Wise County, Texas

A. H. Fortenberry Alvord Lodge No. 512, A. F. & A. M. Anneville School Audubon Aurora Cemetery Babb Cemetery Ball Knob Cemetery Battle of the Knobs Bridgeport Coal Mines Bridgeport Lodge No. 587, A.F. & A.M. Brown Hotel Butterfield Overland Stage Line Captain George Stevens Cattle Trail Crossing Charles Vernon Terrell Chisholm Trail City of Alvord Colonel Absalom Bishop Cottondale Dallas, Pacific & Southeastern Railway Decatur Baptist College Decatur First United Methodist Church Deep Creek Community Dr. M. W. Matthews Dr. William Renshaw Eagle Mountain Lake MCAS Auxiliary (Rhome Field) East Mount Cemetery and School East Side Elementary School El Castile (Old Waggoner Home) Episcopal Mission of the Ascension First Baptist Church Bridgeport First Baptist Church of Chico First Baptist Church of Decatur First Christian Church of Paradise First National Bank in Rhome First National Bank of Decatur First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeport First United Methodist Church Alvord First United Methodist Church of Bridgeport Flat Rock Cemetery General Ernest O. Thompson George Lafayette Ramsdale George Lawton Bledsoe Gose Trees Greenwood Greenwood Masonic Lodge #779 Hanna-Robinson-Richey Drugstore Hopewell Baptist Church Hopewell Cemetery Huff Family Massacre Hunt, Col. William Hudson Hyde Cemetery Indian Captives Dot and Bianca Babb Keeter Cemetery Lake Bridgeport Lake Bridgeport WWII Training Site "Machine Gun" Kelley Masonic Lodge #479 Mount Zion Baptist Church and Jonestown Cemetery New Salem Freewill Baptist Church Oak Grove United Methodist Church Oak Lawn Cemetery Old Campsite of Jesse and Frank James Old Stone Prison Olive Branch Cemetery Paschall Perrin Log Cabin Pleasant Grove Cemetery #1 Pleasant Grove No. 2 Cemetery, School and Church Preskitt Cemetery R. C. Mount House Randolph (Uncle Ran) Vesey Randolph Vesey Republic of Texas' Santa Fe Expedition in Wise County Rhoads Family Cemetery Robert Calvin Mount Rush Creek Community Cemetery S. W. Tilghman House Sam Woody's Cabin Samuel G. Evetts Sand Hill Community Siddons-Barnes Log Cabin Site of Draco Site of First Post Office in Wise County, Odessa Site of Old Town Paradise Site of Wise County Poor Farm & Cemetery Slidell St. John Missionary Baptist Church St. John the Baptizer Catholic Church Teague Cemetery Texas Ranger Captain Ira Long Texas Tourist Camp Complex The Methodist Church in Chico Thurmond-Fairview Cemetery Toll Bridge & Old Bridgeport Trimble Cemetery United Methodist Church of Rhome Waggoner Cemetery Willow Point Cemetery Wise County Courthouse Wise County Messenger Wise County Reunion Wise County, C.S.A.

