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Texas
| Counties
WISE
COUNTY, TEXAS
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
by Sam
Fenstermacher
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
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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
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 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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