What Is Parker County?
Texas has a lot of counties and history associated with them. Parker County is one of these counties. In year of 1835, Texas was divided up into sections. These sections were known as municipalities and departments. These departments were Bexar, Brazos and Nacogdoches, along with 23 municipalities. After the formation of The Republic of Texas in 1836, the 23 municipalities became what is known now as counties. By 1861, there were 161 counties in Texas. Today there are 254 counties. Each county has its own history. Parker County is no different. The County of Parker was created by the Texas State Legislature in the year of 1855 and was named it after State Representative Isaac Parker who was a pioneer in the region. He was also the uncle of
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Cynthia Ann Parker, the white girl who was stolen from her family by Indians. She was the mother of Quanah Parker who the last Comanche Indian chief.
Parker county is in North Central Texas. The eastern boundary of Parker County is located about 13 miles west of the Fort Worth Convention Center while the western boundary is just to the east of Mineral Wells, Texas. The shape of the county is a square which is 30 miles on each side. It covers 910 square miles of area. The population of Parker County was 121,418 people in the year of 2013 and is still growing. An election was held in April 1856. At this election, the present-day location of the County Seat was chosen to the city of Weatherford where the historic Parker County Courthouse opened in 1884. Settlers were attracted to the area in the mid 1800’s because of the land and the fertile soil. Today Parker County is known as the Peach Capitol of Texas. One of the largest one day festivals in the area is the Weatherford Peach Festival which occurs every second Saturday in July. Weatherford is the location of many historic buildings and homes and Weatherford Collage which is one of the oldest continually operational community colleges in Texas. The college was established in the year 1869. Another festival in Parker county is the North Texas Spiciest Festival Around. This festival is held in October at the Clark Gardens in Weatherford. In December, there is e Christmas on the Square in Weatherford.
The Parker County climate is mostly sunny and arid. The average annual precipitation is only 36 inches a year. Parker County near Fort Worth making it a suburb of the Metroplex. It is continuing to grow in population and economic prosperity. Weatherford is the major business center in the area.
Agricultural land makes up about 74 percent of Parker Counties 582,000 acres.
The agriculture in the County produces the following: livestock, dairy products, hay, oats, wheat, peanuts and watermelon among others. Oil and gas production is also a large part of the Parker County economy. The lands of Parker County are known as the Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie because it is made up of a combination of prairie, savanna and woodland. Fertile soil in the area ranges from “red loam” of the Brazos River to the “black-waxy” in the eastern and southeastern parts of the county. The lands geology also consists of limestone and sand. Because the Brazos River and it’s tributaries and the Trinity River, which go through a part of the county, the area became known as the “Oasis of the West.”
On Sunday March 2nd of 1856, the first county election was held. Only 400 settlers cast votes which elected the first County Judge, Robert Porter; County Clerk, John H. Prince; County Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Hays, Hill Walker and James Kidwell, and the first County Sheriff, Robert Baker. That election was for a temporary post and lasted only 5 months until the regular election in August. At the regular state election, the follow people were elected: Chief Justice, John Matlock; District Clerk, William M. Green; Treasurer, Samuel Barber; Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Fondren; James Kidwell and A.B. Smith, and Sheriff, Robert Baker were elected. Today the County Judge is Mark Riley; District Clerk is Sharena Gilliland; Treasurer Jenny Barnwell; Commissioners, George Conley, Craig Peacock, Larry Walden and Steve Dugan, and Sheriff, Larry
Fowler.
Parker County had lots of bad luck with their courthouses burning down. Construction of a new brick courthouse was started in 1858. The two-story building measured 40 feet by 50 feet and was built by J.R Campbell and B.L. Richey. The handmade bricks used in this courthouse were made by local craftsmen. The cost to build this courthouse in Weatherford, Texas was $6,700 which is equivalent to $188,000 today. A jail was also built and attached to the courthouse. In the early morning of May 13, 1875, a fire ravaged the courthouse which destroyed all the contents and records along with the courthouse. Construction of another courthouse was started three years later in 1878. It cost $21,000 to build which is equal to $492,000 in today’s dollars. It too was destroyed by fire on March 1, 1884. This time, it only took eight days before construction started on the present-day courthouse. To help prevent the building being ravaged by fire again, it was built using Texas limestone at a cost of $55,500 which is about $1,325,000 today. On June 21, 1971, the Parker County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by the architect Wesley Clark Dodson, who was a from the state of Alabama. He designed 13 courthouses in Texas in which 6 still exist as designed today. The City of Weatherford, in Parker County, has many historical markers. One of them is located at 402 W. Spring Street in Weatherford, Texas. The R.W. Kindel House was the second home built by the Druggist R.W. Kindel (1847-1931). It was built about the year 1881 in a Victorian style. It features 20-inch-thick limestone walls. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1975.
