Why Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls is a city in North Texas serving as the seat of Wichita County. Situated roughly 15 miles south of the Oklahoma border, the community lies approximately 115 miles northwest of Fort Worth and 140 miles southwest of Oklahoma City. It covers over 70 square miles of predominantly land area and functions as the primary economic and educational hub for the surrounding region, hosting Midwestern State University within its borders.
The area features a humid subtropical climate defined by long, exceptionally hot summers and cool winters. Summer conditions routinely bring high temperatures reaching or exceeding 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter produces periods of freezing temperatures and occasional light snowfall. Rainfall is generally most abundant in the early summer months.
Indigenous Wichita and Comanche peoples inhabited the region before settlement expanded during the 1860s. Formally platted in 1876, the town took its name from the local Wichita River and a natural waterfall that was later destroyed by an 1886 flood. The arrival of the Fort Worth & Denver City Railway in 1882 spurred growth around its depot, forming what is now recognized as the Depot Square Historic District. Downtown visitors can also view the historic Newby-McMahon Building, constructed in 1919 and famously known as the world's smallest skyscraper.
Outdoor recreation is anchored by a system of 37 municipal parks. The 170-acre Lucy Park sits along the river and features a 54-foot artificial waterfall built in 1987 to recreate the city's namesake feature. The park includes paved walkways, a duck pond, a swimming pool, a log cabin, and a frisbee golf course. Additional recreational facilities across the city include Weeks Park with an 18-hole golf course, Lake Wichita Park with an off-leash dog area, a public skatepark, and unpaved off-road paths.
Cyclists and pedestrians can explore the community via the Circle Trail, a paved concrete network spanning over 24 miles through various local environments and parklands. Connected to this system is the Wee-Chi-Tah Off Road Trail, a 13-mile unpaved loop designed for off-road biking. Each August, Wichita Falls hosts the Hotter'N Hell Hundred, a massive multi-event cycling gathering that stands as the largest single-day century bicycle ride in the United States.
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