Wichita Falls in Wichita County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Wichita County Water Improvement Districts No. 1 & No. 2

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 13, 2016

1. Wichita County Water Improvement Districts No. 1 & No. 2 Marker

Inscription. Wichita County Water Improvement Districts No. 1 and No. 2 played major roles in the agricultural development of Wichita County. By 1900, Joseph Kemp, whose business activities were vital for the growth of Wichita Falls, developed plans for irrigation, leading to the construction of Lake Wichita. By 1914, Kemp and his brother-in-law, Frank Kell, filed a plat for irrigation subdivisions. They hoped agriculture would become the backbone of Wichita County's economy, even after the area later experienced an oil boom.

In 1919, Water Improvement District No. 1 organized, consisting of 15,543 acres including all of Wichita Falls and areas to the north, south and east. In 1920, District No. 2 formed, encompassing 76,784 acres west and northeast of the city. Under the leadership of Kemp, Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion, two large reservoirs with a gravity irrigation system, were constructed between 1921 and 1924. The completed system provided water for irrigation and municipal purposes, as well as a means of flood control for the city of Wichita Falls from periodic flooding of the Wichita River.

Although co-owned and operated

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on the same system by District No. 2, two different boards governed the district using different revenue sources. in 1961, the city of Wichita Falls abolished District No. 1 by annexing its lands, taking control of its assets and liabilities, and assuming performance if its functions and services. Even though a major agricultural economy never developed in Wichita County, Water Improvement District No. 2 provides an important source of water for municipal use to the city's reverse osmosis plant and continues to play a vital role in irrigation and flood control.
Marker is property of the State of Texas (2008)

Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 15526.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 33° 54.013′ N, 98° 28.909′ W. Marker is in Wichita Falls, Texas, in Wichita County. It is at the intersection of East Scott Avenue (Business U.S. 287) and Kentucky Avenue, on the left when traveling north on East Scott Avenue. Marker is located near the main front entrance of the Wichita County

Wichita County Water Improvement Districts No. 1 & No. 2 Marker (<i>tall view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 13, 2016

2. Wichita County Water Improvement Districts No. 1 & No. 2 Marker (tall view)

Water Improvement office. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 402 East Scott Avenue, Wichita Falls TX 76301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Times Publishing Company (approx. 0.6 miles away); First United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls (approx. 0.8 miles away); Wichita Falls Opera House (approx. 0.9 miles away); Church of the Good Shepherd (approx. 0.9 miles away); Wichita Falls Junior College (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Anderson House (approx. 0.9 miles away); St. Paul Lutheran Church (approx. one mile away); The Wichita Falls Bank Robbery of 1896 (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita Falls.

Wichita County Water Improvement District Office (<i>marker visible right of sidewalk</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 13, 2016

3. Wichita County Water Improvement District Office (marker visible right of sidewalk)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 503 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 15, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.