Editing Wood County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Wood County
 | state                = Texas
 | seal                 = Wood County tx seal.jpg
 | founded              = 1850
 | seat wl              = Quitman
 | largest city wl      = Mineola
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 695.719
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 645.234
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 50.484
 | area percentage      = 7.3
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 44843
 | pop_est_as_of        =
 | population_est       =
 | population_footnotes =
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Wood courthouse tx 2010.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Wood County Courthouse in Quitman
 | web                  = www.mywoodcounty.com/
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 5th
 | named for            = [[George Tyler Wood]]
}}

'''Wood County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 44,843.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wood County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48499|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Quitman, Texas|Quitman]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named for [[George T. Wood]], [[governor of Texas]] from 1847 to 1849.<ref name=TSHA>{{Handbook of Texas | id=hcw15| name=Wood County| last1=Gilbreath | first1=David W.| date=June 15, 2010| retrieved=2020-11-19}}</ref>

==History==
The first documented European exploration of what is now Wood County took place in the late 18th century, when [[Pedro Vial]],<ref name="TSHA" /> was sent on expeditions by the Spanish governor of Texas.<ref name="tshaonline.org">{{Cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fvi01|title=Vial, Pedro, [Pierre]|last=E.|first=Chipman, Donald |date=June 15, 2010|website=tshaonline.org|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> After marching all the way to Santa Fe in 1787, he headed east to Natchitoches.<ref name="tshaonline.org"/> The following year, he passed through today's Wood County on his way back to San Antonio.<ref name="TSHA"/> Some archeological evidence suggests that a French trading post stood along Mill Race Creek in the early 1700s near the site of the modern town of Hainsville.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://hlrgazette.com/wchistory021409.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031085611/http://hlrgazette.com/wchistory021409.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 31, 2016|title=Wood County History|website=hlrgazette.com|access-date=October 31, 2016}}</ref> The French may have build a military post called [[Fort Ledout]] near Black Oak in Wood County, but other than the archeological evidence, little is known about any possible French settlements.<ref name=":0"/>

An important archeological discovery made by a hunting party in 1887, southeast of Hainsville and north of Bromley, suggests that Native Americans may have engaged in a battle either between different tribes or with the Spanish. Despite finding many relics, including a cross, tomahawk pieces, a Spanish coin, and several broken muskets, no written record of any such encounter has been found.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/30237608|title=Relics of Possible Indian Battle in Wood County, Texas|author=Woldert, Albert|year=1952|journal=The Southwestern Historical Quarterly|volume=55|issue=4|pages=484–489|jstor=30237608}}</ref> Some Spanish and Mexican land grants were issued in the area, but settlement was sparse until after the Texas Revolution. The first White settler was Martin Varner. He built his home near the southeast side of what is now Hainsville at least by 1824. The first organized settlement was at Webster in 1845.<ref name="TSHA"/>

In 1850, after Texas was annexed to the United States, the Legislature authorized the forming of the county from Van Zandt County.<ref name="TSHA"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vanzandttx.org/History.htm|title=History of Van Zandt County Texas|website=vanzandttx.org|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>

===Early industry===
Early industry included a number of sawmills, gristmills, steam mills, and cotton gins. A jug factory operated north of the Big Sandy Creek in the 1850s. A second jug factory was built some years later near Holly Creek. Two brick kilns are known to have been located in the area of Winnsboro. Wigley Furniture Company began operating in Mineola in 1874. A cane and rawhide-bottom chair factory opened in 1886. Tie-cutting became a major industry in the county in the 1870s with the coming of the railroads.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91051/m1/15/|title=Wood County, 1850–1900|publisher=Wood County Historical Society|year=1976|location=Quitman, Texas|pages=7, 8, 19, 20, 32–33, 36}}</ref> Pine Mills, Perryville, Ogburn, Merrimac, Peach, and Fouke got their start as sawmill towns.<ref name=":1" />

=== Civil War era ===
Wood County had only 17 slaves by 1850, but that number ballooned 10 years later to 923, estimated at 20% of the population.<ref name="TSHA" /> Wood County voted for secession by a 70% majority. The two delegates to the Secession Convention, though, both opposed secession.<ref name="TSHA" />

