Parker

Parker County

Updated on: January 11, 2022
Coordinates
32° 46' 48" N, 97° 48' 36" W (32.78, -97.81)
State
Texas
Region
North Central
County Seat:
Weatherford
Year Organized:
1855
Total Square Miles:
910.094
903 square miles (2,340 km2) land
6.6 square miles (17 km2) water
Population:
133463 (2017)
Population: Est. 129,441 (2016) 116,927 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
147
Parker County Website
http://www.parkercountytx.com/

Contiguous Counties

Wise (N)
Tarrant (E)
Johnson (SE)
Hood (S)
Palo Pinto (W)
Jack (NW)

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
133463
25 to 64 Years of Age:
52.02%
65 Years of Age and Older:
15.39%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$3.9 B
Labor Force:
64,740
Unemployment Rate:
3.10%

County Contact

1 Courthouse Sq
County Courthouse
Weatherford, TX, 76086-4304

https://www.co.parker.tx.us/

Parker County is located in north-central Texas and is bordered by Jack and Wise counties and Tarrant, Hood, and Johnson. Tarrant and Hood Counties are to the east and south, respectively. Palo Pinto County is located to the west of the state.

The county’s geographic center lies in latitude 32°40′ north and longitude 97°40′ west. Located roughly 30 miles west of Fort Worth, Weatherford serves as the county seat. Isaac Parker coined the name of the county.

Parker County Geography

The county has nearly 902 square miles of flat to hilly territory, with heights between 700 and 1,200 feet above sea level making up the area. The gently sloping plains of the county are covered in tall grasses, mesquite, and oak from the Rolling Timbers region of the plant world. All across the place, you’ll find elm, walnut, and pecan trees near streams and valleys.

Cross Timbers region sandy loam is washed away by the Brazos River. The Brazos River sweeps away the eastern and central areas of the county, located in the Grand Prairie region, by the Trinity River’s upper tributaries.

You can visit Weatherford and Mineral Wells lakes for pleasure and municipal water. At 96 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 34 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, temperatures vary widely.

Just over 32 inches of rain falls annually on average. However, extending the growing season by an additional 225 days or more is possible. Parker County was 74% cropland or ranchland in 1982, with only 12% of that being planted with crops.

Animals and animal products accounted for around two-thirds of the county’s agricultural revenue in 2013. Dairy products were a significant source of income in the area. As well as corn and soybeans, the region was a major producer of other crops such as peaches and watermelons.

Minerals discovered in the area include natural gas, sand, gravel, bituminous coal, and a minor amount of oil. The county had a successful year in 1982. The casing head and wells produced more than 325 million cubic feet of gas and produced roughly 140,000 barrels of oil.

In the 1980s, the county’s transportation network included Interstate Highway 20, US Highway 180, and State Highway 171, traveling east-west across the county. The Missouri Pacific Railroad and the Weatherford, Mineral Wells, Northwestern Railway, and other rail lines supplied the county’s residents.

Parker County Seat

Weatherford has a total area of 27.04 square miles. Two major U.S. highways converge near Weatherford: 180 and 80. Fort Worth is 30 miles away, and Dallas is 60 miles away. Dallas and Fort Worth are easily accessible via a roadway that runs along the City’s southern boundary.

The proximity of the City to Metroplex has played a significant role in its economic and industrial development. Weatherford is an ideal location for the City’s large commercial and industrial firms because of its proximity to the region’s significant transportation and shipping facilities. It doesn’t have the drawbacks of living in a large metropolis.

Unemployment has been deficient in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in the past. In addition, the broadening of the country’s economic basis has been beneficial. The rise of Dallas and Fort Worth on the outskirts of Weatherford will impact the City’s transformation from a rural location to an urban one.

Despite its proximity to a large city, Weatherford has maintained its independence from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It is possible to live in a rural region yet have easy access to the amenities and employment opportunities in urban areas. Many Weatherford residents commute to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

County Departments

The county contains a few offices that contribute to its administration. Different departments have different duties to execute, which facilitate a smooth running of the county. Among them is the office of the County Auditor. Statutory law gives the county auditor the mandate to maintain the integrity of financial administration within the county’s departments. Brianna Fowler is the current County Auditor. Pam Allison and Kelli Schmidt assist her. For inquiries, use line 817-598-6188 on the phone or email her at mailto:[email protected].

Becky Mccullough is the Employee Benefits Coordinator in charge of the County’s Human Resources. The Employee Benefits Office is responsible for collecting and processing job applications, assisting county departments with human resources management, and coordinating employee benefits, such as health insurance, while ensuring that existing resources are utilized effectively. Angela Melton assists Becky, and you can reach their office by phone at 817-598-6015.

Sean Hughes, the coordinator, heads the county Emergency Management Office. He ensures coordination of all emergency responses, whether on the local, state, or federal level. His office is in charge of establishing and executing an all-hazards catastrophe response strategy and ensuring international, and intra-jurisdictional treaties are being developed and enforced. He works with his team in managing long-term mitigation and recovery activities in advance of and during any incident.

Furthermore, the county incorporates the office of the Elections Department. Every one of Parker County’s election functions is under the purview of the Elections Department, including the administration of federal, state, and local elections. It also includes the process of registering to vote. The department is headed by Crickett Miller, assisted by Gina Osborn and Lori Williams.

Parker County Places To Visit

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

There is also a Bush Library in addition to the Bush Presidential Center. It is based in Dallas, Texas, at Southern Methodist University, where Laura Bush graduated. For Bush’s presidency, it has a storage room and is spread out over 23 acres (approximately 93,000 square meters). An archive, a museum, and a policy research institute. Private donations provide the majority of the funding for this project. You can also find a replica of the White House’s presidential office on the property.

Fossil Rim Wildlife Centre

It is a Wildlife reserve where various endangered animals are widely kept and protected. Despite being a long way from town, the views are beautiful, and the gorillas, chimpanzees, hawks, ostriches, sheep, deer, and horses that you can see there.

Doss Heritage And Cultural Centre

There is a wide range of exhibits devoted to pioneers and the old west, and visitors can learn about them—one of the most impressive collections of weapons and other household things. Docents are available to provide as much or as little information as you desire about the exhibits. Artifacts from archaeology to an authentic stagecoach are on show—gardens of beauty. You can book a private meeting space.

The National Vietnam War Museum

Between Mineral Wells and Weatherford, there is a striking tribute to the men and women who died serving in the Vietnam War. Extensive outdoor amenities include a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall and a collection of vintage autos and other memorials to those who lost their lives in the conflict. The little tourist center houses many displays, focusing on wartime prisoners of war.