Weatherford (/ˈwɛðərfərd/ WEDH-ər-fərd)[6] is a city and the county seat of Parker County, Texas, United States. In 2020, its population was 30,854.[7] Weatherford is named after Thomas J. Weatherford, a State senator and advocate for Texas’ secession to the Confederate States.
Weatherford, Texas | |
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City | |
Nickname(s): Cutting Horse Capital of the World, Peach Capital of Texas | |
Coordinates: 32°45′33″N 97°47′6″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Texas |
County | Parker |
Government | |
• Type | Council-Manager |
• City Council | Mayor Paul Paschall Heidi Wilder Jeff Robinson Matt Ticzkus Kevin Cleveland[1] |
• City Manager | Justin Hotopp |
Area | |
• Total | 28.94 sq mi (74.95 km2) |
• Land | 27.12 sq mi (70.24 km2) |
• Water | 1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2) |
Elevation | 1,053 ft (321 m) |
Population (2020)[3] | |
• Total | 30,854 |
• Density | 1,100/sq mi (410/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
ZIP codes | 76085-76088 |
Area code | 817 |
FIPS code | 48-76864[4] |
GNIS feature ID | 1376666[5] |
Website | www |
In 1854, Methodist Reverend Pleasant Tackett led 15 pioneer families into a land they called "Goshen," which would later become part of Parker County, itself to be created the following year by the efforts of State Representative Isaac Parker and State Senator Thomas Jefferson Weatherford in the Texas State Legislature.[lower-alpha 1] Evidence of a prior, failed attempt to colonize the region can be found in the abandoned cabin from 1852-53 located 6 miles (10 km) south of modern Weatherford on the J.H. Voorhies farm. In 1856[8]
The railroad arrived in June 1880. The Santa Fe Depot (which houses the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce) was built in 1908 under Jim Crow laws, with waiting rooms segregated and separated by the ticket office.
Weatherford is located 25 miles (40 km) west of Fort Worth on Interstate 20. It is the county seat for Parker County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.7 square miles (59 km2) of which 20.9 square miles (54 km2) of it is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) of it (7.86%) is water.
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate System describes the weather as humid subtropical, and uses the abbreviation Cfa.[9]
Climate data for Weatherford, Texas | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Average high °F (°C) | 54 (12) |
58 (14) |
67 (19) |
75 (24) |
82 (28) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
96 (36) |
88 (31) |
78 (26) |
65 (18) |
56 (13) |
76 (24) |
Average low °F (°C) | 31 (−1) |
34 (1) |
42 (6) |
51 (11) |
60 (16) |
68 (20) |
72 (22) |
71 (22) |
64 (18) |
52 (11) |
41 (5) |
33 (1) |
52 (11) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.8 (46) |
2.2 (56) |
2.5 (64) |
3.4 (86) |
4.7 (120) |
3.3 (84) |
2.2 (56) |
2.2 (56) |
3 (76) |
3.2 (81) |
2.2 (56) |
2 (51) |
32.8 (830) |
Source: Weatherbase[10] |
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1880 | 2,046 | — | |
1890 | 3,369 | 64.7% | |
1900 | 4,786 | 42.1% | |
1910 | 5,074 | 6.0% | |
1920 | 6,203 | 22.3% | |
1930 | 4,912 | −20.8% | |
1940 | 5,924 | 20.6% | |
1950 | 8,093 | 36.6% | |
1960 | 9,759 | 20.6% | |
1970 | 11,750 | 20.4% | |
1980 | 12,049 | 2.5% | |
1990 | 14,804 | 22.9% | |
2000 | 19,000 | 28.3% | |
2010 | 25,250 | 32.9% | |
2020 | 30,854 | 22.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[11][failed verification] 2020[7] |
Race | Number | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White (NH) | 23,757 | 77.0% |
Black or African American (NH) | 599 | 1.94% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 177 | 0.57% |
Asian (NH) | 321 | 1.04% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 24 | 0.08% |
Some Other Race (NH) | 93 | 0.3% |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,385 | 4.49% |
Hispanic or Latino | 4,498 | 14.58% |
Total | 30,854 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 30,854 people, 11,528 households, and 7,643 families residing in the city.
This section does not cite any sources. (September 2022) |
The 2008 census for the population of the City of Weatherford, Texas is 26,686 with a population density of 1,175.59 people per square mile. The population grew by 40.5% from 2000 to 2008. The racial makeup of the city in 2008 is 85.50% White, 10.20% Hispanic, 2.10% Black, 1.30% American Indian, 0.70% Asian, 4.10% other. Weatherford's average household size is 2.5.
The average income per household was $50,924, in the year 2007. The estimated 2007 city capita was $26,380.
According to the 1999 census, 25.0% of the population is under the age of 18, 10.6% is 18 to 24, 26.3% is 25 to 44, 21.8% is 45 to 64, and 16.4% is 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years.
Weatherford is within the Bible Belt.
The Weatherford area is a large peach producer, and was named "Peach Capital of Texas" by the Texas Legislature. The peach is celebrated each year at the Parker County Peach Festival, which is Weatherford's largest event and one of the best-attended festivals in Texas.[citation needed]
Weatherford has been described as the "cutting horse capital of the world".[14]
Several homes of the Queen Anne and Victorian styles were built at the turn of the 20th century; some are open for tours, arranged by the Parker County Heritage Society. The Parker County Courthouse is of the Second Empire style.[citation needed]
Phil King represents Weatherford in the Texas House of Representatives.
Weatherford is served by the Weatherford Independent School District.
Weatherford College is a 150-year-old community college, with more than 35 study areas and 19 professional/technical programs. The college was originally built by Masons and was one of the first in Texas.[citation needed]
The Weatherford Democrat has been publishing since 1895. The Weatherford Telegram began publishing as a weekly newspaper in 2006.
Cattle drover Oliver Loving is buried in Weatherford's Greenwood Cemetery. After being attacked by Indians in New Mexico in 1867, Loving's dying wish to his friend, Charles Goodnight, was to be buried at his home, Parker County. Goodnight brought the body back six hundred miles by wagon for burial. The story is the inspiration behind Texas author Larry McMurtry's novel, Lonesome Dove.
A year earlier, Goodnight had invented the first chuckwagon which catered to cowboys on a cattle drive that would later become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail.
Bose Ikard, who served with Goodnight and for whom the McMurtry character "Deets" was modeled, was also laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Municipalities and communities of Parker County, Texas, United States | ||
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County seat: Weatherford | ||
Cities | ||
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Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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