The first soldiers raised for the Confederacy in Wood County were Company A, 10th Texas Cavalry Regiment.<ref name=":1" /> A training ground called Camp Flournoy was established east of Quitman. Another company called the Wood County Rebels was formed on August 5, 1861. They then requested active duty as cavalry.<ref name=":1" />

=== 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.<ref name="TSHA" /> This segment later was absorbed by the Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas Railroad.<ref name=":1" /> The Texas Shortline Railroad also ran between Alba and Grand Saline in Van Zandt County.<ref name=":1" />

=== Discovery of coal ===
Coal was discovered in the Alba area in sometime before 1900. The operating mines were for lignite coal.<ref name=":1" />

=== Discovery of oil ===
Oil was discovered in Wood County in 1941, and the county produced {{convert|25|e6oilbbl|e6m3|abbr=off}} of oil per year by 1948.<ref name=TSHA /> Developed oilfields in Wood County include the [[Pine Mills Oilfield]] and the Alba Oilfield.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1801.903|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|1671.149|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|130.754|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}} (7.3%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Hopkins County, Texas|Hopkins County]] (north)
* [[Franklin County, Texas|Franklin County]] (northeast)
* [[Camp County, Texas|Camp County]] (northeast)
* [[Upshur County, Texas|Upshur County]] (east)
* [[Smith County, Texas|Smith County]] (south)
* [[Van Zandt County, Texas|Van Zandt County]] (southwest)
* [[Rains County, Texas|Rains County]] (west)

===National protected areas===
* [[Little Sandy National Wildlife Refuge]]

==Communities==
=== 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.
* [[Alba, Texas|Alba]]
* [[Hawkins, Texas|Hawkins]]
* [[Mineola, Texas|Mineola]]
* [[Quitman, Texas|Quitman]]
* [[Winnsboro, Texas|Winnsboro]]
* [[Yantis, Texas|Yantis]]

=== Census-designated place ===

* [[Holly Lake Ranch, Texas|Holly Lake Ranch]]

=== 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.

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Cartwright, Texas|Cartwright]]
* [[Coke, Texas|Coke]]
* [[Crow, Texas|Crow]]
* [[East Point, Texas|East Point]]
* [[Forest Hill, Wood County, Texas|Forest Hill]]
* [[Fouke, Texas|Fouke]]
* [[Golden, Texas|Golden]]
* [[Hainesville, Texas|Hainesville]]
* [[Hoard, Texas|Hoard]]
* [[Little Hope, Texas|Little Hope]]
* [[New Hope, Wood County, Texas|New Hope]]
* [[Oak Grove, Wood County, Texas|Oak Grove]]
* [[Ogburn, Texas|Ogburn]]
* [[Perryville, Wood County, Texas|Perryville]]
* [[Pine Mills, Texas|Pine Mills]]
* [[Pineview, Texas|Pineview]]
* [[Pleasant Grove, Wood County, Texas|Pleasant Grove]]
* [[Stout, Texas|Stout]]
{{div col end}}

=== Small communities, 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.<ref name=":1" />

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Calvary, Texas|Calvary]]
* [[Coldwater, Wood County, Texas|Coldwater]]
* [[Gilbreth, Texas|Gilbreth]]
* [[Gunter, Wood County, Texas|Gunter]]
* [[Salem, Wood County, Texas|Salem]]
* [[Webster, Wood County, Texas|Webster]]
* [[Westbrook, Wood County, Texas|Westbrook]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 4968
| 1870 = 6894
| 1880 = 11212
| 1890 = 13932
| 1900 = 21048
| 1910 = 23417
| 1920 = 27707
| 1930 = 24183
| 1940 = 24360
| 1950 = 21308
| 1960 = 17653
| 1970 = 18589
| 1980 = 24697
| 1990 = 29380
| 2000 = 36752
| 2010 = 41964
| 2020 = 44843
| estyear =
| estimate =
| estref =
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Wood County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wood County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48499&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name="2010CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wood County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48499&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name="2020CensusP2">{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wood County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48499&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|31,848
|35,628
|style='background: #ffffe6; |35,906
|86.66%
|84.90%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |80.07%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,243
|1,951
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,658
|6.10%
|4.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.70%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|167
|198
|style='background: #ffffe6; |227
|0.45%
|0.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|69
|156
|style='background: #ffffe6; |230
|0.19%
|0.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|8
|12
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.02%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|19
|8
|style='background: #ffffe6; |138
|0.05%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|296
|460
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,789
|0.81%
|1.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.99%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|2,102
|3,551
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,894
|5.72%
|8.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10.91%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''36,752'''
|'''41,964'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''44,843'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 36,752 people, 14,583 households, and 10,645 families were residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|56|PD/sqmi}}. The 17,939 housing units averaged {{convert|28|/sqmi|abbr=on}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 89.11% White, 6.12% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 2.93% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. About 5.72% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 14,583 households, 26.70% had children under 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 not families. About 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42, and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county, the age distribution was 21.80% under 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 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 {{US$|32885}}, and for a family was {{US$|38219}}. Males had a median income of {{US$|30558}} versus {{US$|20209}} for females. The per capita income for the county was {{US$|17702}}. 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.