Allison Family Cemetery Alvord Cemetery Anneville Cemetery Annis Chapel Cemetery Arkansas Cemetery Arkansas Johnson Grave Aurora Cemetery B & D Dabney Cemetery Ball Knob Cemetery Baptist Cemetery Bethel -Rhome Bethel Cemetery #1 Bethel Cemetery #3 Blocker Cemetery Boonesville Cemetery Booth Cemetery Boyd Cemetery Briar Branch Cemetery Bridgeport Catholic Cemetery Bridgeport East Cemetery Bridgeport West Cemetery Charlie Jones Grave Chico Cemetery Chief Red Feather Grave Cottondale Cemetery Cottonwood Cemetery Crafton Cemetery Cumbey Cemetery Dawson Cemetery Deep Creek Cemetery Dunn-Comstock Cemetery East Mount Cemetery Easton Cemetery Eaton Cemetery Eternal Oaks Cemetery Flat Rock Cemetery Foster Cemetery Friendship Cemetery Garvin Cemetery Gilley Cemetery Glass Cemetery Grandview Cemetery Greenwood Cemetery Hefley Cemetery Hopewell Cemetery Howard Cemetery Hyde Cemetery Indian Creek Cemetery Isabelle Cemetery Jonestown Cemetery Keeter Cemetery Kincannan Cemetery Lake Valley Cemetery Loftis Family Cemetery Lone Star Cemetery McDaniel Cemetery McNair Cemetery Mount Cemetery New Bridgeport Cemetery Norwood Cemetery Oaklawn Cemetery #1 Oaklawn Cemetery #2 Old Cottondale Cemetery Old Friendship Cemetery Olive Branch Cemetery Opal Cemetery Owen's Pasture Cemetery Paradise Cemetery Pella Cemetery Perkins Cemetery Pleasant Grove Cemetery #1 Pleasant Grove Cemetery #2 Pleasant Grove Cemetery #3 Pleasant View Church Cemetery Pope Cemetery Prairie Point Cemetery Preskitt Cemetery Press Perkins Grave Rush Creek Community Cemetery S.J.C. Grave Possible grave of Jynthella J. Cooper Saint Clair Grave Sand Hill Cemetery Saunders Cemetery Slidell Cemetery Slimp Slimp Cemetery Sweetwater Cemetery Sycamore Cemetery Teague Cemetery Thurmond-Fairview Cemetery Trimble Cemetery Tucker Cemetery Union Hill Cemetery unknown grave (E. of Decatur, S. of Old Denton Hwy, N of Sweetwater Creek) Unknown Graves SW of Annaville Unnamed Cemetery #2 Unnamed Cemetery #3 Unnamed Cemetery #4 Valley View Cemetery Waggoner Cemetery Westbrook Cemetery Willow Point Cemetery Wilson Cemetery Wilson Praire Cemetery Woods Cemetery

Wise County is located in northern Texas and has a rich history that dates back to its establishment in 1856. The area was initially occupied by indigenous tribes such as the Kiowa and Wichita before European settlement began. The county was named after Henry A. Wise, a Governor of Virginia who supported Texas' annexation.

In the early years, Wise County was primarily used for ranching and farming due to its fertile soil and abundant water supply. The arrival of the Fort Worth and Denver Railway in the late 1800s brought increased opportunities for trade and commerce, spurring economic growth in the region.

During the Civil War, Wise County remained divided between Unionists and Confederates, leading to some conflict within the county. After the war, the discovery of coal deposits in the area led to the establishment of coal mining towns, including Newark and Rhome. These towns ushered in a new era of industrialization and attracted more settlers to the county in search of employment.

In the early 20th century, Wise County experienced a decline in coal mining due to competition from other energy sources. However, the discovery of oil in the 1920s sparked a new economic boom. Today, Wise County remains a hub for oil and gas production, contributing significantly to the local economy. It also boasts a diverse agricultural industry and has become a popular destination for outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, and hiking.
Brief timeline of the history of Wise County, Texas:

  • 1856 - Wise County is established and named after Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise.
  • 1860 - The first post office, called Taylorsville, is established in the county.
  • 1867 - The county's first courthouse is built in Decatur, the county seat.
  • 1873 - The Wise County Old Settlers Association is founded to preserve the county's history.
  • 1882 - The Wise County Messenger, the county's oldest newspaper, is established.
  • 1883 - The Fort Worth and Denver City Railway is completed, connecting Wise County to major cities.
  • 1905 - The county's second courthouse, a grand Neoclassical building, is completed.
  • 1920 - The oil boom hits Wise County, leading to increased drilling and economic growth.
  • 1927 - The county's third courthouse, a Modern Classical structure, is completed.
  • 1969 - Lake Bridgeport, a reservoir, is completed, providing water recreation opportunities.
  • 2000 - The population of Wise County reaches over 48,000 people.
  • 2015 - The Wise County Heritage Museum is established to showcase the county's history.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Wise County, Texas.