Wichita Falls, Texas#Media

{{see also|Timeline of Wichita Falls, Texas}}

File:Old map-Wichita Falls-1890.jpg

File:Kemp-Kell Building, 1910.JPG

From the early 18th century to the mid 19th century, the Wichita Falls area was inhabited by the Wichita and the Comanche people. The Spanish called the lands controlled by the Comanche as Comancheria. The Wichita were forced onto a reservation in Oklahoma after 1859. The last battle with the Comanche in this area occurred in 1872 and the Comanche were finally defeated in 1874.{{cite web |last1=Elam |first1=Earl H. |title=Wichita Indians |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/wichita-indians |website=Texas Almanac |publisher=Texas State Historical Association}}{{cite web |last1=LIpscomb |first1=Carol A. |title=Comanche Indians |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/comanche-indians |website=Texas Almanac |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=1 March 2025}}

Anglo American presence in the area began in the 1860s.{{cite web |last1=Hendrickson, Jr. |first1=Kenneth E. |title=Wichita Fall, TX |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/wichita-falls-tx |website=Texas Almanac |publisher=Texas State Historical Association}} The future city was platted and named Wichita Falls on September 27, 1876, as the Wichita River runs through the area and a waterfall was in the river's course in 1876. The first permanent resident arrived in 1879. In 1886, a flood destroyed the original waterfall on the Wichita River for which the city was named.{{cite web |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rnw06 |title=Wichita River |work=Handbook of Texas Online |access-date=April 12, 2013 |publisher=Texas State Historical Association }}{{cite web |url=https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo16678 |title=Assessment of Channel Changes, Models of Historical Floods and Effects of Backwater on Flood Stage, and Flood Mitigation Alternatives for the Wichita River at Wichita Falls, Texas |work=United States Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5175 |first1=Karl E. |last1=Winters |first2=Stanley |last2=Baldys III |year=2011 }}{{Cite web |title=Wichita Falls - Time Line |url=https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19742/Wichita-Falls-Time-Line-1872-1993?bidId= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155345/https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19742/Wichita-Falls-Time-Line-1872-1993?bidId= |archive-date=2023-11-01 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=wichitafallstx.gov}} The city built an artificial waterfall in 1987 beside the river in Lucy Park. The recreated falls are {{convert|54|ft|m|abbr=on}} high.

On the day the city was named in 1876, a sale of town lots was held at what is now the corner of Seventh and Ohio Streets – the birthplace of the city.{{cite news|title=Full circle: residences, businesses returning to spot where Wichita Falls began |first=Richard |last=Carter |newspaper=Wichita Falls Times Record News |issn=0895-6138|page=A1 |location=Wichita Falls, Texas|date=November 29, 2005|quote=They say business and people have been moving westward in Wichita Falls ever since the city was born on Sept. 27, 1872. The birthplace of the city-the corner of Seventh and Ohio Streets, where the original town lot sale was held – is once again blossoming with renovated apartment buildings, new businesses and increased traffic.|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WFTB&p_theme=wftb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=residences,%20AND%20businesses%20AND%20returning%20AND%20to%20AND%20spot%20AND%20where%20AND%20Wichita%20AND%20Falls%20AND%20began&s_dispstring=residences,%20businesses%20returning%20to%20spot%20where%20Wichita%20Falls%20began%20AND%20date(11/1/2005%20to%2012/1/2005)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=11/1/2005%20to%2012/1/2005)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|access-date=October 9, 2010 }} The Fort Worth & Denver City Railway arrived in September 1882, the same year the city became the county seat of Wichita County.{{cite web|url=http://wichita-falls-texas.com/history/|title=Wichita Falls History |work=WichitaFallsTexas.com|access-date=October 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905112801/http://wichita-falls-texas.com/history/|archive-date=September 5, 2010|url-status=dead}} The city grew westwards from the original FW&DC train depot which was located at the northwest corner of Seventh Street and the FW&DC. This area is now referred to as the Depot Square Historic District,{{cite news|title=Cowboys Mosey On, But Littlest Skyscraper Remains |first=Bill |last=Whitaker |newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|issn=0199-3267|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company |location=Abilene, Texas |date=August 20, 1998|quote=But when the building was done, investors discovered the skyscraper was only 30 feet tall, 18 feet deep and 10 feet wide. And of the reportedly $200,000 sunk into the skyscraper's construction – well, that was plainly gone with the wind.|url=http://www.texnews.com/1998/brazos/bill0820.html|access-date=October 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614100718/http://www.texnews.com/1998/brazos/bill0820.html|archive-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal |title=Legend of the World's Littlest Skyscraper |first=Carlton |last=Stowers |journal=Texas Co-op Power |volume=65|issue=1|page=25|publisher=Texas Electric Cooperatives |location=Austin, Texas|date=July 2008|url=http://www.texascooppower.com/content/tcp0807.pdf|access-date=October 9, 2010}} which has been declared a Texas Historic Landmark.{{cite news|title=Historic District Could Expand|author=Le Templar|newspaper=Wichita Falls Times Record News|issn=0895-6138|page=A1 |location=Wichita Falls, Texas|date=March 19, 1999|quote=The Wichita Falls Landmark Commission wants to more than double the size of the downtown historic district in an effort to slow the loss of buildings that proclaim the city's heritage. Commission members voted unanimously Thursday for expanding the district to include a total of 77 buildings on Indiana and Ohio streets.|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WFTB&p_theme=wftb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Historic%20AND%20District%20AND%20Could%20AND%20Expand&s_dispstring=Historic%20District%20Could%20Expand%20AND%20date(3/1/1999%20to%204/1/1999)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=3/1/1999%20to%204/1/1999)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|access-date=October 9, 2010 }}