The old City Greenwood Cemetery, located at 400 Front Street, Weatherford, Texas, was formally established in 1863 by the Weatherford town council. Many Civil War heroes are buried there which include Civil War medal of honor recipient Chester Bowen. Other prominent Texans include cattleman and founder of the Citizens National Bank, J.R. Couts and a Governor of Texas (1902-06) S.W.T. Lanham and his son. There are many others such as veterans of foreign wars and many Texas pioneers. Located east of Weatherford is the Bryon Farmstead. It too is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farmstead was established in 1902 when Charlie Witte Byron bought the 85 acre homestead. Byron was an English circus clown who was entertaining people in Fort Worth at the time. He met his wife in the area and never returned to England. A log cabin built in 1893 is located on the property. One of Byron’s daughters lived on the property until 1997. She died at the age of 100 years old in the same year. Charlie Witte Byron planted three walnut trees near the cabin to remind him of England. The three walnut trees are still there today. In the late 1840’s, the Kiowas and Comanches still controlled the area. The last Indian raid in the area was recorded in 1874. In the early 1850’s, immigration to the area was encouraged. The establishment of the Butterfield Overland Mail route in 1855 caused the area to expand more rapidly. This stage coach service provided transportation from major cities in the east all the way to California. These cities being: St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, and San Francisco, California.
The first county newspaper, the Frontier News, was printed on Thursday, August 19, 1858 where the very first article on the front page was titled, “Ladies Stockings” by Meister Kari. Another article on the front page is titled, “About Girls Names.” In the obituary, a young boy, Daniel Pratt, aged one year nine months and nine days died on July 31st, 1858. He was the only son of M.J.S. and Janes A. Wampler. A copy of one of the original newspaper is located at the University of North Texas. Another newspaper came to Weatherford in October 1860, called the “Whiteman.”
In its 162-year history, Parker County came from being part of the wild frontier Indian territory to having a strong agricultural economy and becoming a growing suburb of Fort Worth. There are many historic houses and buildings which can be viewed or visited including the historic Parker County Courthouse. The early citizens of Parker County had a hard time with fires. Their courthouses seemed to keep burning down. The fourth and final one, which was built using Texas limestone, is still standing and being used today. Parker County has many annual events for entertainment. One of the largest and most famous in the area is the one day Parker County Peach Festival, which occurs each year on the second Saturday of July. Because of the of its history and the things mentioned above, Parker County is a great place to live today.
Cynthia Ann Parker, the white girl who was stolen from her family by Indians. She was the mother of Quanah Parker who the last Comanche Indian chief.
Parker county is in North Central Texas. The eastern boundary of Parker County is located about 13 miles west of the Fort Worth Convention Center while the western boundary is just to the east of Mineral Wells, Texas. The shape of the county is a square which is 30 miles on each side. It covers 910 square miles of area. The population of Parker County was 121,418 people in the year of 2013 and is still growing. An election was held in April 1856. At this election, the present-day location of the County Seat was chosen to the city of Weatherford where the historic Parker County Courthouse opened in 1884. Settlers were attracted to the area in the mid 1800’s because of the land and the fertile soil. Today Parker County is known as the Peach Capitol of Texas. One of the largest one day festivals in the area is the Weatherford Peach Festival which occurs every second Saturday in July. Weatherford is the location of many historic buildings and homes and Weatherford Collage which is one of the oldest continually operational community colleges in Texas. The college was established in the year 1869. Another festival in Parker county is the North Texas Spiciest Festival Around. This festival is held in October at the Clark Gardens in Weatherford. In December, there is e Christmas on the Square in Weatherford.
The Parker County climate is mostly sunny and arid. The average annual precipitation is only 36 inches a year. Parker County near Fort Worth making it a suburb of the Metroplex. It is continuing to grow in population and economic prosperity. Weatherford is the major business center in the area.
Agricultural land makes up about 74 percent of Parker Counties 582,000 acres.
The agriculture in the County produces the following: livestock, dairy products, hay, oats, wheat, peanuts and watermelon among others. Oil and gas production is also a large part of the Parker County economy. The lands of Parker County are known as the Cross Timbers and the Grand Prairie because it is made up of a combination of prairie, savanna and woodland. Fertile soil in the area ranges from “red loam” of the Brazos River to the “black-waxy” in the eastern and southeastern parts of the county. The lands geology also consists of limestone and sand. Because the Brazos River and it’s tributaries and the Trinity River, which go through a part of the county, the area became known as the “Oasis of the West.”
