Upshur County, Texas
13 local notes for Upshur County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. East Texas / Piney Woods.
Money & Taxes
Property Tax
Where to Handle Property Tax in Upshur County
The Upshur Appraisal District in Gilmer sets property values and handles exemption applications for all taxing entities in the county.
Property Tax Exemption
Homestead Exemption Lowers Your School Tax Bill
Texas law requires school districts to give homeowners a $140,000 exemption on their main home. This can lower the school part of your property tax bill.
Property Tax
Multiple Taxing Entities Mean Multiple Tax Lines
Upshur County property owners may owe taxes to several different groups at once — the county, a school district, a city, and special districts.
Ag Exemption
Agricultural Valuation Can Cut Land Tax Bills Significantly
Land used for farming, timber, or wildlife management in Upshur County can qualify for a special lower tax value based on what the land produces, not what it would sell for.
Home & Property
Mineral Rights
Upshur County Has a Long Oil and Gas History
Oil was discovered in Upshur County in 1931, and the Railroad Commission of Texas (District 6, based in Henderson) regulates all oil and gas activity here today.
Water Supply
Many Rural Properties in Upshur County Rely on Private Wells
Homes outside city limits in Upshur County often use private water wells, which are tracked by the Texas Water Development Board.
Flood Risk
Check the FEMA Flood Map Before Buying in Upshur County
East Texas gets significant rainfall, and low-lying land near creeks and streams in Upshur County can sit in a FEMA-designated flood zone.
Outdoors
Fishing
Lake O' the Pines Offers Fishing on Upshur County's Edge
Lake O' the Pines is a 19,780-acre reservoir on Big Cypress Creek that touches Upshur County and is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Lake Access
Free Public Boat Ramps Serve Lake O' the Pines
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates free public boat ramps at Lake O' the Pines, including the Lone Star ramp open year-round.
Geography
Upshur County Sits on Two Major Drainage Divides
The northern part of Upshur County drains toward the Mississippi River, while the southern part drains to the Gulf of Mexico through the Sabine River system.
History & Culture
County History
Upshur County Was Created in 1846 and Named for a Cabinet Official
Texas established Upshur County on April 27, 1846, naming it for Abel Parker Upshur, the U.S. Secretary of State who died in a cannon accident in 1844.
Economic History
Timber, Cotton, and Oil Shaped Upshur County's Economy
Upshur County's economy moved from cotton and timber in the 1800s to oil after a 1931 discovery that helped the county survive the Great Depression.
Local Tradition
Gilmer's East Texas Yamboree Has Roots in the 1930s
The East Texas Yamboree, a fall festival centered on the sweet potato harvest, was established in Gilmer in 1935 and is one of the county's most recognized annual events.