhabitants of Wise County were probably Wichita Indians. When the Coronado expedition came through the area of present Decatur in 1540, there were several Indian villages between the Trinity and Red rivers. The history of white settlement in Wise County began with Sam Woody who moved to Deep Creek in 1854, and his original log cab remains as a historic site today in what is now Cooke County.
Wise County was officially established by The Texas Legislature on January 23, 1856 with land drawn mostly from Cooke County, and was named in honor of Henry A. Wise, a United States Congressman from Virginia who had supported the annexation of Texas. The location of the county seat of Wise County was selected by a county election and, although the town was originally named Taylorsville early town pioneer Colonel Absolam Bishop petitioned to change the town's name to Decatur after becoming disappointed with President Zachary Taylor. Decatur remains the seat of Wise County government to the present.
©
Sam Fenstermacher
Wise County Town List
Cities, Towns & Ghost Towns: History, attractions, landmarks, architecture, monuments, museums, cemeteries, bridges, parks, vintage & contemporary images, area destinations, hotels, and forum. County Seat - Decatur
Book Hotel Here - Decatur Hotels
Wise County Vintage Maps
Wise County 1907 postal map
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
Wise County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
Wise County 1940s map
From Texas state map #4335
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
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