Living in Gilmer, TX

Gilmer is the county seat of Upshur County, a small East Texas town built around a historic courthouse square and surrounded by pine forest and farmland. It's best known for the Yamboree, one of the oldest continuous festivals in Texas.

Getting around

US 271, SH 155 and SH 154 all meet in Gilmer. Longview is about 22 miles southeast, Tyler is about 35 miles southwest, and I-20 is an easy drive south through either one. Dallas is roughly two hours west.

Things to do

The East Texas Yamboree, held the third weekend of October since 1935, with a carnival around the square, parades, a queen's coronation, a band marching contest and livestock shows
Lake Gilmer, a 1,010-acre lake about 4 miles west of town
The Upshur County Courthouse and downtown square, with the courthouse dedicated in 1937
Longview and Tyler, both within about 35 miles for shopping, dining and healthcare

Schools

Gilmer is served by Gilmer ISD. Homes in the surrounding county may fall in other Upshur County districts, so I always confirm the school assignment for a specific address.

Homes and acreage

In town, you'll find older homes near the square and established neighborhoods with mature trees. Outside Gilmer, Upshur County is known for country homes, wooded acreage, small farms and land, often at prices that stretch further than in the bigger East Texas cities.

A little history

Gilmer was laid out as the Upshur County seat in the late 1840s and named for Thomas W. Gilmer, a U.S. Secretary of the Navy killed in an 1844 accident aboard the USS Princeton. The town grew as a cotton and sweet potato center, and the East Texas oil boom later helped it through the Great Depression.