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

=== Major highways ===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[File:US 69.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 69 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 69]]
* [[File:US 80.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 80 (Texas)|U.S. Highway 80]]
* [[File:Texas 11.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 11|State Highway 11]]
* [[File:Texas 37.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 37|State Highway 37]]
* [[File:Texas 154.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 154|State Highway 154]]
* [[File:Texas 182.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 182|State Highway 182]]
{{div col end}}

=== Farm to market roads ===
Wood County includes all or part of these Texas Farm To Market roads:

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[File:Texas FM 14.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 14|FM 14]]
* [[File:Texas FM 17.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 17|FM 17]]
* [[File:Texas FM 49.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 49|FM 49]]
* [[File:Texas FM 69.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 69|FM 69]]
* [[File:Texas FM 115.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 115|FM 115]]
* [[File:Texas FM 288.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 288|FM 288]]
* [[File:Texas FM 312.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 312|FM 312]]
* [[File:Texas FM 514.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 514|FM 514]]
* [[File:Texas FM 515.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 515|FM 515]]
* [[File:Texas FM 778.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 778|FM 778]]
* [[File:Texas FM 779.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 779|FM 779]]
* [[File:Texas FM 852.svg|20px]]  [[Farm to Market Road 852|FM 852]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1254.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1254|FM 1254]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1483.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1483|FM 1483]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1643.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1643|FM 1643]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1647.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1647|FM 1647]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1795.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1795|FM 1795]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1799.svg|20px]]  [[Farm to Market Road 1799|FM 1799]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1801.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1801|FM 1801]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1804.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1804|FM 1804]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2088.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2088|FM 2088]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2225.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2225|FM 2225]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2422.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2422|FM 2422]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2455.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2455|FM 2455]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2659.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2659|FM 2659]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2869.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2869|FM 2869]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2911.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2911|FM 2911]]
* [[File:Texas FM 2966.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 2966|FM 2966]]
* [[File:Texas FM 3056.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 3056|FM 3056]]
{{div col end}}

===Railroads===
Wood County is currently served by [[Amtrak]]'s [[Texas Eagle]] passenger railway line.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.texaseagle.com/stations/MIN.htm|title=Amtrak's Texas Eagle {{!}} Mineola, TX|website=www.texaseagle.com|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref> The railroad tracks which run through the southern portion of Wood County and through Mineola are currently owned and operated by Union Pacific.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/tpp/maps/2016-railroad.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/tpp/maps/2016-railroad.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas 2016 Freight Railway Map|website=ftp.dot.state.tx.us|publisher=Texas Department of Transportation|access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref>

===Airports===
Wood County is served by three airports, located in [[Mineola, Texas|Mineola]], [[Quitman, Texas|Quitman]], and [[Winnsboro, Texas|Winnsboro]]:
* [[Mineola Airport|Mineola Wisner Field]] is identified as 3F9.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/3f9.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/3f9.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Airport Directory|website=ftp.dot.state.tx.us|publisher=Texas Department of Transportation|access-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref> This airport was established in 1917, and has been operated by the same family owners since 1926.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mineolawisener.com|title=Mineola–Wisener Field Airport |website=mineolawisener.com|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref><!-- not needed It is also known as the Mineola Airport and Wisner Field. -->
* [[Wood County Airport (Texas)|Wood County Airport (Mineola/Quitman Airport)]] is a public airport owned by Wood County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=JDD|title=AirportIQ 5010|website=gcr1.com|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Winnsboro Airport (Texas)|Winnsboro Municipal Airport]] is located south of the city of Winnsboro and is a municipally owned airport facility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.airnav.com/airport/f51|title=AirNav: F51 - Winnsboro Municipal Airport|website=www.airnav.com|access-date=November 4, 2016}}</ref>