The early history of Wichita Falls well into the 20th century also rests on the work of two entrepreneurs, Joseph A. Kemp{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fke14|title=Brian Hart, "Joseph Alexander Kemp"|publisher=Texas State Historical Association |access-date=April 15, 2013}} and his brother-in-law, Frank Kell. Kemp and Kell were pioneers in food processing and retailing, flour milling, railroads, cattle, banking, and oil.{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fke07|title=Kell, Frank|encyclopedia=The Handbook of Texas|access-date=April 16, 2013}}

The city is home to the Newby-McMahon Building (otherwise known as the "world's littlest skyscraper"), constructed downtown in 1919 and featured in Robert Ripley's Ripley's Believe It or Not!.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Downtown Wichita Falls was the city's main shopping area for many years. Those shops lost ground to the creation of new shopping centers throughout the city beginning with Parker Square in 1953 and other similar developments during the 1960s and 1970s, culminating with the opening of Sikes Senter Mall in 1974. The city has been seeking funding to rebuild and restore the downtown area since 2010.

Wichita Falls was once home to offices of several oil companies and related industries, along with oil refineries operated by the Continental Oil Company (now ConocoPhillips) until 1952 and Panhandle Oil Company (founded in Wichita Falls, sold to American Petrofina in 1965).{{cite web|url=http://www.totalpetrochemicalsrefiningusa.com/who_we_are/history.asp|title=Who We Are}} Both firms continued to use a portion of their former refineries as gasoline/oil terminal facilities for many years.

{{Main|1964 Wichita Falls tornado}}

A powerful F5-rated tornado hit the northern and northwestern portions of Wichita Falls, along with Sheppard Air Force Base during the afternoon of April 3, 1964 (later referred to as "Black Friday"). As the first violent tornado on record to hit the Wichita Falls area,{{cite web |title=Wichita Falls, TX Tornadoes (1900-Present) |url=http://www.weather.gov/oun/tornadodata-city-tx-wichita_falls |work=National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma|access-date=March 23, 2017}} it left seven dead and more than 100 injured. Additionally, the tornado caused roughly $15 million in property damage with about 225 homes destroyed and another 250 damaged.{{Cite web|url=https://texasarchive.org/2012_00678|title=Wichita Falls Tornado (1964)|website=Texas Archive of the Moving Image|access-date=December 1, 2019}} It was rated F5, the highest rating on the Fujita scale, but it is overshadowed by the 1979 tornado.{{cite book|last=Grazulis|first=Thomas P.|title=Significant tornadoes, 1680-1991: A Chronology an Analysis of Events|year=1993|publisher=Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont |isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=1050}}

{{Main|1979 Red River Valley tornado outbreak#Wichita Falls, Texas}}

An F4 tornado struck the heavily populated southern sections of Wichita Falls in the late afternoon on Tuesday, April 10, 1979 (known as "Terrible Tuesday"). It was part of an outbreak that produced 30 tornadoes around the region. Despite having nearly an hour's advance warning that severe weather was imminent, 42 people were killed (including 25 in vehicles) and 1,800 were injured because it arrived just as many people were driving home from work.{{cite web|title=Synopsis and Discussion of the 10 April 1979 Tornado Outbreak|publisher=National Weather Service Norman, Oklahoma|date=January 19, 2010|url=http://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19790410-burgess|access-date=March 14, 2011}} It left 20,000 people homeless and caused $400 million in damage, a U.S. record not topped by an individual tornado until the F5 Moore–Oklahoma City tornado of May 3, 1999.{{cite web|title=The Great Plains Tornado Outbreak of May 3-4, 1999 |work=National Weather Service |location=Norman, Oklahoma |date=November 20, 2009 |url=http://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19990503|access-date=December 4, 2009}}

