Alvarado is a city in Johnson County, Texas, positioned along Interstate 35W south of Fort Worth. It holds the distinction of being the oldest city in Johnson County, with a history that reaches back to the 1850s and an incorporation date of 1878. The town was named for Alvarado, Mexico, and grew into a regional railroad stop when two rail lines — the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas — reached it in 1881. For generations, Alvarado remained a modest agricultural and trading town. Its economy today blends that heritage with a notable industrial presence: a Louis Vuitton leather-goods workshop operates just outside the city, adding a globally recognized employer to an otherwise small-town landscape. The surrounding area continues to support ranching, and the community's rodeo and equestrian traditions remain strong, anchored by the Diamond W Arena Complex and events such as the Pioneer Days Rodeo. With about 4,700 residents at the 2020 census, Alvarado is small enough to feel neighborly but connected enough to participate in the fast-growing Dallas–Fort Worth economy. Interstate 35W gives residents a direct route north into Fort Worth and Burleson, and U.S. 67 adds an east-west connection. Alvarado Lake provides nearby fishing, boating, and camping, and the city's parks and heritage museum round out local amenities. The Alvarado Independent School District serves students across a 92-square-mile area through six campuses, including the consolidated Lillian district to the south. For homebuyers, Alvarado represents the classic Johnson County proposition: a quieter, more spacious, and more affordable alternative to the northern suburbs, with a real commute into Fort Worth and the metroplex's job centers. It is a small town holding onto its identity while the region grows toward it.