== 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 has five newspapers published within its borders: ''Wood County Now, Wood County Monitor, Winnsboro News, Yantis Tymes'', and ''The Community Chronicle''. The ''Winnsboro News'' also serves 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.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://woodcountymonitor.com/stories/newspaper-merger,99659|title=Newspaper Merger|newspaper=Wood County Monitor|access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref>  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.<ref name=":3" />

;''Winnsboro News''
''[[Winnsboro News|The Winnsboro News]]'', founded in {{start date|1908}},<ref name="Wayback_TPA">{{Cite web | url = http://texaspress.com/custom_pages/newspapers1/detail.php?paper_id=685 | title = Display Newspaper Details | website = Texas Press Association | access-date= March 5, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161126003151/http://texaspress.com/custom_pages/newspapers1/detail.php?paper_id=685 | archive-date = November 26, 2016 | url-status=dead | df = dmy-all}}</ref> is a weekly newspaper in Winnsboro, serving Wood and [[Franklin County, Texas|Franklin Counties]]. In August 2003, the newspaper gained notoriety for publishing an editorial by publisher Tom Pendergast outing an LGBTQ couple living in the city.<ref name="OverTheEdge">{{cite magazine | last1 = Grimes | first1 = Andrea | author-link1 = | title = Over the Edge | url = https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/over-the-edge-6380731 | date = October 6, 2005 | url-status = live | magazine = [[Dallas Observer]] | language = en-us |  publisher = [[Voice Media Group]] | issn = 0732-0299 | oclc = 7095491 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171227135633/https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/over-the-edge-6380731 | archive-date = December 27, 2017 | access-date = July 23, 2021 | quote = Tom Pendergast, the editor and publisher of the local newspaper with a penchant for picking public fights. On August 21, 2003, Pendergast published a scathing editorial in the Winnsboro News titled 'About Fully Informing the Citizens.' The 500-word article condemned the couple's homosexual lifestyle as 'despicable' and 'disgusting'. It would change everything for Bear and Carmichael, even Winnsboro itself; the days of peaceful coexistence were past. | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="ConsumerAffairs">{{cite news | last1 = Hood | first1 = James R. | date = November 2, 2006 | title = Newspaper 'Outing' Blamed for Innkeeper's Death – Gay innkeeper's friends say local paper was merciless | url = https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/newspaper_outing.html | url-status = live | work = [[ConsumerAffairs]] | language = en-us | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011160633/https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/newspaper_outing.html | archive-date = October 11, 2007 | access-date = July 23, 2021 | quote = Pendergast said he feels no responsibility for Bear's death... | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

;''Wood County Now''
In 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, a free news source available by social media and online was established. Owner Amanda Duncan originally created the social-media accounts to keep residents informed of the pandemic and rising case numbers, and to help showcase small businesses that were financially struggling. Within eight months, the news outlet grew to be the largest social-media and online news source in Wood County.

=== Radio stations ===
Wood County is served by two local radio stations.

;KWNS
[[KWNS]] is a Southern Gospel radio station located in Winnsboro.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://streema.com/radios/KWNS|title=KWNS|website=Streema|access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref> It broadcasts at 104.7 FM.<ref name=":4" />

;KMOO
[[KMOO-FM|KMOO]] is located in Mineola, 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 it in 1963.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth130180/m1/135/|title=History of Mineola, Texas: 'Gateway to the Pines'|last=Jones|first=Lucille|publisher=Nortex Offset Publications, Inc.|year=1973|location=Quanah, Texas|pages=125|via=University of North Texas Portal to Texas History}}</ref>  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.

==Government==
Wood County is represented in the [[Texas House of Representatives]] by the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Bryan Hughes (Texas politician)|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 and the Fifth Congressional Districts. Thus, the county is represented by Congressman [[Nathaniel Moran]] and Congressman [[Lance Gooden]]. The county is currently represented in the Texas Senate by [[Kevin Eltife]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/County.aspx?CountyCode=499&CountyName=Wood|title=Who Represents Me – Districts By County|website=www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us|access-date=November 25, 2016}}</ref>

The current county judge is Lucy Hebron, elected in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mywoodcounty.com/default.aspx?name=countyjudge|title=Wood County Texas|website=www.mywoodcounty.com}}</ref> As county judge, Hebron is both the county's chief administrator and judge of the constitutional county court, which handles misdemeanor cases.

