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Parker County, Texas facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Parmer County, Texas.
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Parker County
U.S. county
The Parker County courthouse in Weatherford
The Parker County courthouse in Weatherford
Flag of Parker County
Flag
Map of Texas highlighting Parker County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded 1856
Named for Isaac Parker, Texas legislator
Seat Weatherford
Largest city Weatherford
Area
 • Total 910 sq mi (2,400 km2)
 • Land 903 sq mi (2,340 km2)
 • Water 6.6 sq mi (17 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 148,222 Increase
 • Density 160/sq mi (60/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 12th, 25th

Parker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 148,222. The county seat is Weatherford. The county was created in 1855 and organized the following year. It is named for Isaac Parker, a state legislator who introduced the bill that established the county in 1855. Parker later fought in the Texas Brigade.

Parker County is included in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 910 square miles (2,400 km2), of which 903 square miles (2,340 km2) are land and 6.6 square miles (17 km2) (0.7%) are covered by water. The county is intersected by the Brazos River.

Highest point

Main article: Slipdown Mountain

Slipdown Mountain and Slipdown Bluff, at a height of 1,368 feet (417 m), are the highest points in Parker County. They are located just east of the Advance community, southwest of Poolville.

Major highways

  • I-20
  • I-30
  • US 180
  • US 377
  • FM 5
  • FM 51
  • FM 52
  • FM 113
  • SH 171
  • SH 199
  • SH 312
  • FM 920

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities (multiple counties)

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1860 4,213 —
1870 4,186 −0.6%
1880 15,870 279.1%
1890 21,682 36.6%
1900 25,823 19.1%
1910 26,331 2.0%
1920 23,382 −11.2%
1930 18,759 −19.8%
1940 20,482 9.2%
1950 21,528 5.1%
1960 22,880 6.3%
1970 33,888 48.1%
1980 44,609 31.6%
1990 64,785 45.2%
2000 88,495 36.6%
2010 116,927 32.1%
2020 148,220 26.8%
2023 (est.) 173,494 48.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010 2020
Parker County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
  White alone (NH) 78,980 99,698 117,747 89.25% 85.27% 79.44%
  Black or African American alone (NH) 1,559 1,842 1,636 1.76% 1.58% 1.10%
  Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 518 768 878 0.59% 0.66% 0.59%
Asian alone (NH) 298 631 990 0.34% 0.54% 0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 19 35 97 0.02% 0.03% 0.07%
Other race alone (NH) 58 64 470 0.07% 0.05% 0.32%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 852 1,479 6,585 0.96% 1.26% 4.44%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6,211 12,410 19,819 7.02% 10.61% 13.37%
Total 88,495 116,927 148,222 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

In 2000, the county had a population of 88,495; by 2020, its population increased to 148,222. Among the 2020 census population, the racial and ethnic makeup was 79.44% non-Hispanic white, 13.37% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 4.44% multiracial, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.67% Asian alone, 0.59% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.32% some other race, and 0.07% Pacific Islander.

American Community Survey 2023 Data

The United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2023, Parker County’s population was 173,494. It was also estimated that the county was 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, 79.6% NH White, 1.8% NH Black, 0.9% NH Asian, 0.7% NH Native American, 0.1% NH Pacific Islander, 1.8% NH Multiracial.

Race Total Percentage
Hispanic or Latino 26,265 15.1%
NH White 138,142 79.6%
NH Black 3,164 1.8%
NH Asian 1,587 0.9%
NH Native American 1,037 0.7%
NH Pacific Islander 139 0.1%
NH Multiracial 3,064 1.8%

Notable people

  • Oliver Loving, developer of the Loving-Goodnight Cattle Trail
  • Bose Ikard, trusted cattle driver of Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight
  • Mary Martin, star of stage and screen
  • S.W.T. Lanham, last Confederate veteran to serve as governor of Texas
  • Jim Wright, youngest mayor of Weatherford, Texas, and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Parker para niños

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