# Weatherford, Texas

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 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. 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 km$^2$) of which 20.9 square miles (54 km$^2$) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km$^2$) (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.
Climate data for Weatherford, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1902–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) | 95 (35) | 97 (36) | 99 (37) | 105 (41) | 116 (47) | 110 (43) | 114 (46) | 109 (43) | 105 (41) | 92 (33) | 86 (30) | 116 (47) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 76.9 (24.9) | 80.5 (26.9) | 86.0 (30.0) | 89.7 (32.1) | 92.9 (33.8) | 96.7 (35.9) | 101.4 (38.6) | 101.8 (38.8) | 97.4 (36.3) | 90.9 (32.7) | 82.5 (28.1) | 76.9 (24.9) | 103.3 (39.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.2 (13.4) | 60.0 (15.6) | 67.9 (19.9) | 75.8 (24.3) | 82.4 (28.0) | 90.0 (32.2) | 94.6 (34.8) | 94.7 (34.8) | 87.7 (30.9) | 77.8 (25.4) | 66.2 (19.0) | 57.9 (14.4) | 75.9 (24.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 44.0 (6.7) | 47.8 (8.8) | 55.7 (13.2) | 63.6 (17.6) | 71.8 (22.1) | 79.7 (26.5) | 83.7 (28.7) | 83.3 (28.5) | 75.8 (24.3) | 65.1 (18.4) | 54.3 (12.4) | 45.8 (7.7) | 64.2 (17.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 35.5 (1.9) | 43.5 (6.4) | 51.4 (10.8) | 61.2 (16.2) | 69.4 (20.8) | 72.9 (22.7) | 72.0 (22.2) | 64.0 (17.8) | 52.5 (11.4) | 42.4 (5.8) | 33.7 (0.9) | 52.5 (11.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 15.7 (−9.1) | 19.5 (−6.9) | 23.9 (−4.5) | 33.6 (0.9) | 43.3 (6.3) | 57.9 (14.4) | 64.1 (17.8) | 61.7 (16.5) | 48.1 (8.9) | 35.0 (1.7) | 24.6 (−4.1) | 18.6 (−7.4) | 12.8 (−10.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) | −3 (−19) | 7 (−14) | 24 (−4) | 32 (0) | 47 (8) | 54 (12) | 52 (11) | 34 (1) | 19 (−7) | 13 (−11) | −10 (−23) | −10 (−23) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.96 (50) | 2.55 (65) | 3.03 (77) | 2.69 (68) | 4.42 (112) | 3.93 (100) | 1.86 (47) | 2.59 (66) | 3.19 (81) | 3.76 (96) | 2.95 (75) | 2.25 (57) | 35.18 (894) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.7 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 5.9 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 70.5 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

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% |
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.

## Sports
### Baseball

* Raymond E. Curtis Field

## Government

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.

## Transportation
### Roads
#### Interstate

* I-20 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

* US 180 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.
* SH 171 is a Texas State highway that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the south, Texas State Highway 171 runs through Cresson.
* Spur 312 (Ranger Highway) 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

* FM 920 is a Farm to Market road that runs north to south through Weatherford. To the north, FM 920 goes through Peaster.
* FM 51 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.
* FM 730 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, 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
* 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
* Jim Wright, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; grew up in Weatherford