Wichita Falls anchors a county built on oil, service, and sheer resilience

Wichita County is home to approximately 113,000 residents concentrated primarily in Wichita Falls, with smaller populations in Burkburnett, Iowa Park, Electra, and a handful of communities. The median home value sits at $127,000, making it one of North Texas's most affordable markets, with the homeownership rate at 60 percent. Healthcare and social assistance drives the local economy with over 10,000 employees, followed by manufacturing jobs averaging $69,000 annually. Sheppard Air Force Base anchors the region's economy and identity, training thousands of military personnel each year.

Cities Compared

Wichita Falls contains the vast majority of the county's population and economic activity, with higher home values and more amenities than the surrounding towns. Burkburnett offers working-class affordability just north of the city, while Iowa Park and Electra provide small-town alternatives for families willing to commute to Wichita Falls for work.

Demographics

The county's median age of 36 reflects the military presence at Sheppard Air Force Base, with a population that's 62 percent White, 22 percent Hispanic, and 11 percent Black. The median household income of $60,000 and bachelor's degree attainment of 22 percent suggest a working-class and middle-class community anchored by healthcare, manufacturing, and military employment.

Economy

Healthcare dominates employment with over 10,000 workers earning an average of $58,000 annually, while manufacturing provides nearly 5,000 jobs at substantially higher wages approaching $70,000. Sheppard Air Force Base remains the region's economic anchor, supporting retail, hospitality, and service sectors that employ thousands more.

Schools

School district data was not provided for this county, though the region is served by Wichita Falls ISD and several smaller independent school districts including Iowa Park CISD and Burkburnett ISD.

Cost of Living

With median home values at $127,000 and median rent at $983 monthly, Wichita County offers substantial affordability compared to Texas metros. The combination of low housing costs and stable employment through healthcare and the air base makes it attractive for military families and workers seeking homeownership on modest incomes.

About Wichita County

Wichita County sits in the Red River Valley of North Texas, a landscape shaped equally by the oil boom of 1911 and the enduring presence of Sheppard Air Force Base. The county was carved from the Young Land District in 1858 and named for the Wichita Indians who once hunted along the river bottoms, though Indian troubles delayed formal organization until 1882. What began as scattered ranches and a small settlement around a waterfall on the Wichita River transformed almost overnight when the Clayco No. 1 well struck oil in April 1911, opening one of the world's greatest oil fields and creating boomtowns that still echo with that frenzied energy.

Wichita Falls dominates the county with roughly 100,000 of its 113,000 residents, serving as both the county seat and the economic engine. The city wraps around Sheppard Air Force Base, which has anchored the local economy since World War II and continues to train thousands of military personnel annually. Healthcare has grown into the largest employment sector with over 10,000 workers, while manufacturing still employs nearly 5,000 at an average wage approaching $70,000. The city's historic downtown preserves some architectural remnants of its oil boom days, though the actual falls that gave the town its name washed away in a 1886 flood.

Burkburnett earned its colorful nickname "Boomtown USA" during the oil rush and still carries that rough-edged character. Named after rancher Burk Burnett following President Theodore Roosevelt's 1905 wolf hunt in the area, the town exploded when oil was discovered and became synonymous with wildcatters, fortune seekers, and the kind of chaos that comes when wealth erupts from the ground. Today it's a working-class community of about 11,000 just north of Wichita Falls, home to families connected to the oil industry and the air base.

The smaller towns reveal the county's agricultural roots. Iowa Park to the west was originally called Daggett's Switch when the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad came through in 1885, and it retains a small-town feel with about 6,000 residents. Electra, named for the daughter of W.T. Waggoner whose ranch once covered much of the county, sits in the southwestern corner where oil derricks still punctuate ranch land. The Electra State Bank building from 1908 was the first brick structure in town and has housed banks continuously since opening.

This is a county where median home values of $127,000 reflect both the affordability of a region that never fully recovered from oil's decline and the reality of a market anchored by military families on rotation. The homeownership rate of 60 percent suggests a mix of transient military personnel and established local families. With a median household income just over $60,000 and a relatively young median age of 36, Wichita County attracts people looking for low cost of living, stable employment through healthcare and the base, and a landscape that still feels authentically North Texas rather than suburban sprawl.

Cities and Communities Across Wichita County

Wichita Falls is the undisputed center of gravity, a city of roughly 100,000 that functions as a regional hub for healthcare, retail, and military training. The downtown area around the 1916 courthouse preserves some of the architectural ambition from oil boom days, though much of the city reflects practical post-war development. Sheppard Air Force Base shapes the city's rhythm, bringing a steady rotation of young military personnel and their families who cycle through training programs. The city's healthcare sector has expanded significantly, with major hospital systems employing over 10,000 workers and drawing patients from across the Red River Valley. Manufacturing plants along the industrial corridors produce everything from aircraft components to food products, offering some of the county's highest-paying jobs at nearly $70,000 average annual wages.

Burkburnett remains proud of its "Boomtown USA" heritage, a community that grew wild during the oil rush and never quite settled into suburban gentility. Located just off Highway 44 near the Oklahoma border, it's home to about 11,000 residents, many with connections to the oil industry or Sheppard Air Force Base just to the south. The town has a working-class character, with modest homes, local diners, and a population that skews toward families seeking affordability. While the frenzied days of wildcatters and overnight millionaires are long past, Burkburnett still identifies with that rough-and-tumble origin story.

