[2] The county is named for Abel P. Upshur, who was U.S. Secretary of State during President John Tyler's administration.

The Caddoan people lived in this area, but were driven out about 1750, probably due to losses from new infectious diseases carried chronically by Europeans.

[citation needed] Later, some Cherokee migrated to the area from their territories in the Southeast – Georgia and Alabama.

[3] The first European-American settler in Upshur County was probably Isaac Moody, who settled there in 1836.

In 1904, the Latter-day Saint Southwestern States Mission organized a colony at Kelsey, Texas.

[4] On March 21, 2022, Upshur County was hit by an EF-2 tornado with winds reported as high as 135 mph.

Upshur County is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bryan Hughes, from Mineola.

This system was adopted in Upshur County in November 2002 and reaffirmed by two subsequent elections.

The commissioners court oversees all of the Upshur County government's operations.

He presides over the Upshur County Misdemeanor Criminal Docket, Probate, Civil, and Commissioners Courts.

These school districts serve Upshur County:[14] The service area of Kilgore Junior College includes areas in Big Sandy, Gilmer, Gladweater, New Diana, and Union Grove ISDs.