Wichita Falls is about {{convert|15|mi}} south of the border with Oklahoma, {{convert|115|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of Fort Worth, and {{convert|140|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Oklahoma City. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|70.71|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|0.02|sqmi}} (0.03%) is covered by water.{{cite web|title=Geographic Comparison Table- Texas|work=American Fast Facts|publisher=United States Census Bureau|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US48&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=PEP_2008_EST_GCTT1R_ST9S&-format=ST-7|access-date=January 29, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212034738/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US48&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=PEP_2008_EST_GCTT1R_ST9S&-format=ST-7|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Wichita Falls experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), featuring long, very hot and humid summers, and cool winters. The city has some of the highest summer daily maximum temperatures in the entire U.S. outside of the Desert Southwest. Temperatures have hit {{convert|100|°F|0}} as early as March 27 and as late as October 17, but more typically reach that level on 28 days annually, with 102 days of {{convert|90|°F|0}} or higher annually; the average window for the latter mark is April 9–October 10. However, 59 to 60 nights of freezing lows occur, and an average of 4.8 days where the high does not rise above freezing. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from {{convert|42.0|°F|1}} in January to {{convert|84.4|°F|1}} in July. The record low temperature is {{convert|−12|°F|0}} on January 4, 1947. The highest recorded temperature is {{convert|117|°F|0}} on June 28, 1980. Snowfall is sporadic and averages {{convert|4.1|in|cm|abbr=on}} per season, while rainfall is typically greatest in early summer.

From 2010 through 2013, Wichita Falls, along with a large portion of the south-central US, experienced a persistent drought. In September 2011, Wichita Falls became the first Texas city[http://www.livescience.com/16059-wichita-falls-texas-100-days-100-degrees.html LiveScience]. Accessed 2014-05-06 to have 100 days of {{convert|100|°F|0}} or higher within one year.{{efn|The previous record was 79 in 1980.}} On every day from June 22 to August 12, the temperature reached 100 °F or higher, and from May 27 to September 3, the temperature reached 90 °F or higher. In addition, the all-time warm daily minimum of {{convert|88|°F|0}} was set on July 26, and June, July, and August of that year were all the hottest on record.

During the 2015 Texas–Oklahoma floods, Wichita Falls broke its all-time record for the wettest month, with 17.00 inches of rain recorded in May 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/05/26/after-massive-storms-in-oklahoma-and-texas-at-least-six-people-and-tens-of-thousands-without-power/|title=After massive storms in Oklahoma and Texas, at least nine killed and 30 people missing|date=26 May 2015|author=Washington Post|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

{{Weather box

|location = Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita Falls Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1923–present

