Wood County, Texas

Wood County, Texas

The Wood County Courthouse in Quitman

Seal
Map of Texas highlighting Wood County
Location in the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded 1850
Seat Quitman
Largest city Mineola
Area
 • Total 696 sq mi (1,803 km2)
 • Land 645 sq mi (1,671 km2)
 • Water 50 sq mi (129 km2), 7.3%
Population
 • (2010) 41,964
 • Density 65/sq mi (25/km²)
Congressional districts 1st, 5th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.wood.tx.us

Wood County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,964.[1] Its county seat is Quitman.[2] The county was named for George T. Wood, governor of Texas from 1847 to 1849.[3]

History

The first documented European exploration of the territory that is now Wood County was by Pedro Vial,[3] who was an explorer sent on expeditions by the Spanish governor of Texas.[4] After an expedition to Santa Fe, Vial set out for Natchitoches in 1787,[4] and in 1788, passed through the territory on his way back from there to San Antonio.[3]

There is some archeological evidence to suggest the French had a trading post along Mill Race Creek near the site of the present day town of Hainsville.[5] In addition, it is believed, in addition to the trading post, that the French may have had a fortification called Fort Ledout near Black Oak in the county. Both would have been in the 1710s, but aside from archeological evidence, little is known about possible French settlements in the county.[5]

A major archeological discovery by a hunting party in 1887 southeast of Hainsville and north of Bromley resulted in the belief that indigenous peoples may have engaged in a battle among tribes or with the Spanish at some point. However, in spite of the discovery of numerous relics including a cross, tomahawk pieces, a Spanish coin, and several pieces of guns, no written evidence documents what may have occurred at the site.[6]

Although some land grants were issued in the area, settlement was sparse until after the Texas Revolution. The first white settler was Martin Varner. He settled in the area near the southeast side of the present day settlement of Hainsville by 1824.[3] The first organized settlement was at Webster in 1845.[3]

In 1850, five years after Texas was annexed to the United States, the Legislature authorized the forming of the county from Van Zandt County.[3] In 1849, residents of what was then Van Zandt County north of the Sabine River, petitioned the Legislature for the county to be reorganized. Reasons included that the majority of the population lived north of the river, and that travel to Jordan's Saline, then the county seat, was difficult in winter. Wood county was created and Van Zandt was reorganized with territory from adjacent counties.[7]

Early industry

Early industry included a number of sawmills, gritsmills, steam mills, and cotton gins. A jug factory operated north of the Big Sandy Creek in the 1850s. A second judge factory was build some years later near Holly Creek. Two brick kilns are known to have been located in the area of Winnsboro. A furniture company, Wigley Furniture Company, begain operating in Mineola in 1874. A cane and raw-hide bottom chair factory opened in 1886. Tie-cutting became a major industry in the county in the 1870s with the coming of the railroads.[8] Pine Mills, Perryville, Ogburn, Merrimac, Peach, and Fouke got their start as sawmill towns.[8]

Civil War era

Wood County had only 17 slaves by 1850, but that number ballooned ten years later to 3,963, estimated at about 20 percent of the population.[3] Wood County voted for succession by a 70 percent margin, but then sent two delegates to the Secession Convention who had opposed succession.[3]

The first company of Wood County soldiers organized for the Confederacy during the war was Company A, 10th Texas Calvary, Ector Brigade.[8] A camp called Camp Flournoy was located east of Quitman. Another group of soldiers called the Wood County Rebels was organized on August 5, 1861. They wrote to the major general of the Texas calvary requesting active service.[8]

Coming of the railroads

The Texas and Pacific Railroad came through the southern portion of the county in 1873 and formed a junction with the International and Great Northern Railroad at Sodom, which was later renamed Mineola, on a Longview to Dallas route. The railroads came to the northern portion of the county in 1876 when the East Line and Red River Railroad laid track from Jefferson to Greenville.[3] This segment later was absorbed by the Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas Railroad.[8] The Texas Shortline Railroad also ran between Alba and Grand Saline in Van Zandt County.[8]

Discovery of coal

Coal was discovered in the Alba area in sometime before 1900. The operating mines were Lignite coal mines.[8]

Discovery of oil

Oil was discovered in Wood County in 1941, and the county produced 25 million barrels of oil per year by 1948.[9] Developed oilfields in Wood County include the Pine Mills Oilfield and the Alba Oilfield.

