Mineral Wells is a city in Palo Pinto and Parker Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Its population was 14,820 at the 2020 census. The city is named for mineral wells in the area, which were highly popular in the early 1900s.
In 1919, Mineral Wells hosted the spring training camp for the Chicago White Sox, the year of the famous "Black Sox" scandal involving "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Mineral Wells also hosted spring training for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals in the 1910s and early 1920s. The baseball field was located in the center of town.
Mineral Wells' military history dates back to 1864 with the organization of Company 1, 4th Texas Infantry. By January 1925, the War Department approved the site that would become Camp Wolters, the training ground for the 56th Cavalry Brigade of the Texas National Guard.
In 1956, the base began operations as the Primary Helicopter Center of the United States Army that would provide basic training and primary flight training for all rotary-wing aviators. The Vietnam War created an increased need for pilots. To meet the demand, Fort Wolters increased operations to become the training site for helicopter pilots for the Marine Corp in 1968 and the Air Force in 1970. Nearly every helicopter pilot who flew in Vietnam was trained at Fort Wolters. Fort Wolters was deactivated in 1973.
Mineral Wells is very well known for the state park, which features fishing, camping, horseback riding, biking, hiking trails, and rock climbing. One attraction is Penitentiary Hollow, a popular rock-climbing area.
Mineral Wells lies east of the Brazos River and Palo Pinto Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.2 square miles (54.9 km), of which 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km) (3.45%) is covered by water.
Mineral Wells is west of Fort Worth and east of Abilene.
The climate in this area is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification describes the weather as humid subtropical, and uses the code Cfa.
As of the 2020 census, Mineral Wells had a population of 14,820 people living in 5,653 households, including 3,329 families; the median age was 36.9 years, 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.6 males age 18 and over.
Ninety-four point one percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.9% lived in rural areas.
Of the 5,653 households in Mineral Wells, 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 41.3% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 6,252 housing units, of which 9.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.3%.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Mineral Wells District Parole Office in Mineral Wells. The Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) operated the Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility in the Fort Wolters Industrial Park on behalf of the TDCJ. It closed in August 2013. The correctional facility, which had been operated by CCA since 1995, is located on the property of the former Fort Wolters in Palo Pinto County and in Mineral Wells. It can house up to 2,100 prisoners. As of March 2013, its annual payroll was $11.7 million, and it was among the largest employers in Mineral Wells, with about 300 employees. On Monday March 4, 2013, the Texas Senate Senate Finance Committee voted 11âÂÂ4 to close the correctional facility. Mike Allen, the mayor of Mineral Wells, criticized the closure, saying, "We'll lose right at over 300 jobs, and 300 jobs in a community of 17,000 ... is devastating. This means a lot to this community." John Whitmire, the head of the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said, "We're sitting on about 12,000 empty [prison] beds, so it just makes good business sense ... that we not operate it, and we take those savings and plow them back into additional public-safety programs."
The United States Postal Service operates the Mineral Wells Post Office. Zip codes are 76067 and 76068.
Mineral Wells is served by the Mineral Wells Independent School District and the Community Christian School.
Weatherford College operates a branch campus on the old Fort Wolters facility.