On Sunday March 2nd of 1856, the first county election was held. Only 400 settlers cast votes which elected the first County Judge, Robert Porter; County Clerk, John H. Prince; County Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Hays, Hill Walker and James Kidwell, and the first County Sheriff, Robert Baker. That election was for a temporary post and lasted only 5 months until the regular election in August. At the regular state election, the follow people were elected: Chief Justice, John Matlock; District Clerk, William M. Green; Treasurer, Samuel Barber; Commissioners, John Parker, William B. Fondren; James Kidwell and A.B. Smith, and Sheriff, Robert Baker were elected. Today the County Judge is Mark Riley; District Clerk is Sharena Gilliland; Treasurer Jenny Barnwell; Commissioners, George Conley, Craig Peacock, Larry Walden and Steve Dugan, and Sheriff, Larry
Fowler.
Parker County had lots of bad luck with their courthouses burning down. Construction of a new brick courthouse was started in 1858. The two-story building measured 40 feet by 50 feet and was built by J.R Campbell and B.L. Richey. The handmade bricks used in this courthouse were made by local craftsmen. The cost to build this courthouse in Weatherford, Texas was $6,700 which is equivalent to $188,000 today. A jail was also built and attached to the courthouse. In the early morning of May 13, 1875, a fire ravaged the courthouse which destroyed all the contents and records along with the courthouse. Construction of another courthouse was started three years later in 1878. It cost $21,000 to build which is equal to $492,000 in today’s dollars. It too was destroyed by fire on March 1, 1884. This time, it only took eight days before construction started on the present-day courthouse. To help prevent the building being ravaged by fire again, it was built using Texas limestone at a cost of $55,500 which is about $1,325,000 today. On June 21, 1971, the Parker County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by the architect Wesley Clark Dodson, who was a from the state of Alabama. He designed 13 courthouses in Texas in which 6 still exist as designed today. The City of Weatherford, in Parker County, has many historical markers. One of them is located at 402 W. Spring Street in Weatherford, Texas. The R.W. Kindel House was the second home built by the Druggist R.W. Kindel (1847-1931). It was built about the year 1881 in a Victorian style. It features 20-inch-thick limestone walls. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1975.
The old City Greenwood Cemetery, located at 400 Front Street, Weatherford, Texas, was formally established in 1863 by the Weatherford town council. Many Civil War heroes are buried there which include Civil War medal of honor recipient Chester Bowen. Other prominent Texans include cattleman and founder of the Citizens National Bank, J.R. Couts and a Governor of Texas (1902-06) S.W.T. Lanham and his son. There are many others such as veterans of foreign wars and many Texas pioneers. Located east of Weatherford is the Bryon Farmstead. It too is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The farmstead was established in 1902 when Charlie Witte Byron bought the 85 acre homestead. Byron was an English circus clown who was entertaining people in Fort Worth at the time. He met his wife in the area and never returned to England. A log cabin built in 1893 is located on the property. One of Byron’s daughters lived on the property until 1997. She died at the age of 100 years old in the same year. Charlie Witte Byron planted three walnut trees near the cabin to remind him of England. The three walnut trees are still there today. In the late 1840’s, the Kiowas and Comanches still controlled the area. The last Indian raid in the area was recorded in 1874. In the early 1850’s, immigration to the area was encouraged. The establishment of the Butterfield Overland Mail route in 1855 caused the area to expand more rapidly. This stage coach service provided transportation from major cities in the east all the way to California. These cities being: St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, and San Francisco, California.
The first county newspaper, the Frontier News, was printed on Thursday, August 19, 1858 where the very first article on the front page was titled, “Ladies Stockings” by Meister Kari. Another article on the front page is titled, “About Girls Names.” In the obituary, a young boy, Daniel Pratt, aged one year nine months and nine days died on July 31st, 1858. He was the only son of M.J.S. and Janes A. Wampler. A copy of one of the original newspaper is located at the University of North Texas. Another newspaper came to Weatherford in October 1860, called the “Whiteman.”
In its 162-year history, Parker County came from being part of the wild frontier Indian territory to having a strong agricultural economy and becoming a growing suburb of Fort Worth. There are many historic houses and buildings which can be viewed or visited including the historic Parker County Courthouse. The early citizens of Parker County had a hard time with fires. Their courthouses seemed to keep burning down. The fourth and final one, which was built using Texas limestone, is still standing and being used today. Parker County has many annual events for entertainment. One of the largest and most famous in the area is the one day Parker County Peach Festival, which occurs each year on the second Saturday of July. Because of the of its history and the things mentioned above, Parker County is a great place to live today.