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.

Upshur County History & Culture

The East Texas Yamboree started in 1935 in Gilmer. It celebrates the sweet potato — called a yam — as a symbol of the county's farming history. The festival runs every fall and has drawn visitors from across the region for decades.

The Handbook of Texas records its 1935 start. It is one of the most recognized annual events in Upshur County.

Events and dates change from year to year. For current information, check with the City of Gilmer or local event organizers directly before you make plans to attend.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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