PINEY WOODS REGION: GILMER TEXAS

GILMER TEXAS

Map of the Gilmer Area & Additional Gilmer Information

Gilmer Texas Downtown Gilmer was founded in 1848 on the historic Cherokee Trace, soon becoming a trading center for the growing population of setters and farmers, with cotton farming the dominant agricultural commodity.

By 1900 logging joined the Gilmer economy, followed by the East Texas Oil Boom of the 1930s. Dairy farms, logging and cattle ranching are what the economy of modern day Gilmer is based on.

As you explore Gilmer you will find more than 50 historical markers in the town and surrounding area. Among them is a granite marker in Roosevelt Park marking the site of an early 19th century Cherokee Indian village. Other markers tell the story of the Cherokee Trace, traveled by Sam Houston, and others, on their first trips to Texas.

Gilmer has been named a Main Street City multiple times. Historic Gilmer Main Street has a town square paved with red-brick streets, featuring shops and restaurants.

The East Texas Yamboree takes place in Gilmer the 3rd weekend in October, celebrating the sweet potato. Yamboree is one of the oldest festivals in Texas. The 2010 Yamboree will be the 73rd annual, running from October 20 - 23. You will find a Barn Dance, Bandstand/Street Dance, Classic Car Show, Yam Pie Contest and a big carnival.

In the historic Upshur Museum you will find exhibits including Caddo artifacts, forestry, a drilling rig and and Yamboree exhibits. The Upshur Museum is in the 1925 era Gilmer Post Office on courthouse square.

Upshur County Library is an excellent small library with a genealogy department and War of the Rebellion reference books for Civil War Research.

The population of Gilmer was 4,799 at last count. For a relatively small town Gilmer has produced some music talent, including the Eagles Don Henley, blues guitarist Freddie King, singer Johnny Mathis, country music singer Jason Sellers and singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked.

Four miles west of Gilmer you will find Lake Gilmer. This new 1,010 acre lake was opened in 2001. You can swim, boat, fish and duck hunt on Lake Gilmer. Lake Gladewater and Lake O' the Pines are near Gilmer

Yamboree Park has RV camping. Roosevelt Park, near downtown Gilmer, has a swimming pool.

WHERE TO STAY IN GILMER

In Gilmer you will find an Executive Inn. And the locally owned and operated Gilmer Inn and Birch Creek Acres.

WHERE TO EAT IN GILMER

You will find many of the national chains, in Gilmer, like Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Subway, KFC, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box and Sonic Drive-In. You will also find Bodacious BBQ Inc., La Finca Mexican Restaurant, Las Funtes, Midway Cafe, Swanner's Hamburgers, Bill's Bar-B-Que, Buckeye Diner, Catfish Junction, Country Cafe, Doc's Hot Links, Double TW Enterprise INC. and Joe's Place.

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