|single line = Yes

|collapsed = yes

|Jan record high F = 87

|Feb record high F = 94

|Mar record high F = 100

|Apr record high F = 103

|May record high F = 110

|Jun record high F = 117

|Jul record high F = 115

|Aug record high F = 113

|Sep record high F = 112

|Oct record high F = 102

|Nov record high F = 91

|Dec record high F = 91

|Jan avg record high F = 76.9

|Feb avg record high F = 81.9

|Mar avg record high F = 88.2

|Apr avg record high F = 91.9

|May avg record high F = 97.4

|Jun avg record high F = 101.1

|Jul avg record high F = 105.5

|Aug avg record high F = 105.2

|Sep avg record high F = 100.4

|Oct avg record high F = 93.4

|Nov avg record high F = 82.8

|Dec avg record high F = 77.2

|year avg record high F = 107.3

|Jan high F = 54.7

|Feb high F = 59.0

|Mar high F = 67.9

|Apr high F = 76.0

|May high F = 83.9

|Jun high F = 92.0

|Jul high F = 97.2

|Aug high F = 96.6

|Sep high F = 88.3

|Oct high F = 77.3

|Nov high F = 65.2

|Dec high F = 55.7

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 42.4

|Feb mean F = 46.3

|Mar mean F = 54.7

|Apr mean F = 62.8

|May mean F = 71.8

|Jun mean F = 80.1

|Jul mean F = 84.7

|Aug mean F = 84.1

|Sep mean F = 76.0

|Oct mean F = 64.6

|Nov mean F = 52.7

|Dec mean F = 43.7

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 30.0

|Feb low F = 33.6

|Mar low F = 41.6

|Apr low F = 49.6

|May low F = 59.7

|Jun low F = 68.3

|Jul low F = 72.2

|Aug low F = 71.5

|Sep low F = 63.8

|Oct low F = 51.9

|Nov low F = 40.2

|Dec low F = 31.8

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 15.7

|Feb avg record low F = 19.0

|Mar avg record low F = 24.3

|Apr avg record low F = 34.4

|May avg record low F = 44.9

|Jun avg record low F = 59.9

|Jul avg record low F = 65.3

|Aug avg record low F = 63.5

|Sep avg record low F = 50.7

|Oct avg record low F = 35.9

|Nov avg record low F = 24.8

|Dec avg record low F = 17.3

|year avg record low F = 11.8

|Jan record low F = -12

|Feb record low F = -8

|Mar record low F = 6

|Apr record low F = 24

|May record low F = 35

|Jun record low F = 50

|Jul record low F = 54

|Aug record low F = 53

|Sep record low F = 38

|Oct record low F = 21

|Nov record low F = 14

|Dec record low F = -7

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.20

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.40

|Mar precipitation inch = 2.02

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.50

|May precipitation inch = 3.81

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.35

|Jul precipitation inch = 2.02

|Aug precipitation inch = 2.53

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.99

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.88

|Nov precipitation inch = 1.63

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.56

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 4.6

|Feb precipitation days = 4.9

|Mar precipitation days = 6.5

|Apr precipitation days = 6.6

|May precipitation days = 9.1

|Jun precipitation days = 7.3

|Jul precipitation days = 5.2

|Aug precipitation days = 6.0

|Sep precipitation days = 6.3

|Oct precipitation days = 6.9

|Nov precipitation days = 5.2

|Dec precipitation days = 4.5

|Jan snow inch = 0.7

|Feb snow inch = 1.1

|Mar snow inch = 0.2

|Apr snow inch = 0.0

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.3

|Dec snow inch = 0.8

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 0.3

|Feb snow days = 0.5

|Mar snow days = 0.1

|Apr snow days = 0.0

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.2

|Dec snow days = 0.5

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00013966&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Wichita Falls MUNI AP, TX

|access-date = May 3, 2023

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=oun

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Norman

|access-date = May 3, 2023

}}

}}

Notes: {{notelist}}

{{US Census population

|1890= 1978

|1900= 2480

|1910= 8200

|1920= 40079

|1930= 43690

|1940= 45112

|1950= 68042

|1960= 101724

|1970= 96265

|1980= 94201

|1990= 96259

|2000= 104197

|2010= 104553

|2020= 102316

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=2012-04-21}}
Texas Almanac: 1850–2000{{cite web|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf|title=Texas Almanac: City Population History 1850–2000|access-date=2012-04-21}}

}}

{{As of|2022|pre=the}} American Community Survey estimates, there were {{formatnum:102659}} people and {{formatnum:38057}} households.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP1Y2022.DP02?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Selected Social Characteristics in the United States for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP1Y2022.DP05?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Demographic and Housing Estimates for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|1421.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were {{formatnum:42641}} housing units at an average density of {{convert|590.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}.To calculate density we use the land area figure from the places file in {{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html | title = The 2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files}}{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2022.B25001?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Housing Units for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} The racial makeup of the city was 72.1% White, 10.8% Black or African American, 3.6% some other race, 2.8% Asian, 1.0% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and 0.6% Native American or Alaskan Native, with 9.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 22.4% of the population.

Of the {{formatnum:38057}} households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.4% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% were couples cohabitating, 24.0% had a male householder with no partner present, and 29.0% had a female householder with no partner present. The median household size was {{formatnum:2.39}} and the median family size was {{formatnum:2.98}}.

The age distribution was 22.9% under 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was {{formatnum:34.4}} years.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S0101?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Age and Sex for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} For every 100 females, there were {{formatnum:114.6}} males.

The median income for a household was ${{formatnum:56091}}, with family households having a median income of ${{formatnum:71975}} and non-family households ${{formatnum:35403}}. The per capita income was ${{formatnum:31730}}.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1901?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1902?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Mean Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}} Out of the {{formatnum:90842}} people with a determined poverty status, 15.2% were below the poverty line. Further, 21.4% of minors and 16.3% of seniors were below the poverty line.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST1Y2022.S1701?g=160XX00US4879000 | title= 2022 American Community Survey 1 Year Estimate: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months for Wichita Falls city, TX | access-date = 2024-06-21 | publisher = United States Census Bureau}}

In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People of German descent made up 9.6% of the population of the town, followed by Irish at 6.5%, English at 6.3%, American at 5.1%, Italian at 2.7%, Swedish at 1.9%, Scotch-Irish at 1.1%, Dutch at 1.1%, Sub-Saharan African at 1.0%, Scottish at 0.9%, French at 0.9%, and Norwegian at 0.8%.

