Geography of Upshur County
Upshur County sits at roughly 32.74° N and 94.94° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 588 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Gilmer, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
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
Gilmer serves as the seat of government for Upshur County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Upshur County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Upshur County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
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.