Page Contents for Gilmer, Texas

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Economy

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Community news

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Texas state capital is Austin.
The population of Gilmer is approximately 5,595 (2000), 4905 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 2,140 (1990), 1918 (2010).
The amount of land area in Gilmer is 10.199 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Gilmer is 8.3 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Gilmer to Washington DC is 1129 miles.
The distance to the Texas state capital is 236 miles. (as the crow flies)
Gilmer is positioned 32.73 degrees north of the equator and 94.94 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Gilmer elevation is 350 feet above sea level.
Gilmer average annual rainfall is 46 inches per year
Gilmer average temperature is 66 degrees F.
The average winter temperature is 48 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 82 degrees F.

Location

in northeast Texas, 120 miles east of Dallas and 80 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana. It is situated to provide easy access to both Longview and Tyler. Here is a map page for Gilmer and Upshur County.
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Weather

moderate. Here is a weather page for the area.
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History & History Related Items

Originally, the Gilmer area was home to Cherokee Indians. As settlers appeared, the location ofthe town was by the creek. After a number of floods, the residents decided to move to higher ground. Gilmer was named for Captain Thomas W. Gilmer, a Navy Secretary who was killed in 1844 when a gun exploded during a demonstration on the USS Princeton. Gilmer was founded in 1846. In the early years, cotton was the mainstay of the local economy, but when oil was discovered in the 1930's, the area was assured of continued growth. In recent years, the orginal oil fields have declined, but new areas of gas and oil have been discovered to take the place of the ones dying out.

Here is a history page for Gilmer.
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Attractions

The Historic Upshur Museum
119 Simpson
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: (903) 843-5483 or (903) 843-3420
See new exhibits from the past and enjoy the neoclassical style building where the museum is housed.

Lake Gilmer
Four miles west of Downtown with hiking, trails, swimming, picnic areas, boating and fishing.

The Cherokee Rose Festival
Held each year in May

The East Texas Yamboree
held each year in October

Flight of the Phoenix Aviation Museum
P.O. Box 610
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: 903-843-2457
Fax: 903-843-3123
Including theannual Phoenix Fly-in and Air Show.
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Economy & Industry

centers around industry and agriculture-beef, dairy, poultry and timber.
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Gilmer City Government

City of Gilmer

Gilmer has a city manager-council government

Gilmer is the County Seat of Upshur County

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Upshur County Courthouse
County Clerk's Office
P.O. Box 730
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: 903-843-4015

Gilmer Chamber

Gilmer Area Chamber of Commerce
106 Buffalo St.
P.O. Box 854
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: 903-843-2413
Fax: 903-843-3759

Gilmer Community News

Gilmer Mirror
Local newspaper

Gilmer Organizations

Gilmer Area Chamber of Commerce
106 Buffalo St.
P.O. Box 854
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: 903-843-2413
Fax: 903-843-3759

Gilmer Libraries

Upshur County Library
702 West Tyler St.
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: 903-843-5001

Gilmer Schools

A Schools page for Gilmer and Upshur County.

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Gilmer Independent School District
500 S. Trinity St.
Gilmer, TX 75644
Phone: 903-843-2525 Gilmer

Miscellany

The population of Gilmer was:
1970 - 4,196
1980 - 5,194
1990 - 4,822
2000 - 5,595