File:82d Training Wing Memorial Day Parade.jpg]]

According to Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, the top employers in the city are:

{{see also|List of newspapers in Texas|List of radio stations in Texas|List of television stations in Texas}}

Wichita Falls' media market also includes the nearby, smaller city of Lawton, Oklahoma. According to Nielsen Media Research estimates for the 2016–17 season, the market – which encompasses 10 counties in western North Texas and six counties in southwestern Oklahoma, has 152,950 households with at least one television set, making it the 148th-largest television market in the United States; the market also has an average of 120,200 radio listeners ages 12 and over, making it the 250th-largest radio market in the nation.{{cite web|title=Local Television Market Universe Estimates|url=http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/docs/solutions/measurement/television/2016-2017-nielsen-local-dma-ranks.pdf|publisher=Nielsen Media Research|access-date=August 2, 2017}}{{cite web|title=RADIO MARKET SURVEY POPULATION, RANKINGS & INFORMATION: FALL 2016|url=http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/docs/nielsen-audio/market_populations_and_rankings_2016.pdf|publisher=Nielsen Media Research|access-date=August 2, 2017}}

• Times Record News (daily)
• Falls News Journal (daily)

• KFDX-TV (channel 3; NBC, and digital subchannel 3.3; The CW)
• KAUZ-TV (channel 6; CBS)
• KSWO-TV (channel 7; ABC, and digital subchannel 7.2; Telemundo)
• KJTL (channel 18; Fox)
• KJBO-LD (channel 35; MyNetworkTV)

KERA-TV out of Dallas–Fort Worth serves as the default PBS member station for Wichita Falls via a translator station on UHF channel 44.

• KWFS (1290 AM; news/talk radio)
• KMCU (88.7 FM; National Public Radio)
• KMOC (89.5 FM; Contemporary Christian)
• KZKL (90.5 FM; Contemporary Christian)
• KNIN (92.9 FM; CHR)
• KOLI (94.9 FM; Modern Country)
• KTWF (95.5 FM; Classic hits)
• KXXN (97.5 FM; Classic Country)
• KLUR (99.9 FM; Country)
• KWFB (100.9 FM; Adult hits)
• KWFS-FM (102.3 FM; Modern Country)
• KQXC (103.9 FM; Rhythmic CHR)
• KYYI (104.7 FM; Classic rock)
• KBZS (106.3 FM; Active rock)

File:Kay Yeager Coliseum, Wichita Falls, TX IMG 6903.JPG]]

Lucy Park is a {{convert|170|acre|ha|adj=on}} park with a log cabin, duck pond, swimming pool, playground, frisbee golf course, and picnic areas. It has multiple paved walkways suitable for walking, running, biking, or rollerskating, including a river walk that goes to a man-made waterfall feature in lieu of the original falls for which the city was named (the original falls, located in the river, were destroyed in a 19th-century flood; the new waterfall attraction, located in the park and discharging into the river, were built in response to numerous tourist requests to visit the "Wichita Falls"). It is one of 37 parks throughout the city. The parks range in size from small neighborhood facilities to the 258 acres of Weeks Park featuring the Champions Course at Weeks Park, an 18-hole golf course. In addition, an off-leash dog park is within Lake Wichita Park and a skatepark adjacent to the city's softball complex. Also, unpaved trails for off-road biking and hiking are available.{{Cite web |title=Lucy Park {{!}} Wichita Falls, TX - Official Website |url=https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/69/Lucy-Park |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=www.wichitafallstx.gov}}

The Wichita Falls Circle Trail system consists of over 24 miles of concrete trail that goes around the city. Almost all of the trails are 10-foot wide reinforced concrete. They can be used for walking, jogging, bicycling, and rollerblading. Started in 1987 and completed in 2025, the trail takes riders through several of the city parks and across a wide range of environments.{{Cite web |title=Circle Trail {{!}} Wichita Falls, TX - Official Website |url=https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/86/Circle-Trail |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.wichitafallstx.gov}} It includes an off-shoot, the Wee-Chi-Tah Off Road Trail. This 13-mile loop has been voted the best in Texas.{{Cite web |title=Wee-Chi-Tah Off Road Trail {{!}} Wichita Falls, TX - Official Website |url=https://www.wichitafallstx.gov/1498/Wee-Chi-Tah-Off-Road-Trail |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=www.wichitafallstx.gov}}

Wichita Falls is the home of the annual Hotter'N Hell Hundred, the largest single-day century bicycle ride in the United States and one of the largest races in the world. The race started as a way for the city to celebrate its centennial in 1982. The race takes place over a weekend in August, and multiple events are hosted for people to participate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hh100.org/|title=Hotter'N Hell|website=Hotter'N Hell|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-04}}

In 2014, the Wichita Falls Nighthawks, an indoor football team, joined the Indoor Football League{{cite web |url=http://newstalk1290.com/wichita-falls-nighthawks-join-ifl/ |title=Wichita Falls Nighthawks Officially Join IFL – Indoor Football League [VIDEO] |author=Chris Koettler |date=August 26, 2014 |publisher=Townsquare Media EEO |work=www.newstalk1290.com |access-date=February 18, 2017}} but suspended operations after the 2017 season.

