Commerce was originally known as "Cow Hill" because herds of cattle ranged along the ridge between the Middle and South Sulphur Rivers. Today it is a lively Northeast Texas community that is home to Texas A&M University-Commerce (formerly East Texas State University). The university is not only a place of education, but provides year-round fine arts and athletic activities along with its state-of-the-art planetarium. The Northeast Texas Children's Museum offers hands-on fun and educational opportunities for children of all ages.

The Chamber of Commerce proudly presents all the community-wide events for Commerce, including the Bois d'Arc Spring Car Show, the annual 4th of July Celebration, the Bois d'Arc Christmas Parade, and the Bois d'Arc Bash which celebrated its 30th year in 2015. Commerce is home to "Big Max", registered as the second largest bois d'arc tree in the State of Texas, and is recognized by the State Legislature as the "Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas".