Alvarado, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alvarado
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| Motto(s):
"The Crossroads of Johnson County"
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 Alvarado
Location in Texas
Alvarado
Location in the United States
Alvarado
Location in North America
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Johnson |
| Incorporated (city) | 1885 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Manager-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.89 sq mi (12.68 km2) |
| • Land | 4.15 sq mi (10.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2) |
| Elevation | 725 ft (221 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,739 |
| • Density | 969.1/sq mi (373.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76009
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| Area code(s) | 817, 682 |
| FIPS code | 48-02260 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409691 |
Alvarado is the oldest city in Johnson County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,739 people lived there.
The city was named by its first sheriff, A. H. Onstoott. He named it after Alvarado, Veracruz, a place in Mexico where he fought during the Mexican–American War.
Contents
Geography
Alvarado is in eastern Johnson County. It's where two major roads meet: US Highway 67 and Interstate 35W. The city is about 26 miles south of Fort Worth and 39 miles southwest of Dallas.
Alvarado covers about 4.8 square miles (12.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.7 square miles (1.9 square kilometers) is water. This water area includes Alvarado Park Lake, which is a large reservoir (a man-made lake) on Turkey Creek. It's located about 3 miles southwest of the city.
The city's water flows into the North Fork of Chambers Creek. This creek eventually joins the Trinity River.
Climate in Alvarado
The weather in Alvarado has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 377 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,543 | 309.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,342 | −13.0% | |
| 1910 | 1,155 | −13.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,284 | 11.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,210 | −5.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,324 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,656 | 25.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,907 | 15.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,129 | 11.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,701 | 26.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,918 | 8.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,288 | 12.7% | |
| 2010 | 3,785 | 15.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,739 | 25.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,225 | 64.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the city of Alvarado had 4,739 people living there. There were 1,388 households and 1,184 families.
Economy
Alvarado used to be mostly a farming community. Now, it's growing with more city-like developments. In 2007, a company called Sabre Tubular Structures built a large facility there. This facility is about 200,000 square feet and employs over 200 people. The city even received a grant to improve its roads and other services for Sabre.
Natural Gas and the Barnett Shale
In the late 2000s, Alvarado saw a lot of activity from natural gas wells. These wells were drilled in an area called the Barnett Shale. Many property owners earned money from this drilling and from royalty payments (money paid for using their land). However, when natural gas prices dropped, this activity slowed down.
Fun Things to Do
- Alvarado Park Lake is on the west side of the city. It's a great place for outdoor activities.
- Alvarado Parkway Park is another spot for recreation.
Education
Students in Alvarado attend schools in the Alvarado Independent School District. While there are no colleges directly in Alvarado, residents pay a special tax to Hill College. This means they can get lower tuition rates if they choose to go there.
Famous People
- Terry Southern, a well-known author, was born in Alvarado.
- Johnny Trigg, famous for his barbecue cooking, is also from Alvarado.
See also
In Spanish: Alvarado (Texas) para niños