{{citation needed span|The city has also been home to a number of semiprofessional, developmental, and minor league sports teams, including the Wichita Falls Drillers (bankrupt 2002), a semipro football team that won numerous league titles and a national championship; the professional basketball team Wichita Falls Texans (relocated 1994, bankrupt 1996) of the Continental Basketball Association; Wichita Falls Fever (bankrupt 1992) in the Lone Star Soccer Alliance; the Wichita Falls Spudders baseball team (bankrupt 1957) in the Texas League; the Wichita Falls Wildcats (bankrupt 2017) of the North American Hockey League, an American Tier II junior hockey league; and the Wichita Falls Roughnecks (bankrupt 2008) of the Texas Collegiate League.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} The Dallas Cowboys held training camp in Wichita Falls during the late 1990s.|date=November 2023}} In 2015, it was acknowledged that the sustainability of minor or rookie league sports franchises in the Wichita Falls region had a questionable future.{{cite web |url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=2027 |title=Buss: Minor league baseball a long shot for Wichita Falls |publisher=Pecos League |date=June 25, 2015}}

The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame relocated to Wichita Falls from Amsterdam, New York, in November 2015 and closed in 2022.

The mayor of Wichita Falls is Tim Short, who was elected on November 7, 2023. Mayors are elected on a nonpartisan ballot.

The Wichita Falls City Council has six members:

• District 1: Whitney Flack
• District 2: Robert Brooks
• District 3: Jeff Browning
• District 4: Mike Battaglino
• District 5: Tom Taylor
• At-large: Austin Cobb

The city manager is James McKechnie.

Wichita Falls is located in the 69th district of the Texas House of Representatives. Lanham Lyne, a Republican, represented the district from 2011 to 2013; he was the mayor of Wichita Falls from 2005 to 2010. When Lyne declined to seek a second term in 2012, voters chose another Republican, James Frank. Wichita Falls is located in the 30th district of the Texas Senate. Craig Estes, a Republican, had held the senate seat since 2001, until Pat Fallon won election in 2018. Wichita Falls is part of Texas's 13th congressional district for the U.S. House of Representatives. Ronny Jackson, a Republican, has held this seat since 2021.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice James V. Allred Unit is located in Wichita Falls, {{convert|4|mi|km|abbr=on}} northwest of downtown. The prison is named for former Governor James V. Allred, a Democrat and a native of Bowie, Texas, who lived early in his career in Wichita Falls."{{cite web|url= http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/ja.htm|title= Allred Unit|publisher= Texas Department of Criminal Justice|access-date= October 4, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100725200913/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/unitdirectory/ja.htm|archive-date= July 25, 2010|url-status= dead}} The United States Postal Service operates the Wichita Falls Post Office, the Morningside Post Office, the Bridge Creek Post Office, and the Sheppard Air Force Base Post Office.{{cite web|url= http://usps.whitepages.com/post_office/TX/Wichita%20Falls|title= Post Office Locations in the WICHITA FALLS, TX area|publisher= The United States Postal Service|access-date= October 4, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101004234602/http://usps.whitepages.com/post_office/TX/WICHITA%20FALLS|archive-date= October 4, 2010|url-status= dead}}

Public primary and secondary education is covered by the following school districts: Wichita Falls Independent School District, City View Independent School District, Burkburnett Independent School District, and Iowa Park Consolidated Independent School District.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48485_wichita/DC20SD_C48485.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wichita County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-06-28}} Several private and parochial schools operate in the city, as does an active home-school community. Many of the local elementary schools participate in the Head Start program for preschool-aged children.

Two schools in the Wichita Falls ISD participate in the International Baccalaureate programs. Hirschi High School offers the IB Diploma Programme, and G.H. Kirby Junior High School for the Middle Years Programme. Other public high schools are Wichita Falls High School and S. H. Rider High School (Wichita Falls ISD) and City View High School (City View ISD).

By 1879, the first school was established. The first public school was a log structure established in the 1880s; in 1885, it was replaced with a former courthouse. Wichita Falls High School opened in 1890. That year, a school district was created, but problems with the law allowing its establishment meant it was dissolved in 1894 and the city provided schooling until the second establishment of a school district in 1900. In 1908, the Texas Legislature issued a charter for WFISD.{{cite web|author=Sweeten-Shults, Lana|url=http://archive.timesrecordnews.com/news/education/tearing-down-history-alamo-and-holland-schools-2db4fb46-59b0-6fc4-e053-0100007f72f4-371934091.html|title=Tearing down history?: Alamo and Holland schools|newspaper=Times Record News|date=2016-03-14|access-date=2020-06-01}}

The city has a school for German children, Deutsche Schule Sheppard (DSS).{{cite web|url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/auslandsschulen-der-bundeswehr-amerika-83678|title=Die Deutsche Schule Sheppard in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika |publisher=Bundeswehr|accessdate=2021-07-28}}

File:Midwestern State University Hardin Administration Building.JPG]]

Wichita Falls is home to Midwestern State University, an accredited four-year college in the Texas Tech University System and the only independent liberal arts college in Texas offering both bachelor's and master's degrees.{{Cite web|title=About MSU Texas »MSU Texas »|url=https://msutexas.edu/|access-date=2021-11-02|website=msutexas.edu|language=en}}

Vernon College is the designated community college for all of Wichita County.[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.207. VERNON REGIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]. A local branch nearby offers two-year degrees, certificate programs, and workforce development programs.

