Weatherford () 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 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 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 of which is land and (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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Weatherford city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition<br />(NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Race

!Pop 2010

!

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.

! 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.thumb|Old City Hall

Education

Weatherford is served by the Weatherford Independent School District.

thumb|left|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

thumb|[[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

  • 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.
  • 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

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