According to tradition, the land where the city of Wichita Falls is presently located, in southeast Wichita County, was acquired in a poker game by John A. Scott of Mississippi in 1837. In fact, Scott acquired the tract by purchasing Texas land certificates, which he packed away and promptly forgot. Years later the certificates were rediscovered by Scott's heirs, who commissioned M. W. Seeley to map out a town site on the tract on the Wichita River.
The City of Wichita Falls is comfortably nestled in the North East corner of the Panhandle/Plains area of North Texas. Wichita Falls is an economically progressive city home to commerce and industry with worldwide interests.
The city’s original namesake falls washed away in a flood back in the 1800’s. In 1987 a new falls was constructed upstream. The present 54-foot man-made waterfall is a multi-level cascade on the south bank of the Wichita River.
Sheppard AFB is the largest employer in the area with 3,700 permanent party, an average of 5,700 students, and 4,041 civilian employees. The estimated impact of SAFB on local economy is $612 million annually. In addition, there are three American Legions and four Veterans of Foreign Wars posts within the community. The Municipal Airport is co-located with Sheppard's airfield.
Today, Wichita Falls offers its citizens and visitors a unique blend of culture and western heritage. The City enjoys multi-cultural influences from around the world and is home to an impressive roster of Fortune 500 companies and foreign manufacturers from Sweden, France, and Switzerland. A strong economy can be attributed primarily to growth in the three major sectors of Government, Manufacturing and Healthcare.
Housing Cost
The average sale price of a home in Wichita Falls was $118,491 in February 2207, according to a survey by Wichita Falls Association of Realtors Inc.
Demographics
Estimated population in July 2005: 99,846. Wichita Falls covers 70.0 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 954 feet above sea level.
Area code: 940
Climate
Wichita Falls, TX climate is hot during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's and cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 40's.
The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 96.60 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 27.10 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 26 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Wichita Falls is 31.03 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 4.46 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