Early schools

There were a number of so-called "subscription schools" in Wood County after 1854, when free public schools in Texas were on the rise due to legislative action. In 1852, a log school house in the western part of the county near Chaney Crossing on Lake Fork was built. By 1854, school was being taught in Quitman. By 1859, Quitman had three schools that required tuition to be paid.[8]

On January 8, 1884, the Texas legislature required the county to be divided in to free public school districts. The school districts established by the legislature were Quitman, Lone Star, Myrtle Springs, Forest Hill, Cartwright, Caney, Rock Hill, Forest Home, Winnsboro, Chalybeate Springs, Spring Hill, Smyrna, Cold Springs, Shady Grove, Center Point, Pleasant Grove, Floyd's Common Ridge, Mount Pisgah, Liberty, Sand Springs, Fletcher, Pleasant Divide, Friendship, Lone Pint, Salem, Webster, Permimmon Grove, Cottonwood, Macedonia, Concord, New Hope, Dyess, Mount Enterprise, and "Albia" (Alba). Free school districts for African Americans were established at Quitman, Cedar Tree, Robinson's Chapel, Muddy Creek, Mount Zion, Tranquil, Center, Hawkins, Shiloh and "District 48" which encompassed all of the district west of Lake Fork.[8]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 696 square miles (1,800 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 50 square miles (130 km2) (7.3%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties

National Protected Areas

Municipalities and incorporated towns

The following are municipalities and towns which are incorporated under the laws of the state of Texas, meaning they have elected governments and officially recognized municipal, town, or village governments.

Unincorporated settlements and towns

The following are towns in Wood County, Texas which are not incorporated but recognized as active settlements through community centers, churches, and similar geographic, historic, and physical landmarks.

Ghost towns and former settlements

Wood County previously had a number of settlements. In 1884, there were 35 settlements in the county at which the Texas Legislature ordered schools to be established.[8]

Ghost Towns & Former Settlements In Wood County, Texas
Lone Star Pleasant Grove Liberty Salem Webster Pleasant Divide Myrtle Springs Forest Hill Dyess Muddy Creek Ogburn Caney Black Oak
Rock Hill Floyd's Common Ridge Sand Springs Persimmon Grove Macedonia Friendship Forest Home Chalybeate Springs Cedar Tree Mount Zion Merrimac Spring Hill Coldwater
Smyrna Mount Pisgah Fletcher Cottonwood Concord Lone Pint Cold Springs Shady Grove Robinson's Chapel Tranquil Peach Center Point

Transportation

Wood County includes the intersection of two major U.S. Highways, U.S. Highways 69 and 80 intersect in the city of Mineola's downtown area. Texas Highway 37 connects Mineola and Quitman off of US 69.

Major highways

Farm to market roads

Wood County includes all or part of the following Texas Farm To Market Roads:

Railroads

Wood County is currently served by Amtrack's Texas Eagle passenger railway line.[11][12] The railroad tracks which run through the southern portion of Wood County and through Mineola are currently owned and operated by Union Pacific.[13]

Airports

Wood County is served by three airports located in Mineola, Quitman, and Winnsboro.

Mineola Wisner Field: The Airport identifier for this airport is 3F9.[14] This airport was established in 1917. It has been operated by the same family owners since 1926.[15] It is also known as the Mineola Airport and Wisner Field.

Wood County Airport (Mineola/Quitman Airport): This airport is a public airport owned by Wood County.[16]

Winnsboro Municipal Airport: This airport is located south of the city of Winnsboro and is a municipally owned airport facility.[17]

Media

Wood County is in the Tyler-Longview Media Market. It is currently served by two local newspapers, and daily newspapers and television stations from other parts of the East Texas area.