In 2017, former Sheriff Jim Brown and former Chief Deputy Miles Tucker were arrested for various offenses stemming from a shooting incident over access to an oilfield lease.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tucker | first1=Larry |title=Former sheriff, chief deputy arrested|url=http://woodcountymonitor.com/stories/former-sheriff-chief-deputy-arrested,118218|work=[[Wood County Monitor]] | oclc = 1097161696 | date = November 8, 2017 | access-date = July 22, 2021 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171113114004/http://woodcountymonitor.com/stories/former-sheriff-chief-deputy-arrested,118218 | archive-date = November 13, 2017 | quote= Brown was indicted on two misdemeanor counts of official oppression with bonds issued for $1,500 on each count. The former sheriff was also indicted on a state felony charge of abuse of official capacity over $2,500 and under $30,000 with a $20,000 bond. The indictment claims "Wood County Sheriff, did with intent to harm another, John Winston Forrester, did unlawfully then and there intentionally and knowingly misuse government property, services, personnel and any other thing of value belonging to the government that had come into custody and possession of James Brown by virtue of James Brown's office and employment, by using the services of Officer Dustin Moffett and a Wood County Sheriff's vehicle to obstruct and prevent access by John Winston Forrester to a tract of property owned by James Brown, and the value of the use of the services and vehicle misused was $2,500 or more but less than $30,000." Tucker had more indictments added to those from two months ago when he was arrested on two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of official oppression. At that time he had bonds of $50,000 each on the tampering charges and $1,500 on the official oppression. Tucker faces a new charge of aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony and two new charges of class A official oppression, following indictments filed on Oct. 25. He further has a state felony charge of abuse of official capacity which had a $15,000 bond. Tucker turned himself in Wednesday. He allegedly broke several laws to arrest a person who had cut a lock to gain access to a well in which he had the rights to, then tried to cover up evidence afterward. | df = dmy-all}}</ref> Two of the felony charges were dismissed, however {{as of|2020|01|lc=y|post=,}} four misdemeanor charges remain pending.<ref>{{cite news | last1 = Bass | first1 = Gary | date = January 7, 2020 | title = Judge dismisses abuse of official capacity charges against former Wood County sheriff | url = https://www.kltv.com/2020/01/07/judge-dismisses-abuse-official-capacity-charges-against-former-wood-county-sheriff/ | url-status = live | work = [[KLTV]] | language = en-us | location = [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]], [[Texas]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200108021419/https://www.kltv.com/2020/01/07/judge-dismisses-abuse-official-capacity-charges-against-former-wood-county-sheriff/ | archive-date = January 8, 2020 | access-date = July 26, 2021 | quote = A district judge has dismissed two felony abuse of official capacity charges that were filed against former Wood County Sheriff James "Jim" Arthur Brown in connection with a shooting incident that occurred adjacent to his property in November 2015. However, four misdemeanor official oppression charges filed against Brown are still pending, according to online judicial records. | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Historic election results ===
In spite of an increasing number of voters in every U.S. presidential election since 1992, the percentage of registered Wood County voters turning out to vote in presidential elections has fallen about 10% between 1992 and 2012.

{{PresHead|place=Wood County, Texas|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 9, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|20,621|3,618|147|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|19,049|3,509|221|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|15,700|2,630|397|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|14,351|3,056|174|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,658|4,010|116|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,831|4,034|64|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,810|3,893|181|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,228|4,711|1,222|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,708|4,084|3,526|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6,216|4,553|597|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7,144|3,449|19|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,515|4,033|123|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,076|4,107|43|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,746|1,842|70|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,046|2,192|2,021|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,068|3,528|10|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,400|2,633|79|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,508|2,199|15|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,748|3,026|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|629|2,590|666|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|485|3,045|511|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|585|3,659|5|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|192|2,751|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|189|3,308|19|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,161|1,645|0|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|342|2,806|132|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|798|1,643|719|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|248|1,719|428|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|146|1,441|438|Texas}}

=== Elections mapped by Precinct ===
[[File:Wood County, Texas 2024 Republican Primary.png|thumb|206x206px|2024 Primary Results. All precincts were won by Donald Trump. The numbers denote total percentage of the votes awarded to Trump, not margin of victory.]]

