Fort Worth City, Tarrant County, Texas (TX) 76102

Fort Worth City

Tarrant County, Texas

Home | Contact | Site Index | Whats New | Search

Fort Worth City Hall is located at 1000 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102


M.A. Benton House

Fort Worth as Described in 1940 [1]

Fort Worth is on the Trinity River in the north central part of Texas. It is as thoroughly representative of the Southwest as a long-horned street. Its metropolitan aspects — towering business buildings, noisy traffic — vividly exemplify the modern city; but its people typify the spirit and atmosphere of the Old West.

Neighborhoods

  • Academy at Waterchase
  • Acorn Ridge
  • Akers Park
  • Aledo Grove
  • Alexandra Meadows
  • Alexandra Meadows South
  • Allen Place
  • Allendale
  • Allison
  • Alta Mere
  • Alta Mesa
  • Amber Trails
  • Anderson Will
  • Anthem Estates
  • Arbor Hill
  • Arbor Mill Plantation
  • Arbor Park
  • Arcadia Park
  • Arline Place
  • Arlington Heights
  • Arlington Heights West
  • Arthouse Condos
  • Ash Cresent
  • Ash Meadows
  • Ashbriar
  • Aspen Woods
  • Astoria
  • Autumn Hills Estates
  • Autumn Park
  • Avalon Heights
  • Avondale Heights
  • Avondale Heights Estates
  • Baldwin
  • Ballard
  • Bankhead Estates
  • Bar C Ranch
  • Barnett
  • Basswood
  • Basswood Village
  • Beach Place
  • Beacon Hill
  • Bear Creek Vista
  • Beechwood Creeks
  • Bell Station
  • Bella Flora
  • Bellaire
  • Bellaire Estates
  • Bellaire Heights
  • Bellaire Park North
  • Bellaire Ridge
  • Bellaire Village
  • Belleve Hill
  • Bells
  • Bellvue Hill
  • Belmont
  • Belmont Park
  • Belmont Terrace
  • Belvedere Estates
  • Benbrook Hills
  • Benmar Grove
  • Bentley Village
  • Berkeley
  • Berry Castle
  • Bevans Place
  • Beverly Hills Estates
  • Big Bear Creek
  • Big Bear Creek Meadows
  • Billings
  • Blackburn Terrace
  • Blackerby
  • Blairbrook Fields
  • Blake Meadows
  • Blanchard
  • Blandford
  • Blantons
  • Bluebonnet Hills
  • Bluffs
  • Bonds Ranch
  • Bonita Oaks Estates
  • Boswell Meadows
  • Boswell Ranch
  • Brackeen
  • Bradford James A Surv
  • Brandingshire Place
  • Brandts
  • Bratcher Place
  • Brentmoor
  • Brentwood Hills
  • Briercliff Estates
  • Brittany Place
  • Broad Acres
  • Broadmoor
  • Brookside Acres
  • Brookwood Park
  • Bullard
  • Burchill
  • Burton Acres
  • Burton Place
  • Burton Place South
  • Byers Square Condos
  • Calloway Park
  • Calmar Court
  • Camden Park
  • Camelot
  • Cameron Place
  • Candleridge
  • Cantey Place
  • Cardinal
  • Carol Oaks
  • Carriage Hills
  • Carrington Court
  • Carter Park
  • Cartwright
  • Carver Heights
  • Carver Place
  • Castleberry Gardens
  • Cattlebaron Parc
  • Chadwick Farms
  • Chambers
  • Chapel Creek Ranch
  • Chapel Hill
  • Chapel Ridge
  • Chapel Springs
  • Chapin Court
  • Charleston Heights
  • Chart House Condos
  • Chase Place
  • Cheltenham
  • Cheyenne Ridge
  • Childs
  • Chisholm Ridge
  • Chisholm Villas
  • Churchill Gardens
  • Churchill Mobile Home Park
  • Cindy Court Estates
  • Clairemont Place
  • Cliffview
  • Club Villa Estates
  • Cobblestone Square
  • Cobbs Orchard
  • College Ave Condos
  • College Heights
  • Collinwood
  • Colonial Hills
  • Colonial Manor
  • Colonial Park
  • Columbus Heights
  • Cookes Meadow
  • Coronado Hills
  • Cottonwood Creek
  • Cottonwood Hills
  • Country Club Heights
  • Country Hills Estates
  • Country Living
  • Countryside
  • Court House View
  • Coventry
  • Coventry East
  • Coventry Hills
  • Covered Bridge
  • Covered Bridge Canyon
  • Crawford Farms
  • Creekside Estates
  • Creekwood
  • Crescent Place
  • Crest Point
  • Crestmont
  • Crestmont Terrace
  • Crestridge
  • Crestview
  • Crestwood
  • Crimson Ridge
  • Crossing at Fossil Creek
  • Dale
  • Davis John Surv
  • Deavers
  • Deer Creek
  • Deer Creek Acres
  • Deer Creek North
  • Deer Meadow
  • Deer Valley
  • Deer Wood Forest
  • Deerfield
  • Diamond Hill
  • Diamond Hill Highlands
  • Dixie Place
  • Dolan Valley
  • Dorado Ranch
  • Dosier Cove
  • Douglas Park
  • Draughon Heights
  • Drexel
  • Driscoll Acres
  • Eagle Mountain Lake Estates
  • Eagle Ranch
  • Eagle Vista Estates
  • East Green Hill
  • East Handley Heights
  • East Rosedale Heights
  • Eastbrook
  • Eastcrest
  • Eastern Hills
  • Eastern Meadows
  • Eastland
  • Eastover
  • Eastwood
  • Eastwood Terrace
  • Echo Heights
  • Ederville Park
  • