Weatherford, Texas

Weatherford, Texas
City
Parker County Courthouse, February 2022 Parker County Courthouse, February 2022
Template:Infobox settlement/columns
Nicknames:  Cutting Horse Capital of the World, Peach Capital of Texas
Location of Weatherford within Parker County, Texas. Location of Weatherford within Parker County, Texas.
Coordinates: 32°45′33″N 97°47′6″W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Parker
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	Template:Infobox settlement/areadisp
• Land	Template:Infobox settlement/areadisp
• Water	Template:Infobox settlement/areadisp
Elevation	Template:Infobox settlement/lengthdisp
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,854
• Density	Template:Infobox settlement/densdisp
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	76085-76088
Area codes	817, 682
FIPS code	48-76864
GNIS feature ID	2412199
Website	www.weatherfordtx.gov

Weatherford (/ˈwɛðərfərd/) is a city in and the county seat of Parker County, Texas, United States. In 2020, its population was 30,854. Weatherford is named after Thomas J. Weatherford, a State senator and advocate for Texas's secession to the Confederate States during the American Civil War.

History

Beginnings

In 1854, Methodist minister 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. 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

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.

Geography

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) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²) (7.86%) is water.

Climate

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.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

Weatherford city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	20,494	23,757	81.18%	77.0%
Black or African American (NH)	576	599	2.28%	1.94%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	150	177	0.59%	0.57%
Asian (NH)	222	321	0.88%	1.04%
Pacific Islander (NH)	13	24	0.05%	0.08%
Some Other Race (NH)	8	93	0.03%	0.3%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	350	1,385	1.38%	4.49%
Hispanic or Latino	3,437	4,498	13.61%	14.58%
Total	25,250	30,854	100.00%	100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Weatherford had a population of 30,854, 11,989 households, and 7,643 families. The median age was 37.8 years, 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18, and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.9 males.

96.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 11,989 households in Weatherford, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 16.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 12,935 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%.

Racial composition as of the 2020 census

Race	Number	Percent
White	24,989	81.0%
Black or African American	633	2.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native	263	0.9%
Asian	326	1.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	25	0.1%
Some other race	1,542	5.0%
Two or more races	3,076	10.0%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	4,498	14.6%

Arts and culture

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.

Weatherford has been described as the "cutting horse capital of the world".

The headquarters of the National Snaffle Bit Association, an equestrian organization, is located in Weatherford.

Historic buildings

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.

File:Weatherford May 2017 27 (1933 Weatherford City Hall).jpg

Old City Hall

Education

Weatherford is served by the Weatherford Independent School District.

File:Weatherford College May 2017 09 (Roy and Jeanne Grogan Historic Plaza).jpg

Roy and Jeanne Grogan Historic Plaza at Weatherford College

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.

Media

File:Weatherford Democrat newspaper IMG 6463.JPG

Weatherford Democrat newspaper

The Weatherford Democrat has been publishing since 1895. The Weatherford Telegram began publishing as a weekly newspaper in 2006.

Transportation

Roads

Interstate

• Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a major route that runs east to west through south Weatherford. To the east, the Interstate 20 goes through Hudson Oaks and Fort Worth. To the west, the I-20 pass by Brock.

U.S and State Highways

• Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a United States highway that runs east to west through downtown Weatherford. To the east, US 180 goes through Hudson Oaks then converges with I-20. To the west, US 180 goes through Cool and Mineral Wells.
• Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a Texas State highway that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the south, Texas State Highway 171 runs through Cresson.
• (Ranger Highway)Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a Texas State highway spur that start at US 180 and goes northeast to southwest eventually converging with I-20.

Farm to Market Roads

• Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a Farm to Market road that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the north, FM 920 goes through Peaster.
• Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a Farm to Market road that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the north, FM 51 goes through Springtown. To the south, FM 51 goes through Granbury.
• Module:Jct error: Invalid route type is a Farm to Market road that runs northeast to southwest through Weatherford. To the north, FM 730 goes through Azle.

Notable people

• Zach Britton, Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees
• Mary Couts Burnett (1856–1924), philanthropist
• Douglas Chandor (1897–1953), British-born portrait painter and garden designer, designed the Chandor Gardens in Weatherford
• Thomas Stevenson Drew, the third governor of Arkansas, lived for a time in Weatherford
• Joe B. Frantz, historian on the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin
• Phil King, politician; Incumbent Texas Senator District 10
• Bob Kingsley, radio personality
• Edwin Lanham, author; was reared in Weatherford
• Kapron Lewis-Moore, defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens
• Mary Martin, Broadway star, known for her portrayal of Peter Pan
• Ted Minor, racing driver
• Jack Porter, U.S. Senate candidate in 1948
• Taylor Sheridan, American screenwriter
• William Hood Simpson lieutenant general during World War II
• Bob Tallman, nationally known rodeo announcer, operates a ranch in Parker County
• Hippo Vaughn, Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs 1913–1921
• Roger Williams, U.S. representative, 105th Secretary of State of Texas
• Jim Wright, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; grew up in Weatherford

References

• Newberry, Barbara Y.; Aiken, David W. (1999). Weatherford, Texas. Images of America. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-0110-7.
• United States Census Bureau. QuickFacts: Weatherford city, Texas (Census data). Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.

External links

• City of Weatherford
• Weatherford Chamber of Commerce
• View Historic photos of Weatherford from the Weatherford College Library, hosted by the Portal to Texas History