In the 1830s, pioneers began arriving in Northeast Texas and by 1850; many families from Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama were living in what was then Upshur County. W. H. Pitts came to Texas in 1854, and the following year settled on a 200-acre tract of land, most of which is within the corporate limits of the town bearing his name. Known as "Major" Pitts, he built his primitive log cabin on the tract of land. As the county grew, his original patch in the woods spread out until he was the owner of many acres, and a prosperous farmer. 

The town of Pittsburg, named after its prominent settler, sprang up, starting as a mere crossroads and growing in importance until a regularly laid out settlement with a name became necessary.  Pittsburg was 22 miles from the county seat of Gilmer. When the creeks would flood, it would be weeks before citizens could travel to the courthouse to take care of legal matters.

Therefore, in 1874, Pittsburg citizens asked the state legislature to form a new county. Officials named the new county was named after John Lafayette Camp (1828-1891), who was a soldier, lawyer, political leader, a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1866, and a State Senator in 1874. 

Pittsburg is home to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, the Ezekiel Airship, which flew a year before the Wright Brothers' airship and the original Cavender's Boot City. In addition, the oldest rope driven elevator in Texas is still operating in one of the historic downtown businesses.