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.

Upshur County History & Culture

By the Civil War era, ten to twelve water-powered lumber mills operated in the county. A lumber boom in the early 1900s (roughly 1907 to 1917) cleared most of the remaining virgin pine forest. Cotton also expanded rapidly — the county harvested 71,000 acres of cotton by 1920 before soil depletion and the Depression cut output sharply.

Oil was discovered in 1931. Production peaked at more than 12.3 million barrels in 1938 and provided economic relief during the Depression years. Today the county remains part of the East Texas oil and gas producing region overseen by Railroad Commission District 6.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Upshur County

More Upshur County notes

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.

Read note ->

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.

Read note ->

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.

Read note ->

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.

Read note ->