==== 2024 ====
Republican: [[Donald Trump]] won every precinct with total percentages of over 80%. [[Nikki Haley]] came in second in every precinct.

For more election results in Wood County, [[commons:Category:Elections in Wood County, Texas (set)|see this group of maps]].
{{clear}}

==Education==
=== 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 schoolhouse 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.<ref name=":1" />

On January 8, 1884, the Texas legislature required the county to be divided into 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, Persimmon 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.<ref name=":1" />

=== School districts ===
Portions of the county are served by 11 separate independent school districts, serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade:
* [[Alba-Golden Independent School District|Alba-Golden ISD]] (small portion in Rains County)
* [[Big Sandy Independent School District (Upshur County, Texas)|Big Sandy ISD]] (mostly Upshur County, small portion in Wood County)
* [[Como-Pickton Consolidated Independent School District|Como-Pickton CISD]] (mostly Hopkins County, small portion in Wood County)
* [[Harmony Independent School District|Harmony ISD]] (mostly Upshur County, small portion in Wood County)
* [[Hawkins Independent School District|Hawkins ISD]]
* [[Mineola Independent School District|Mineola ISD]]
* [[Pittsburg Independent School District|Pittsburg ISD]] (mostly Camp County, small portion in Wood County)
* [[Quitman Independent School District|Quitman ISD]]
* [[Union Hill Independent School District|Union Hill ISD]] (mostly Upshur County, small portion in Wood County)
* [[Winnsboro Independent School District|Winnsboro ISD]] (small portions in Franklin and Hopkins counties)
* [[Yantis Independent School District|Yantis ISD]] (small portion in Hopkins County)

=== Colleges and universities ===
[[Jarvis Christian College]] is located in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] Wood County, near [[Hawkins, Texas|Hawkins]].

== Culture ==
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 ===
{{Main|State and Nationally Designated Historic Sites and Buildings in Wood County, Texas}}

==== National Register listings ====
See [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wood County, Texas|National Register of Historic Places in Wood County, Texas]]

==== Landmark districts ====
[[Mineola Downtown Historic District]]

==== Main Street cities<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1EgBcRwDfklSmnZ0m-LRE33_TKIo&ll=32.40625973275679,-95.91118835781253&z=8|title=Texas Main Street Communities|website=www.google.com|access-date=November 26, 2016}}</ref> ====
* Mineola
* Winnsboro

=== Institutions and businesses with special state designations ===
==== Texas Business Treasure Award recipients (Texas Historical Commission Designation) ====
* Broadway Barber Shop (Mineola)
* [[Mineola Airport|Wisener Field]] (Mineola)
* First National Bank of Winnsboro
* R.H. McCrary Hardware (Winnsboro)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/TTBA%20List%20at%20a%20Glance.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227212619/http://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/TTBA%20List%20at%20a%20Glance.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |url-status=live|title=Texas Treasure Businesses|website=Texas Historical Commission|publisher=Texas Historical Commission|access-date=November 26, 2016}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Willie Brown (politician)|Willie Brown]], California politician
* [[Bryan Hughes (Texas politician)|Bryan Hughes]], Texas state representative
* [[Bobby Ray Inman]], U.S. Navy Admiral 
* [[Ray Price (musician)|Ray Price]], singer/songwriter; member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
* [[Harold Simmons]], American billionaire businessman 
* [[Sissy Spacek]], Academy Award-winning actress
* [[Kacey Musgraves]], musician
* [[Mack Tuck]], professional basketball player and coach

== See also ==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wood County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Trinity-Zavala)#Wood County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Wood County]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wood County, Texas|position=right}}
* {{official website|https://www.mywoodcounty.com/}}
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcw15|name=Wood County}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Wood County, Texas
|North     = [[Hopkins County, Texas|Hopkins County]]
|Northeast = [[Franklin County, Texas|Franklin County]] and [[Camp County, Texas|Camp County]]
|East      = [[Upshur County, Texas|Upshur County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Smith County, Texas|Smith County]]
|Southwest = [[Van Zandt County, Texas|Van Zandt County]]
|West      = [[Rains County, Texas|Rains County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Wood County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|32.78|-95.38|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Wood County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1850]]
[[Category:1850 establishments in Texas]]