Geography of Upshur County
Covering 588 square miles, Upshur County combines a regional trade center at Gilmer with farm and ranch land in every direction. About 44,410 people live here.
It lies in the East Texas region at about 32.74° N, 94.94° W and is one of the 25 smallest counties in Texas (231st of 254 by area). Upshur County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Tyler (about 34 miles away in a straight line) and Texarkana (about 70 miles).
East Texas is the state's forested corner — the Piney Woods, red-clay hills, lakes and river bottoms that have more in common with the Deep South than with the open West. Timber, poultry, oil and gas, and growing retirement and lake communities shape its economy.
For a broader view of how Upshur County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 44,410 residents across 588 square miles, Upshur County has a population density of about 75.5 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Gilmer
If you need an official record from Upshur County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Gilmer is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Gilmer also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Upshur County was established in 1846 and was named for Abel Parker Upshur, the fifteenth secretary of state of the United States (1843–1844). It was carved from territory previously part of Harrison County.
Upshur County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Upshur County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Upshur County, Texas located?+
Upshur County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.736° N, 94.942° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48459. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Upshur County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Upshur County in square miles?+
Upshur County covers approximately 588 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 231st out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Upshur County, Texas?+
Upshur County has a population of approximately 44,410 residents. With 588 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 75.5 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Upshur County the 78th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Upshur County?+
Gilmer is the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for Abel Parker Upshur, the fifteenth secretary of state of the United States (1843–1844). Upshur County was originally carved out of Harrison County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Upshur County are located in Gilmer.
Which Texas counties border Upshur County?+
Upshur County shares borders with Harrison, Morris, Smith, Wood, Gregg, Camp, and Marion counties. These 7 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Upshur County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Upshur County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Upshur County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Upshur County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Upshur County is 48459, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 459. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.