Newspapers

Wood County currently has only two newspapers published within its borders. The Wood County Monitor and the Winnsboro News both serve Wood County, although the Winnsboro News also served Franklin County, as Winnsboro is split between the two counties.

Wood County Monitor

In August 2016, two of the county's longstanding newspaper operations, the Mineola Monitor and the Wood County Democrat, were merged by their owner, Bluebonnet Publishing.[18] Prior to that, the Mineola Monitor operated under its own masthead in Mineola, and the Wood County Democrat operated under its own masthead in Quitman. Staffing at the newspapers did not change, and the staffs of both newspapers were merged.[18]

Winnsboro News

Serving Winnsboro, the Winnsboro News is a weekly newspaper with no website. In August, 2003, the newspaper gained notoriety for publishing an editorial by publisher tom Pendergast outing a gay couple living in the city.[19]

Radio Stations

Wood County is served by two local radio stations.

KWNS

KWNS is a Southern Gospel radio station located in Winnsboro, Texas.[20] It broadcasts at 104.7 FM.[20]

KMOO

KMOO is a radio station located in Mineola, Texas, broadcasting at 99.9 FM. The country music station is currently owned by Hightower Radio. The station was formerly operated by Sam Curry, its founder, who founded the station in 1963.[21] Under Curry's tenure, the station was referred to by its ownership and on air personalities as, "K M Double O," and on air personalities were not allowed to call the station "KMOO," with the last three letters pronounced in a manner similar to a noise made by cattle. Curry sold the station in 1995 when he planned to embark on a race for Wood County Judge as a Democrat, a race he ultimately lost.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18604,968—
18706,89438.8%
188011,21262.6%
189013,93224.3%
190021,04851.1%
191023,41711.3%
192027,70718.3%
193024,183−12.7%
194024,3600.7%
195021,308−12.5%
196017,653−17.2%
197018,5895.3%
198024,69732.9%
199029,38019.0%
200036,75225.1%
201041,96414.2%
Est. 201543,356[22]3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[23]
1850–2010[24] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 36,752 people, 14,583 households, and 10,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 17,939 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.11% White, 6.12% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.91% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 5.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,583 households out of which 26.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county, the population was spread out with 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 22.90% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 20.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,885, and the median income for a family was $38,219. Males had a median income of $30,558 versus $20,209 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,702. About 10.80% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 10.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Wood County is represented in the Texas House of Representatives by the Republican Bryan Hughes, a lawyer in Mineola and a native of Wood County. The county is split between two different U.S. Congressional Districts, the First Congressional District of Texas and the Fifth Congressional District of Texas. Thus, the county is represented by Congressman Louie Gohmert and Congressman Jeb Hensarling.The county is currently represented in the Texas Senate by Kevin Eltife.[26]

The current County Judge, Bryan Jeans,[27] was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2016.[28] As County Judge, Jeans is both the county's chief administrator and judge of the county court at law, which handles misdemeanor cases.

Historic Election Results

In spite of an increasing number of voters in every U.S. Presidential election since 1992, the percent of registered Wood County voters turning out to vote in presidential elections has fallen approximately ten percent between 1992 and 2012.

1992 General Election, Presidential Race

... Bill Clinton/ George Bush/ Andre Marrou/ Ross Perot/ Howard Phillips/ Quinn Brisben/ James Bo Gritz/ Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr./ James Wellington Wright/ Lenora B. Fulani/ John S. Hagelin/ ...
Al Gore Dan Quayle Nancy Lord James Stockdale Albion W. Knight Barbara Garson C.W. 'Cy' Minett James L. Bevel Levi M. Cunningham Maria Munoz Mike Tompkins Total Total ...
County DEM REP LIB IND W-I† W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I Votes Voters TurnOut
WOOD 4,084 4,708 19 3,494 2 1 0 9 1 0 0 12,318 16,378 75.21%[29]

