Iowa Park, Texas
History
Iowa Park was founded in 1888 alongside the tracks of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway by D. C. and A. J. Kolp. Originally called Daggett Switch, it soon became a shipping point for cotton and wheat. Hard times came in the early 1890s when a drought hit, but by 1900, the town had a significant population.
The population fell during the early part of the century, but an oil discovery in 1918 reversed the dip. By 1926, the population was staying higher. A concrete highway connecting Iowa Park with Wichita Falls was built in 1927. In the mid-1930s, Iowa Park maintained its population, while most other towns declined.
Sheppard Air Force Base provided a minor drawback in the 1950s, but by the end of the decade, the population was still holding up. The late 1960s brought two state football championships and a 20% growth in population which continued into the '70s.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.4 km), of which 3.6 square miles (9.4 km) are land and 0.4 square mile (1.0 km) of which (9.68%) is covered by water.
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 424 | — | |
| 1910 | 603 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,041 | 238.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,009 | −1.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,980 | −1.4% | |
| 1950 | 2,110 | 6.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,295 | 56.2% | |
| 1970 | 5,796 | 75.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,184 | 6.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,069 | −1.9% | |
| 2000 | 6,432 | 6.0% | |
| 2010 | 6,355 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 6,535 | 2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 5,557 | 85.03% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 46 | 0.7% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 82 | 1.25% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 15 | 0.23% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 328 | 5.02% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 467 | 7.15% |
| Total | 6,535 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,535 people, 2,579 households, and 1,605 families residing in the city.
Education
The City of Iowa Park is served by the Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District. The schools within this district include Kidwell Elementary, Bradford Elementary, W.F. George Middle School, and Iowa Park High School.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal Service operates the Iowa Park Post Office.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the James V. Allred Unit in Wichita Falls, in proximity to Iowa Park.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Iowa Park has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.