Wayland Baptist University, offering both bachelor's and master's degrees, has its main branch located in Plainview, Texas.

Wichita Falls is the western terminus for Interstate 44. U.S. Highways leading to or through Wichita Falls include 287, 277, 281, and 82. State Highway 240 ends at Wichita Falls and State Highway 79 runs through it. Wichita Falls has one of the largest freeway mileages for a city of its size{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} as a result of a 1954 bond issue approved by city and county voters to purchase rights-of-way for several expressway routes through the city and county, the first of which was opened in the year 1958 as an alignment of U.S. 287 from Eighth Street at Broad and Holliday Streets northwestward across the Wichita River and bisecting Lucy and Scotland Parks to the Old Iowa Park Road, the original U.S. 287 alignment.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} That was followed by other expressway links including U.S. 82–287 east to Henrietta (completed in the year 1968), U.S. 281 south toward Jacksboro (completed 1969), U.S. 287 northwest to Iowa Park and Electra (opened 1962), Interstate 44 north to Burkburnett and the Red River (opened 1964), and Interstate 44 from Old Iowa Park Road to U.S. 287/Spur 325 interchange on the city's north side along with Spur 325 from I-44/U.S. 287 to the main gate of Sheppard Air Force Base (both completed as a single project in 1960). However, cross-country traffic for many years had to contend with several ground-level intersections and traffic lights over Holliday and Broad Streets near the downtown area for about 13 blocks between connecting expressway links until a new elevated freeway running overhead was completed in 2001.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

Efforts to create an additional freeway along the path of Kell Boulevard for U.S. 82–277 began in 1967 with the acquisition of right-of-way that included a former railroad right-of-way and the first project including construction of the present frontage roads completed in 1977, followed by freeway lanes, overpasses, and on/off ramps in 1989 from just east of Brook Avenue west to Kemp Boulevard; similar projects west from Kemp to Barnett Road in 2001 followed by Barnett Road west past FM 369 in 2010 to tie in which a project now underway to transform U.S. 277 into a continuous four-lane expressway between Wichita Falls and Abilene.{{Cite web|url=http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/wichita-falls/us-277-expansion.html|title=US 277 Expansion|last=Texas)|first=Texas Department of Transportation (State of|website=www.txdot.gov|access-date=2017-02-01}}

The city operates a bus system, Falls Ride, which runs on an hourly schedule with seven routes (except on Sundays, when only one route is in operation).{{cite web | url=http://wichitafallstx.gov/339/Falls-Ride---Public-Transportation | title=Falls Ride - Public Transportation | Wichita Falls, TX - Official Website }}

Greyhound Lines provides intercity bus service to other locations served by Greyhound via its new terminal at the Wichita Falls Travel Center located at Fourth and Scott in downtown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wichitafallstx.gov/1602/Clarence-W-Muehlberger-Travel-Center|title=Clarence W. Muehlberger Travel Center {{!}} Wichita Falls, TX - Official Website|website=www.wichitafallstx.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-08-23}} Skylark Van Service shuttles passengers to and from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on several runs during the day all week long.{{Cite web|url=http://www.goskylark.com/order_shuttle.php|title=Skylark Taxi|website=www.goskylark.com|access-date=2017-02-01}}

The Wichita Falls Municipal Airport is served by American Eagle, with two flights daily to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The Kickapoo Downtown Airport and the Wichita Valley Airport serve smaller, private planes.

Although still in the planning phase, local officials are currently working to potentially bring an Amtrak stop to the city. Wichita Falls last had passenger rail service in 1967.{{cite news |last1=Jimenez |first1=Dylan |title=Amtrak eyes Wichita Falls as a future stop in railroad system |url=https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/amtrak-eyes-wichita-falls-as-a-future-stop-in-railroad-system/ |access-date=July 24, 2024 |work=KFDX/KJTL |date=July 23, 2024}}

File:Newby-McMahon Building, 1919.JPG|Newby-McMahon Building, completed in 1919, also known as the "Worlds Littlest Skyscraper"

File:Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Wichita Falls, TX IMG 7043.JPG|Sacred Heart Catholic Church

File:Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (1915) Wichita Falls.jpg|Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1915