Iowa Park offers a quieter alternative west of Wichita Falls, a town of about 6,000 where Friday night football still matters and everyone knows the superintendent's name. The community grew along the railroad in the 1880s and maintains that agricultural town character despite proximity to the city. Families here tend to work in Wichita Falls but prefer the small-town atmosphere for raising children.

Electra sits in the southwestern corner of the county, a town of fewer than 3,000 that exists at the intersection of oil history and ranch land. Named for Electra Waggoner, daughter of the legendary rancher whose holdings once stretched across multiple counties, the town preserves its early 20th century downtown including the 1908 Electra State Bank building. The surrounding landscape remains largely rural, with working ranches and scattered pump jacks reminding visitors that oil still flows, just not with the abundance that built these communities.

Identifiers

GEOID

48485

State FIPS

48

County FIPS

485

Statistics

Neighborhoods

0

Population

122,796

Geography

Type

polygon

Area

1,639 km²

Data Source

Primary Source

tiger

Census Reference

QuickFacts

Frequently Asked Questions About Wichita County

What is Wichita known for?

Wichita County is defined by the enduring presence of Sheppard Air Force Base and the legacy of the 1911 oil boom that transformed sleepy ranch land into boomtowns almost overnight. The county sits in the Red River Valley where North Texas meets Oklahoma, a landscape of rolling prairie, scattered mesquite, and pump jacks that still nod in former oil fields. Healthcare has emerged as the dominant employer with over 10,000 workers, while manufacturing maintains a strong presence with nearly 5,000 jobs at wages approaching $70,000. The population of 113,000 concentrates overwhelmingly in Wichita Falls, with smaller communities like Burkburnett preserving their oil rush character and towns like Iowa Park and Electra maintaining agricultural roots.

What cities are in Wichita County?

Wichita Falls dominates with roughly 100,000 residents, functioning as the county seat and regional hub for healthcare, retail, and military training around Sheppard Air Force Base. The city's downtown preserves some oil boom architecture, though much of the landscape reflects practical post-war development. Burkburnett earned the nickname "Boomtown USA" during the oil rush and retains a working-class character with about 11,000 residents, many connected to the oil industry or the base. Iowa Park offers small-town atmosphere west of Wichita Falls with about 6,000 residents who prefer Friday night football and knowing their neighbors while commuting to city jobs. Electra sits in the southwestern corner, a town of fewer than 3,000 named for the daughter of legendary rancher W.T. Waggoner, where oil history meets ranch land. Pleasant Valley and Cashion Community round out the county as smaller residential areas.

What is the cost of living in Wichita?

Wichita County delivers substantial affordability with median home values at $127,000 and median rent at $983 monthly, making homeownership accessible on the county's median household income of $60,000. The combination of low housing costs, stable employment through healthcare and Sheppard Air Force Base, and a 60 percent homeownership rate suggests a market where working families can build equity without stretching budgets. Property tax information wasn't available, though North Texas rates typically run higher than state averages. The cost structure particularly appeals to military families on rotation and healthcare workers seeking to own rather than rent.

How are the schools in Wichita?

Specific school district data wasn't provided, though the county is served by Wichita Falls Independent School District as the largest system, along with smaller districts including Iowa Park CISD, Burkburnett ISD, and Electra ISD. The presence of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls provides higher education access, while Sheppard Air Force Base contributes to educational infrastructure through its training programs. Families typically evaluate schools based on specific campuses rather than district-wide performance, with neighborhoods near particular elementary schools commanding premiums. The county's 22 percent bachelor's degree attainment rate suggests room for educational advancement, though technical training and military experience provide alternative pathways to middle-class employment.

Is Wichita good for families?

Wichita County suits families seeking affordability, stable employment, and a slower pace than Texas metros, particularly those connected to military service or healthcare careers. The median age of 36 and homeownership rate of 60 percent indicate an established family presence, while Sheppard Air Force Base brings a constant rotation of young military families. Small towns like Iowa Park and Burkburnett offer tight-knit communities where kids can bike to school and parents know the coaches, while Wichita Falls provides more suburban amenities and healthcare access. The low cost of living means families can afford larger homes and build savings, though the tradeoff comes in fewer entertainment options and cultural amenities than major metros. This is a place for families who value community connections, outdoor recreation, and the ability to own a home on a single income over trendy restaurants and concert venues.

How does Wichita compare to nearby areas?

Wichita County sits northwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, offering dramatically lower housing costs than Tarrant or Denton counties but with fewer employment options beyond healthcare and the base. Clay County to the west is even more rural and agricultural, while Archer County to the south remains ranch country with tiny populations. Compared to these neighbors, Wichita County functions as the regional hub with actual city infrastructure, hospital systems, and retail options. The county's proximity to Oklahoma creates cross-border dynamics, with some residents shopping or working across the Red River. Unlike counties being absorbed into DFW sprawl, Wichita County remains distinctly separate with its own economic identity built around military training and healthcare rather than suburban commuting. The tradeoff is clear: far lower costs and less traffic than growing metros, but also fewer career options and amenities.

Find Your Place in Wichita County

Whether you're drawn to Wichita Falls's healthcare opportunities, Burkburnett's oil heritage, or the small-town character of Iowa Park and Electra, a Texas Ally advisor who knows the Red River Valley can help you navigate this affordable market. We'll connect you with an agent who understands military relocations, local employment patterns, and which neighborhoods match your timeline and budget.