1996 General Election, Presidential Race

... Bob Dole Bill Clinton Harry Browne John Hagelin Howard Phillips Ross Perot Ralph Nader Mary Cal Hollis ...
/Jack Kemp /Al Gore /Jo Jorgensen /Mike Tompkins /Herbert W. Titus /James Campbell /Winona LaDuke /Eric Chester Total Total ...
County REP DEM LIB NLP‡ UST৳ IND₮ W-I W-I Votes Voters TurnOut
WOOD 6,228 4,711 22 4 8 1,184 0 4 12,161 18,548 65.57%[30]

2000 General Election, Presidential Race

... George W. Bush Al Gore Harry Browne Ralph Nader Pat Buchanan Howard Phillips James "Jim" Wright David McReynolds ...
/Dick Cheney /Joe Lieberman /Art Olivier /Winona LaDuke /Ezola Foster /J. Curtis Frazier /Leonard L. Foster /Mary Cal Hollis Total Total ...
County REP DEM LIB₩ GRN¥ IND W-I W-I W-I Votes Voters TurnOut
WOOD 9,810 3,893 35 128 18 0 0 0 13,884 20,984 66.16%[30]

2004 General Election, Presidential Race

... George W. Bush/ John F. Kerry/ Michael Badnarik/ Michael Anthony Peroutka/ John Joseph Kennedy/ Deborah Elaine Allen/ Andrew J. Falk/ Walt Brown/ David Keith Cobb/ Ralph Nader/ ...
Dick Cheney John Edwards Richard V. Campagna Chuck Baldwin Daniel R. Rezac Joseph H. Senegals Marijohn Peterman Mary Alice Herbert Patricia LaMarche Peter Miguel Camejo Total Total ...
County REP DEM LIB W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I Votes Voters TurnOut
WOOD 12,831 4,034 54 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 16,929 24,446 69.25%[30]

2008 General Election, Presidential Race

... John McCain/ Barack Obama/ Bob Barr/ Chuck Baldwin/ Thaddaus Hill/ Jonathan Allen/ Alan Keyes/ Ralph Nader/ Cynthia McKinney/ Brian Moore/ ...
Sarah Palin Joe Biden Wayne A. Root Darrell L. Castle Gordon F. Bailey Jeffrey D. Stath Marvin Sprouse, Jr. Matt Gonzalez Rosa Clemente Stewart A. Alexander Total Total ...
County REP DEM LIB W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I Votes Voters TurnOut
WOOD 13,658 4,010 92 13 0 0 2 9 0 0 17,784 27,030 65.79%[30]

2012 General Election, Presidential Race

... Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan Barack Obama/Joe Biden Gary Johnson/Jim Gray Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala Avery Ayers/Alejandrina Cabrera Stewart Alexander/Alex Mendoza Thaddaus Hill/Gordon F. Bailey Virgil Goode/Jim Clymer Tom Hoefling/Jonathan D. Ellis Andre N. Barnett/Kenneth R. Cross Rocky Anderson/Louis J. Rodriguez
Total Total
County REP DEM LIB GRN W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I W-I Votes Voters TurnOut
WOOD 14,351 3,056 139 33 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 17,581 27,438 64.08%[30]
Footnotes For Electoral Tables
† W-I signifies a "write-in" candidate. ‡ NLP Signifies "Natural Law Party." ৳ UST Signifies "U.S. Taxpayer Party." ₮ IND Signifies "Independent."
₩ LIB signifies "Libertarian Party." ¥ GRN Signifies "Green Party.

Education

Primary, Elementary, and Secondary Public Education

Portions of the county are served by 11 separate independent school districts, serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade: Alba-Golden ISD, Big Sandy ISD, Como-Pickton ISD, Harmony ISD, Hawkins ISD, Mineola ISD, Pittsburg ISD, Quitman ISD, Union Hill ISD, Winnsboro ISD, and Yantis ISD.

Colleges & Universities

Jarvis Christian College is located in unincorporated Wood County, near Hawkins.

