Azle, Texas

Coordinates: 32°53′34″N 97°32′12″W / 32.89278°N 97.53667°W / 32.89278; -97.53667
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City of Azle, Texas
Location of Azle in Tarrant County, Texas
Location of Azle in Tarrant County, Texas
Coordinates: 32°53′34″N 97°32′12″W / 32.89278°N 97.53667°W / 32.89278; -97.53667
CountryUnited StatesUnited States
StateTexasTexas
CountiesParker, Tarrant[1]
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Alan Brundrett
Dr. William Chambers
David McClure
Bill Jones
Paul Crabtree
Rouel Rothenberger, Jr.
Lee Barrett
 • City ManagerTom Muir
Area
 • Total8.81 sq mi (22.82 km2)
 • Land8.79 sq mi (22.77 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)  0.20%
Elevation
712 ft (217 m)
Population
 • Total10,947
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
13,351
 • Density1,518.54/sq mi (586.29/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
76020
Area codes682, 817
FIPS code48-05168[5]
GNIS feature ID1329893[6]
Websitewww.cityofazle.org

Azle (/ˈzəl/ AY-zəl) is a city west of Fort Worth in Parker and Tarrant Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,947.[7]

Azle is the home of the Azle Marching Green Pride marching band and the Fighting Azle Hornets.

History[edit]

The first recorded settlement at the site occurred in 1846, when James Azle Steward, a young doctor, moved into a log cabin built by a Dutchman named Rumsfeldt. Other settlers came and established themselves near the local streams, Ash Creek, Silver Creek, and Walnut Creek. Steward helped establish the first cemetery, Ash Creek. The oldest graves there are those of Dave Morrison (1849–1874) and W. P. Gregg (1833–1874).[8] The first post office opened in 1881, and the town took the name of O'Bar, in honor of the man who obtained the postal service. A short time later in 1883, the name was changed to Azle at the request of Steward, who donated the land for a townsite.[9] The community's economy was based on agriculture. Several crops were grown, including wheat, corn, peanuts, sorghum, and cotton. Watermelons, cantaloupes, peaches, plums, and pears were also produced. Dairy farming became important in the early decades of the 20th century, when local milk products were sold to creameries in Fort Worth. Azle's population grew steadily, and by 1920, the census recorded 150 residents. By 1933, State Highway 34 (later State Highway 199) had reached Azle from Fort Worth, greatly improving transportation between the town and the city. Also, Eagle Mountain Lake was formed by a dam on the Trinity River, east of Azle.

In the late 1930s, electricity was supplied to Azle and the surrounding countryside. The population grew between 1940 and 1960 from 800 to 2,696. It was 5,822 by 1980. After the 1930s, agriculture gradually declined; fields were converted from wheat and corn production to housing developments. Manufacturing increased, and in 1984, Azle had 26 businesses. In 1985, the population was estimated at more than 7,000. In 1990, the population was 8,868. It grew to 9,600 by 2000.[10]

Geography[edit]

Azle is on State Highway 199, 17 miles (27 km) northwest of downtown Fort Worth, in the northwest corner of Tarrant County; the town extends partly into Parker County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.9 km2), of which 8.8 square miles (22.8 km2) is land and 0.015 square miles (0.04 km2), or 0.20%, is covered by water.[11]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19602,969
19704,49351.3%
19805,82229.6%
19908,86852.3%
20009,6008.3%
201010,94714.0%
202013,36922.1%
2021 (est.)13,518[4]1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
Azle racial composition as of 2020[13]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 10,660 79.74%
Black or African American (NH) 214 1.6%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 71 0.53%
Asian (NH) 111 0.83%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.04%
Some Other Race (NH) 18 0.13%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 660 4.94%
Hispanic or Latino 1,629 12.18%
Total 13,369

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,369 people, 4,705 households, and 3,499 families residing in the city.

Economy[edit]

Top employers[edit]

According to Azle's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[16] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Azle ISD 992
2 Walmart 426
3 Texas Health/Harris Methodist Hospital 240
4 Tri-County Electric Coop 142
5 City of Azle 139
6 Azle Manor Nursing Home 125
7 Integrated Machine Solutions 117
8 Rockwell American (Quality Trailer) 105
9 Albertson's Grocery 100
10 Brookshire's Grocery 90

Education[edit]

The City of Azle is served by the Azle Independent School District. The Azle High School Math/Science and Journalism teams combined won the 2005 UIL State Academic Meet championship with a total of 110 points. In 2003, 2007, and 2009, the Marching Green Pride band of Azle directed by Dr. Ross Grant advanced to the State Marching competition in San Antonio. In November 2011, the Marching Green Pride, under the direction of Shawn Murphy, placed 18th out of 244 4A marching bands in the state of Texas. In 2013, the Marching Green Pride placed 13th out of the same category.

Schools:

  • Azle HIgh School[permanent dead link]
  • Santo J. Forte Junior High
  • Azle Junior High
  • W.E. Hoover Elementary (5–6)
  • Azle Elementary (Rock School) (5–6)
  • Walnut Creek Elementary
  • Liberty Elementary
  • Silver Creek Elementary
  • Eagle Heights Elementary
  • Cross Timbers Elementary

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Azle, Texas". citytowninfo.com. QuinStreet, Inc.
  2. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "State and County Quick Facts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Azle city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  8. ^ "Historical Markers in Tarrant County - pg. 13". Tarrant County TXGenWeb.
  9. ^ Texas State Historical Commission. "James Azle Steward Historical Marker".
  10. ^ Ruby Schmidt, ed., Fort Worth and Tarrant County (Fort Worth: Texas Christian University Press, 1984). Kathleen E. and Clifton R. St. Clair, eds., Little Towns of Texas (Jacksonville, Texas: Jayroe Graphic Arts, 1982).
  11. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Azle city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  14. ^ "Census.gov". Census.gov.
  15. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  16. ^ City of Azle ACFR Retrieved 2023-08-24
  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.[14][15]

External links[edit]