Alvarado (/ˌælvəˈrd/ AL-və-RAY-doh) is the oldest city in Johnson County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,739 in 2020.[5]

Alvarado
Motto: 
"The Crossroads of Johnson County"[1]
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Map
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Alvarado is located in Texas
Alvarado
Alvarado
Alvarado is located in the United States
Alvarado
Alvarado
Alvarado is located in North America
Alvarado
Alvarado
Coordinates: 32°23′23″N 97°14′12″W / 32.38972°N 97.23667°W / 32.38972; -97.23667
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyJohnson
Incorporated (city)1885
Government
 • TypeManager-council government
Area
 • Total4.89 sq mi (12.68 km2)
 • Land4.15 sq mi (10.76 km2)
 • Water0.74 sq mi (1.92 km2)
Elevation725 ft (221 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total4,739
 • Density970/sq mi (370/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76009
Area code(s)817, 682
FIPS code48-02260[4]
GNIS feature ID2409691[3]
Websitewww.cityofalvarado.org

The community's first sheriff, A. H. Onstoott, is credited with naming Alvarado for Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico, where he fought in a battle during the Mexican–American War.[citation needed]

Geography

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Alvarado is located in eastern Johnson County at the intersection of US Highway 67 and Interstate 35W. The city is 26 miles (42 km) south of the center of Fort Worth and 39 miles (63 km) southwest of Dallas.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Alvarado has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.5 km2), of which 4.1 square miles (10.6 km2) are land and 0.73 square miles (1.9 km2), or 15.35%, are water.[6] The water area comprises Alvarado Park Lake, a reservoir on Turkey Creek 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the city. Alvarado is drained by the North Fork of Chambers Creek, a southeast-flowing stream that is part of the Trinity River watershed.

Alvarado's nearest neighboring communities are Venus to the east, Keene to the west, Burleson to the north, and Grandview to the south.

Climate

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The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Alvarado has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[7]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880377
18901,543309.3%
19001,342−13.0%
19101,155−13.9%
19201,28411.2%
19301,210−5.8%
19401,3249.4%
19501,65625.1%
19601,90715.2%
19702,12911.6%
19802,70126.9%
19902,9188.0%
20003,28812.7%
20103,78515.1%
20204,73925.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
Alvarado racial composition as of 2020[5]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 2,875 60.67%
Black or African American (NH) 256 5.4%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 22 0.46%
Asian (NH) 35 0.74%
Pacific Islander (NH) 3 0.06%
Some Other Race (NH) 13 0.27%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 248 5.23%
Hispanic or Latino 1,287 27.16%
Total 4,739

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 4,739 people, 1,388 households, and 1,184 families residing in the city.

 
Barnett Shale gas drilling rig near Alvarado, Texas (2008)

Economy

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Alvarado is a rural community with an economy that has been primarily agricultural with only a modest retail and industrial base. In recent years the trend has been away from agriculture and toward more urban development. In 2007 Sabre Tubular Structures built a new 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m2) facility located on 147 acres (59 ha) on the eastern side of town. Sabre has over 200 employees at this facility.[11] The city received a 2008 grant of $750,000 from the Texas Department of Agriculture for infrastructure improvements related to Sabre.[12]

Barnett Shale

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In the latter part of the 2000s, development of natural gas wells in the Barnett Shale were a source of prosperity for the city and many property owners benefited from drilling activity, pipeline construction and royalty payments. As natural gas prices fell in 2009, drilling activity and royalty payments declined rapidly.

Recreation

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  • Alvarado Park Lake is located on the west side of the city, three miles (5 km) west of I-35W.
  • Alvarado Parkway Park

Government

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Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists building

The city uses a council-manager government, with a mayor and six city council members representing three wards, one being the mayor pro tempore.

The city's 2009–10 general fund budget was $3.9 million.[13]

Education

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The city is served by the Alvarado Independent School District. There are no colleges or universities in Alvarado, although residents pay a Hill College maintenance tax and residents receive in-district student rates.

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "City of Alvarado". City of Alvarado. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alvarado, Texas
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Alvarado city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  7. ^ Climate Summary for Alvarado, Texas
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  10. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "Sabre Tubular Structures Announces New Manufacturing Facility in Alvarado, Texas". Sabre Tubular Structures. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  12. ^ "Commissioner Todd Staples Awards City Of Alvarado $750,000 For Economic Development". Texas Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  13. ^ "City of Alvarado Proposed Annual Budget Fiscal Year 2009-2010". City of Alvarado. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  1. ^ 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 can be of any race.[9][10]
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