TRUSTED HANDYMAN IN WATAUGA TX

The incorporation of the city of Watauga was ordered on 24th September 1958 after a petition for incorporation was filed and approved. After an election, the city was eventually incorporated on 11th October 1958.

Cherokee Indians were the first settlers in Watauga, and this is likely to the fertile fields and clear spring waters available in the area. Another batch of immigrants from Tennessee arrived around 1843 and among them are W.A. Margaret and James Walker, Martha and Nancy Evins, William, Jane Weir, Willie Potts, William, Samuel, Julia and Mary Carlton, Syrena Stowel and Sarah Henderson. These people established first Church in Watauga, the Willow Springs Presbyterian Church on 14th December 1867.

At the advent of the railroad to Texas in 1876, Watauga had a depot stop as the new railway helped in transporting people and cattle. Watauga served a service stop before Fort Worth for trains, and this led to an active attempt by the community to have depot built in the area. To achieve this, they came up with the idea of renaming the town after the railroad foreman. The station was built, but it didn’t change the name of the place from being officially called Watauga. The depot stimulated growth in the community, and due to the close access it has to Fort Worth which is about an hour away, it made the place desirable for business.

Catastrophe struck in 1909 when the train depot got utterly burnt. It was reconstructed in 1911 and had it expanded with cattle pens and some other structural adjustment from the original train station. The train depot brought growth and development to Watauga, and this development lasted until 1930 when the Watauga depot was relocated to Hodge and this stalled growth in the area, and by 1940 the population in the area had dropped to as low as 50.

A volunteer fire department was to be established in 1958, and a Pie supper was organized to raise funds for the project. There, cards, black pepper, chili pie and vanilla extract were sold to raise money. That same year, Arrant Utility Company donated Lot 9, Block 1 (5633 Linda Drive) for the construction of a fire station and city hall for the city. The project was carried out and completed entirely by volunteer labor at the cost of $1,200.

On January 19, 1980, the city held an election and its citizen adopted a Home Rule Charter. The city provides full-service such as police, fire/emergency services, library, parks and recreation, planning, public works, building inspection and economic development. The city of Watauga operates a Mayor-Council-Manager form of government.

Watauga had a new Municipal Complex constructed and opened in June 1980. The complex was erected in honor of Merle Caudle, a fire Chief. Through the thick and thin that Watauga has been through, it now prides itself as a peaceful and friendly place that is away from the hustle and bustle of Fort Worth, though the proximity is also an advantage to the city.