Wise County, Texas
Wise County: county in Texas, United States
About
Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,127 and a population density of 25 people per km². After 10 years in 2020 county had an estimated population of 71,084 inhabitants. Its county seat is Decatur. The county was created 170 years ago in 1856.
Wise County is located in north central Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 70,836 making it the 22nd most populous county in Texas. The county seat is Decatur.
History
Early days
The county was established in 1856 and named after Henry A. Wise, an officer in the Texas Revolution. The first settlers were cattle ranchers. Decatur was designated the county seat in 1857.
Late 1800s growth
The cattle industry dominated in the late 1800s. The Chisholm Trail passed through the county, facilitating cattle drives to Kansas. The population grew slowly.
Recent times
Recent growth has been due to the expanding Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Decatur's population and industries expanded.
Economy
Manufacturing
A diverse manufacturing base exists, producing aerospace components, plastics, and machinery. Major companies include Bell Helicopter and Mueller Industries.
Energy
Oil and gas production is another important industry. The Newark East field has over 400 wells. Wise County sits above the Barnett Shale natural gas reservoir.
Agriculture
Cattle ranching is still a major agricultural pursuit. Horse breeding is also significant - the county has one of the highest concentrations of horses in the U.S.
Attractions
Popular attractions include:
- North Texas Municipal Water District Prairie Wetlands project - wetlands restoration
- Fort Worth Nature Center - wildlife conservation area
- Decatur Square - historic downtown with shops and restaurants
County Snapshot
Wise County at a glance
Wise County currently has 12 quality-checked populated place pages linked on MapSof, making it easier to jump from the county overview into local city pages.
Mapped populated places
12
These counts use a stricter populated-place filter so the main lists stay focused on real city and town pages.
Texas counties
254
Open related pagesLargest city
DecaturPopulation 7,572
Top linked places
Quick Facts about Wise County
| Population | 71,084 (2020) |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Texas (United States) |
| Different from | Wise County |
| Area | 2391 km2 |
| Water as percent of area | 2% |
| Land as percent of area | 98% |
| Latitude & Longitude | 33.2159,-97.6545 |
| Named for | Henry A. Wise |
| Capital | Decatur |
| Establishment | January 23, 1856 |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone |
| Local time | 18:53:34 (15th April 2026) |
| Density | 30 Pop. per km² as of 2020 |
| Population growth | 16.82% (2010-2020) |
| Weather | 82℉ Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 7-days weather |
Geography
Wise County is located at 33°12'57"N 97°39'16"W (33.2159000, -97.6544500). It has 6 neighbors: Cooke County, Denton County, Jack County, Montague County, Parker County and Tarrant County.
Wise County map
icon to open full mode. View satellite images
The largest city of Wise County is Decatur with a population of 7,572. Other cities include, Bridgeport population 6,637, Rhome population 1,872, Runaway Bay population 1,627 and Alvord population 1,591. See all Wise County cities & populated places.
Wise County Populated Places
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Wise County.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur | 7,572 | City in Texas, USA |
| Bridgeport | 6,637 | City in Wise County, Texas, US |
| Briar | 5,665 | Census designated place |
| Rhome | 1,872 | City in Wise County, Texas, United States |
| Runaway Bay | 1,627 | City in the United States |
| Alvord | 1,591 | City in Lyon County, Iowa, United States of America |
| Aurora | 1,522 | City in Texas, USA |
| Boyd | 1,335 | City in Wise County, Texas |
| Newark | 1,251 | City in Texas, United States |
| Chico | 1,199 | City in Wise County, Texas, United States |
| Paradise | 594 | City in Wise County, Texas, United States |
| Lake Bridgeport | 405 | City in Wise County, Texas, United States |
Weather
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
7-Day ForecastOfficial website of Wise County
Official Website- Decatur
Demographics
The population of Wise County increased by 16.82% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 59,127 | - | census |
| 2011 | 59,967 | 1.4% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 60,424 | 0.76% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 61,019 | 0.98% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 61,702 | 1.11% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 62,857 | 1.84% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 64,478 | 2.51% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 65,848 | 2.08% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 68,284 | 3.57% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 69,984 | 2.43% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 71,084 | 1.55% | estimation process |
People born in Wise County (6)
People born in Wise County, including Black Liberation Army member Sundiata Acoli, baseball player and manager Jackie Reid, politician John Lee Smith, .
More notable people
- Tom Pickett (American cowboy, gambler, lawman and outlaw) he was born in 01/01/1858
- Booth Mooney (American journalist and writer) he was born in 01/01/1912
- Florence Moss Carr (American suffragist) she was born in 29/08/1876
Other places with the same name (1)
- Wise County, Virginia county in Texas, United States with a population of 37,206 people.
Texas Other Counties (more counties)
| County Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | 4,738,253 | County in Texas, United States |
| Dallas County | 2,635,888 | County in Texas, United States |
| Houston | 2,316,120 | The fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Houston metropolitan area. |
| Tarrant County | 2,123,347 | County in Texas, United States |
| Bexar County | 2,026,823 | County in Texas, United States |
| San Antonio | 1,567,118 | The seventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Antonio metropolitan area. |
| Dallas | 1,343,266 | The ninth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. |
| Travis County | 1,300,503 | County in Texas, United States |
| Collin County | 1,072,069 | County in Texas, United States |
| Austin | 995,484 | The eleventh most populous city in the United States and the center of the Austin metropolitan area. |
| Fort Worth | 927,720 | The twelfth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. |
| Denton County | 919,324 | County in Texas, United States |
| Montopolis | 912,791 | This Travis County community, situated at an elevation of 469 feet, is known for its Colorado River industrial areas. |
| Hidalgo County | 875,200 | County in New Mexico, United States |
| El Paso County | 841,286 | County in Texas, United States |
| Fort Bend County | 839,706 | County in Texas, United States |