County History
Wise County Was Created in 1856 and Named for a Virginia Congressman
Wise County was officially established on January 23, 1856, named for Henry A. Wise, a U.S. Congressman from Virginia who supported Texas annexation.
The Wichita people lived in this area before Anglo settlers arrived in 1854. The Texas Legislature created Wise County in 1856. The county was named for Henry A. Wise, a Virginia congressman who helped Texas join the Union in the 1840s.
Early settlers raised cattle and sheep. The Butterfield Overland Mail — one of the first coast-to-coast mail services — passed through Decatur before the Civil War. The Fort Worth and Denver Railway came through in 1882 and helped the county grow faster.
By 1900, Wise County had more than 27,000 residents. Most of that growth came from ranching and farming.
Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Wise County