Weatherford, Texas

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
City
Parker County Courthouse, February 2022
Parker County Courthouse, February 2022
Nickname(s): 
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
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyParker
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Paul Paschall
Heidi Wilder
Jeff Robinson
Matt Ticzkus
Kevin Cleveland[1]
 • City ManagerJustin Hotopp
Area
[2]
 • Total28.94 sq mi (74.95 km2)
 • Land27.12 sq mi (70.24 km2)
 • Water1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2)
Elevation
1,053 ft (321 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total30,854
 • Density1,100/sq mi (410/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
76085-76088
Area code817
FIPS code48-76864[4]
GNIS feature ID1376666[5]
Websitewww.weatherfordtx.gov

History

Beginnings

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.

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.[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]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18802,046—
18903,36964.7%
19004,78642.1%
19105,0746.0%
19206,20322.3%
19304,912−20.8%
19405,92420.6%
19508,09336.6%
19609,75920.6%
197011,75020.4%
198012,0492.5%
199014,80422.9%
200019,00028.3%
201025,25032.9%
202030,85422.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
2020[7]
Weatherford racial composition as of 2020[7]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 2]
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.

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".[14]

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.

Government
Old City Hall

Phil King represents Weatherford in the Texas House of Representatives.

Education

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.

Media

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

Notable people

Sports

Baseball

Notes
  1. Parker was the uncle of Cynthia Ann Parker, a little girl who was stolen from her home by Comanche during the Texas Revolution. Cynthia Ann lived among the Comanche and became the mother of Chief Quanah Parker. Later, when she was overtaken in flight with an Indian raiding party, Isaac Parker recognized her as his long-lost niece. Thomas Jefferson Weatherford, from Dallas, is alleged by his cousin to have never set foot in the town.
  2. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[12][13]

    References
    1. "Weatherford City Council". www.weatherfordtx.gov. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
    2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
    3. United States Census Bureau.
    4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
    5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
    6. Weatherford. Dictionary.com.
    7. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
    8. Newberry & Aiken 1999, p. 7.
    9. "Climate Summary for Weatherford, Texas".
    10. "Weatherford, Texas". Weatherbase.com. 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-08.
    11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
    12. https://www.census.gov/
    13. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
    14. "Cutting Horse Capital of the World". experienceweatherford.com. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
    15. "Kapron Lewis-Moore". Pro-Football-Reference.co. September 28, 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
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