In 1854, MethodistReverendPleasant 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 was built in 1908 under Jim Crow laws, with waiting rooms segregated and separated by the ticket office. In 1895, the town's still existing daily newspaper, the Weatherford Democrat, began publication. The Weatherford Telegram began publishing as a weekly newspaper in 2006.
Western Heritage
Cattle drover Oliver Loving is buried in Weatherford's Greenwood Cemetery. After being attacked by Indians in New Mexico in 1867, Loving's dying wish to his friend, Charles Goodnight, was to be buried at his home, Parker County. Goodnight brought the body back six hundred miles by wagon for burial. The story is the inspiration behind Texas author Larry McMurtry's novel, Lonesome Dove. A year earlier, Goodnight had invented the first chuckwagon which catered to cowboys on a cattle drive that would later become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail. Bose Ikard, who served with Goodnight and for whom the McMurtry character "Deets" was modeled, was also laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Religion
Weatherford lies in a geographic region commonly referred to as the "Bible Belt". As such, it is home to churches of several evangelical traditions including Bible church, Disciples of Christ, Church of Christ, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, Episcopal. There are other denominations such as Latter-day Saints, and Catholic as well. There are no worship centers for any other major religions within the city limits. Practitioners of other religions commonly travel to nearby Fort Worth to attend religious services.
The city was named by the Texas Legislature as the Peach Capital of Texas due to the peaches produced by area growers. 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 a number of historic homes and buildings. More than 60 Queen Anne, Victorian, and other architecturally significant homes built at the turn of the 20th century sit along the tree-lined avenues. Several of these homes are open for tours, arranged by the Parker County Heritage Society, during the Christmas season. Another landmark is the Second Empire styleParker County Courthouse, which is located in the geographical center of the county in downtown Weatherford. The building is surrounded by other buildings which served other purposes at the turn of the 20th century, including saloons and cat-houses. In recent years, both the interior and exterior of the courthouse structure have been restored to its original character and attractiveness.
Notable people
Major League Baseball pitcher Hippo Vaughn, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs 1913-21.
Texas author Edwin Lanham was reared in Weatherford, the slightly veiled setting for his most critically acclaimed work "The Wind Blew West."
Weatherford is also the birthplace and was the home of Mary Martin, a Broadway star, known for her portrayal of Peter Pan. Her son, Larry Hagman, became a TV star, best known as J.R. Ewing on the television melodrama Dallas. Hagman made appearances for special occasions and to assist many Weatherford charities as his brother still lives in Weatherford.
Jack Porter, U.S. Senate candidate in 1948 and a builder of the modern Texas Republican Party
William Hood Simpson, lieutenant general, commanded the U.S. Ninth Army in northern Europe, during World War II.
Bob Tallman, nationally known rodeo announcer, operates a ranch in Parker County near Weatherford.
Erik J. Wright, author and historian, was raised in Weatherford. Wright serves as assistant editor of the Tombstone Epitaph and has published widely on the history of violence in the American West.
Parker County has been represented in the Texas State House since 1985 by two Republicans, Richard F. "Ric" Williamson and Phillip Stephen King. Originally a Democrat, Williamson switched parties and served until 1999, when he was succeeded by King, one of the more conservative members of the legislature. Williamson's old friend and former legislative colleague, Governor Rick Perry, appointed him to the Texas Transportation Commission, of which he became the chairman in 2004. Williamson died of a third heart attack on December 30, 2007. He had been a champion of Perry's controversial Trans-Texas Corridortoll road project.
Geography and climate
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 of it is land and of it 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
The 2008 census for the population of the City of Weatherford, Texas is 26,686 with a population density of 1,175.59 people per square mile. The population grew by 40.5% from 2000 to 2008. The racial makeup of the city in 2008 is 85.50% White, 10.20% Hispanic, 2.10% Black, 1.30% American Indian, 0.70% Asian, 4.10% other. Weatherford's average household size is 2.5. The average income per household was $50,924, in the year 2007. The estimated 2007 city capita was $26,380. According to the 1999 census, 25.0% of the population is under the age of 18, 10.6% is 18 to 24, 26.3% is 25 to 44, 21.8% is 45 to 64, and 16.4% is 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years.
Weatherford ISD has classes from pre-kindergarten through high school serving 7,200 students throughout at 11 campuses.
Weatherford College
is a 150-year-old community college. There are more than 35 study areas and 19 professional/technical programs. Financial aid packages and scholarships are also available. The College was originally built by Masons and was one of the first in Texas.
