Watauga, Texas | |
|---|---|
 City Hall facing north on 24 March 2016. | |
 Location withinTarrant County andTexas | |
| Coordinates:32°52′17″N97°14′57″W / 32.87139°N 97.24917°W /32.87139; -97.24917 | |
| 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 inTarrant County, Texas, United States, and asuburb ofFort Worth. The population was 23,650 at the2020 census. The city's businesses and retail markets are generally located onHighway 377.
The first settlers came to Tarrant County in 1843.[5] TheTexas 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 WarWatauga Association settlement that was located in the northeastern section ofEast Tennessee, in areas surrounding theSycamore Shoals of theWatauga River, near present-dayElizabethton, 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]
According to theUnited 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 ofKeller to the north,Fort Worth to the west,Haltom City to the southwest andNorth Richland Hills to the south and east. Almost all of the city's land area is located east ofUS 377, though a portion extends west of that highway and includes homes and some city offices.
| 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] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 13,316 | 56.3% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,461 | 6.18% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 103 | 0.44% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,461 | 6.18% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 108 | 0.46% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 119 | 0.5% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,103 | 4.66% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5,979 | 25.28% |
| Total | 23,650 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 23,650 people, 7,827 households, and 6,100 families residing in the city.
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 |
Capp Smith Park, Watauga Pavilion and Watauga Public Library are located in Watauga.
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]
Watauga is served by two independent school districts.Birdville serves a majority of the city, whileKeller serves the northwestern portion.
Places adjacent to Watauga, Texas | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofTarrant County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
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| Ghost towns | ||
| Footnotes | ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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