Weatherford, Texas

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 mi 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 mi 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 sqmi of which 20.9 sqmi is land and 1.8 sqmi (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.

| Jan record high F = 90 | Feb record high F = 95 | Mar record high F = 97 | Apr record high F = 99 | May record high F = 105 | Jun record high F = 116 | Jul record high F = 110 | Aug record high F = 114 | Sep record high F = 109 | Oct record high F = 105 | Nov record high F = 92 | Dec record high F = 87 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 76.9 |Feb avg record high F = 80.5 |Mar avg record high F = 86.0 |Apr avg record high F = 89.7 |May avg record high F = 92.9 |Jun avg record high F = 96.7 |Jul avg record high F = 101.4 |Aug avg record high F = 101.8 |Sep avg record high F = 97.4 |Oct avg record high F = 90.9 |Nov avg record high F = 82.5 |Dec avg record high F = 76.9 |year avg record high F = 103.3

|Jan avg record low F = 15.7 |Feb avg record low F = 19.5 |Mar avg record low F = 23.9 |Apr avg record low F = 33.6 |May avg record low F = 43.3 |Jun avg record low F = 57.9 |Jul avg record low F = 64.1 |Aug avg record low F = 61.7 |Sep avg record low F = 48.1 |Oct avg record low F = 35.0 |Nov avg record low F = 24.6 |Dec avg record low F = 18.6 |year avg record low F = 12.8

| Jan record low F = -4 | Feb record low F = -3 | Mar record low F = 7 | Apr record low F = 24 | May record low F = 32 | Jun record low F = 47 | Jul record low F = 54 | Aug record low F = 52 | Sep record low F = 34 | Oct record low F = 19 | Nov record low F = 13 | Dec record low F = -10 | year record low F = |access-date = November 11, 2023}}{{cite web |access-date = November 11, 2023}}

Demographics

2020

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".

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|thumb|Old City Hall]]

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.

Transportation

Roads

Interstate

• 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

• 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.
• is a Texas State highway that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the south, Texas State Highway 171 runs through Cresson.
• 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

• is a Farm to Market road that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the north, FM 920 goes through Peaster.
• 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.
• 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

Notes

References

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2412199
4. [http://www.dictionary.com/browse/weatherford Weatherford]. [[Dictionary.com]].
5. "Explore Census Data".
6. "Climate Summary for Weatherford, Texas".
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
8. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023". United States Census Bureau.
9. https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific. (August 2022)
10. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".
11. (2010). "Explore Census Data".
12. "Cutting Horse Capital of the World".
13. [https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/maps/city/travel-map-texas.pdf Texas Official Travel Map]
14. "The Texas State Senate – Senator Phil King: District 10".
15. (2020-09-28). "Kapron Lewis-Moore". Pro-Football-Reference.co.
16. "Roger Williams (Texas (TX)), 119th Congress Profile".