Watauga, Texas
Watauga, Texas | |
|---|---|
City Hall facing north on 24 March 2016. | |
Location within Tarrant County and Texas | |
| Coordinates: 32°52′17″N 97°14′57″W / 32.87139°N 97.24917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Tarrant |
| Government | |
| • Type | Home Rule (Mayor-Council-Manager) |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.16 sq mi (10.77 km2) |
| • Land | 4.16 sq mi (10.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 607 ft (185 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,650 |
| • Density | 5,687/sq mi (2,196/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 76148, 76137 |
| Area codes | 817, 682 |
| FIPS code | 48-76672[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2412191[2] |
| Website | www |
Watauga (/wɒˈtɔːɡə/)[4] is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 23,650 at the 2020 census. The city's businesses and retail markets are generally located on Highway 377.
History
The first settlers came to Tarrant County in 1843.[5] The Texas and Pacific Railway came through present-day Watauga in 1881, which spurred a settlement of large farms and ranches. The settlement took its name from the pre-Revolutionary War Watauga Association settlement that was located in the northeastern section of East Tennessee, in areas surrounding the Sycamore Shoals of the Watauga River, near present-day Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Watauga received a railroad station and a post office in 1883. The population was 65 in the mid-1930s and 1940s, when the railroad station had closed. The population then grew due to defense plants to over 1000 in the 1960s. The population continued to grow to 7,050 in 1976, and 20,000 in 1990.[6]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.8 km2), all land.
The city is entirely surrounded by the cities of Keller to the north, Fort Worth to the west, Haltom City to the southwest and North Richland Hills to the south and east. Almost all of the city's land area is located east of US 377, though a portion extends west of that highway and includes homes and some city offices.
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,778 | — | |
| 1980 | 10,284 | 172.2% | |
| 1990 | 20,009 | 94.6% | |
| 2000 | 21,908 | 9.5% | |
| 2010 | 23,497 | 7.3% | |
| 2020 | 23,650 | 0.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 23,313 | [7] | −1.4% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Watauga had a population of 23,650 people, 8,064 households, and 6,100 families. The median age was 35.7 years, with 25.4% of residents under the age of 18 and 12.5% aged 65 years or older. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.4 males age 18 and over.[9]
Of those 8,064 households, 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.2% were married-couple households, 14.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[9]
There were 8,292 housing units, of which 2.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%.[9]
As of the 2020 census, 100.0% of Watauga's population lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.[10]
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White | 14,671 | 62.0% |
| Black or African American | 1,516 | 6.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 223 | 0.9% |
| Asian | 1,483 | 6.3% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 114 | 0.5% |
| Some other race | 2,298 | 9.7% |
| Two or more races | 3,345 | 14.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 5,979 | 25.3% |
Economy
Top employers
According to Watauga's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[12] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birdville ISD | 250 |
| 2 | Target | 288 |
| 3 | City of Watauga | 190 |
| 4 | North Pointe Health & Rehab | 84 |
| 5 | Albertsons | 80 |
| 6 | Chili's | 70 |
| 7 | Keller ISD | 60 |
| 8 | Cotton Patch Cafe | 54 |
| 9 | Newman Academy | 50 |
| 10 | Fresco's | 23 |
Arts and culture
Capp Smith Park, Watauga Pavilion and Watauga Public Library are located in Watauga.
Government
Watauga is a full-service city, providing police, fire and emergency services, parks and recreation, a library, building inspection, economic development, city planning, and public works. The city operates under a Mayor-Council-Manager form of government. According to the city's 2013-2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $25.5 million in revenues, $23.3 million in expenditures, $102.8 million in total assets, $32.8 million in total liabilities, and $27.5 million in cash and investments.[13]
Education
Watauga is served by two independent school districts. Birdville serves a majority of the city, while Keller serves the northwestern portion.
Infrastructure
Notes
References
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Watauga, Texas
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Watauga Definition and Meaning. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
- ^ City of Watauga website
- ^ Handbook of Texas Online
- ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ City of Watauga ACFR Retrieved 2025-11-17
- ^ City of Watauga 2013-14 CAFR Retrieved 2015-06-22
External links
- City of Watauga, official website