File:Railroad exhibit at Depot Square in Wichita Falls, TX IMG 6975.JPG|Railroad exhibit at Depot Square

File:Memorial Auditorium (1927) Wichita Falls.jpg|The Wichita Falls City Hall occupies the bottom floor of the Memorial Auditorium, 1927

• Greg Abbott, 48th Governor of Texas (born in Wichita Falls)
• Chase Anderson, professional baseball player (born in Wichita Falls)
• JT Barrett, quarterback for Ohio State University
• Renick Bell, musician, notable live coding pioneer
• Lindy Berry, MVP quarterback with the Edmonton Eskimos
• Leon Blue, pianist (born in Wichita Falls)
• Bowling For Soup, rock band
• Ryan Brasier, baseball player (born in Wichita Falls)
• John Bundy, magician
• Frank Kell Cahoon, Midland oilman and member of Texas House of Representatives
• Raymond Carroll, statistician now at Texas A&M University
• Greyson Chance, singer-songwriter and pianist born in Wichita Falls
• Don Cherry, pop singer and leading amateur golfer (born in Wichita Falls).
• Bert Clark, football coach, former head coach at Washington State University
• Phyllis Coates, film and television actress (born in Wichita Falls).
• William C. Conner (1920–2009), federal judge for United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.{{cite news|first=Martin|last= Douglas|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/nyregion/20conner.html?_r=1|title=William C. Conner, 89, Judge Known for First Amendment Rulings, Dies – Obituary |newspaper= The New York Times| date= July 19, 2009|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120905234327/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/nyregion/20conner.html?_r=2|archive-date= September 5, 2012|url-status=live|access-date=July 20, 2009}}
• Hunter Dozier professional baseball player for the Kansas City Royals
• Nic Endo, singer for digital-hardcore band Atari Teenage Riot
• "Cowboy" Morgan Evans, rodeo champion
• Marcus Foster (born 1995), basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv
• Thomas W. Fowler, World War II US Army officer and recipient of Medal of Honor
• Sally Gary, speaker and author
• Roberta Haynes, actress
• Eddie Hill, drag racer
• Frank N. Ikard, U.S. representative from Texas's 13th congressional district oil industry lobbyist
• Robert Jeffress, Baptist clergyman
• Matt and Bubba Kadane, members of the slowcore band Bedhead (band)
• Neel Kearby, World War II US Army Air Forces flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient
• Christian Leave, American singer-songwriter
• Keith Lee, professional Wrestler
• Khari Long, professional football player
• Rosie Manning, professional football player
• Markelle Martin, professional football player
• Phil McGraw, advice television show host
• Larry McMurtry, author who immortalized his home town by fictionalizing it
• Richard M. Mullane, astronaut and author
• Ed Neal, professional football player
• David Nelson, professional football player
• Shaunie O'Neal, American television personality
• Edward Opp, photojournalist
• Graham B. Purcell, Jr., Democrat, U.S. representative 1962–1973
• Jaret Reddick, songwriter and lead vocalist for Bowling for Soup
• Frances Reid, soap opera actress
• Mark Rippetoe, physical trainer and author, competitive powerlifter, gym owner
• Rosendo Rodriguez, Convicted double murderer and budding serial killer executed in 2018
• Herbert Rogers, classical pianist
• Lloyd Ruby, race car driver
• Bernard Scott, professional football player
• Danielle Smith, professional football player, current Safe at Last CEO/Founder (born in Wichita Falls)
• Frank Lee Sprague, composer and musician
• Keith Stegall, country music artist and record producer
• David Swinford, Texas state legislator
• Rex Tillerson, 69th United States Secretary of State, former ExxonMobil CEO
• John Tower, U.S. Senator from 1961 to 1984
• Tommy Tune, actor, dancer, choreographer and producer, 10-time Tony Award winner
• Nathan Vasher, professional football player
• Julian Elvis Ward Jr.
• John Edward Williams, author of the novel Stoner.
• Ronnie Williams, professional football player
• Dave Willis, voice actor, screenwriter, television producer

{{Portal|Texas}}

• List of museums in Wichita Falls, Texas
• Geology of Wichita Falls, Texas

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{See also|Timeline of Wichita Falls, Texas#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Wichita Falls, Texas}}

{{Sister project links|wikt=no|commonscat=Wichita Falls, Texas|b=no|n=no|q=no|s=no|v=no|voy=Wichita Falls|species=no|d=Q128349}}

• {{Official website|http://www.wichitafallstx.gov/}}

{{Wichita Falls, Texas}}

{{Wichita County, Texas}}

{{Texas county seats}}

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Category:1876 establishments in Texas

Category:Cities in Wichita County, Texas

Category:County seats in Texas

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Category:Populated riverside places in the United States

Category:Cities in Texas