Historic & Natural Preservation Sites and Specially Designated Landmarks, Districts, and Businesses

Wood County is home to a number of historic and natural preservation sites, Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks, special districts, and cities and businesses with special designations from various national and state bodies.

Historic Sites

See Also State and Nationally Designated Historic Sites and Buildings in Wood County, Texas

Birthplace of Ima Hogg

Callaway House

Carlock Home

Central Christian Church of Winnsboro

Col. James A. Stinson Home

Collins-Haines House

Corbitt Home

Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant

Flora Lodge, No. 119

George W. Haines Site

Howle Site

Old Settler's Reunion Grounds

Jarvis Christian College

Lankford-Stinson House

National Register Listings

See National Register of Historic Places in Wood County, Texas

Landmark Districts

Mineola Downtown Historic District

Main Street Cities[31]

Mineola

Winnsboro

Museums

Mineola History Museum

Institutions and Businesses With Special State Designations

Texas Business Treasure Award Recipients (Texas Historical Commission Designation)

Broadway Barber Shop (Mineola)

Wisener Field (Mineola)

First National Bank of Winnsboro

R.H. McCrary Hardware (Winnsboro)[32]

Communities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 David W. Gilbreath (June 15, 2010). "WOOD COUNTY". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 E., CHIPMAN, DONALD (2010-06-15). "VIAL, PEDRO [PIERRE]". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  5. 1 2 "Wood County History". hlrgazette.com. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  6. ↑ "Relics of Possible Indian Battle in Wood County, Texas on JSTOR". JSTOR 30237608.
  7. ↑ "History of Van Zandt County Texas". vanzandttx.org. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wood County, 1850-1900. Quitman, Texas: Wood County Historical Society. 1976. pp. 7, 8, 19, 20, 32–33, 36.
  9. ↑ "The Handbook of Texas Online | Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  10. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Texas Rail Passenger Map" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 11/3/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  12. ↑ "Amtrak's Texas Eagle | Mineola, TX". www.texaseagle.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  13. ↑ "Texas 2016 Freight Railway Map" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 11/3/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  14. ↑ "Texas Airport Directory" (PDF). Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 11/3/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  15. ↑ "MINEOLA-WISENER FIELD AIRPORT". www.mineolawisener.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  16. ↑ "AirportIQ 5010". www.gcr1.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  17. ↑ "AirNav: F51 - Winnsboro Municipal Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved 2016-11-04.
  18. 1 2 "Newspaper Merger". Wood County Monitor. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  19. ↑ Grimes, Andrea (2005-10-06). "Over the Edge". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  20. 1 2 "KWNS". Streema. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  21. ↑ Jones, Lucille (1973). History of Mineola, Texas: "Gateway to the Pines". Quanah, Texas: Nortex Offset Publications, Inc. p. 125 – via University of North Texas Portal to Texas History.
  22. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  23. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  25. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  26. ↑ "Who Represents Me--Districts By County". www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  27. ↑ "Wood County Judge". Wood County, Texas Website. Wood County, Texas. Retrieved 11/25/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  28. ↑ Staff, KLTV Digital Media. "Wood County judge pleads guilty to driving while intoxicated". Retrieved 2016-11-25.
  29. ↑ "Texas Secretary of State Historic Election Results, 1992-current". http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/. Secretary of State of the State of Texas. Retrieved 11/8/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help); External link in |website= (help)
  30. 1 2 3 4 5 "HISTORICAL ELECTIONS - OFFICIAL RESULTS". elections.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  31. ↑ "Texas Main Street Communities". www.google.com. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  32. ↑ "Texas Treasure Businesses" (PDF). Texas Historical Commission. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved 11/26/2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  33. ↑ "McDonald, William Jesse". tshaonline.org. Retrieved March 9, 2010.
 Hopkins County Franklin County and Camp County
Rains County Upshur County
   Wood County, Texas  
Van Zandt County Smith County
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Coordinates: 32°47′N 95°23′W / 32.78°N 95.38°W / 32.78; -95.38

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