Its Wise Eyes crime-watch program, eventually adopted by mostly rural counties in several states, was started in 1993 by then-Sheriff Phil Ryan.

[3] On November 10, 1837, the Battle of the Knobs was fought in what is now Wise County between about 150 Native American warriors and 18 Republic of Texas soldiers under Lieutenant A.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Texan soldiers held their ground, killing or wounding an estimated 50 Native Americans and losing 10 of their own men.

[4] As few residents of Wise County were slaveholders, opinions were mixed at the time of the Civil War, and many people opposed secession.

By 2020, its population increased to 68,632;[11] the racial and ethnic makeup of the county in 2020 was predominantly non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

[14] American Community Survey 2023 Data The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Wise County’s population was 78,097.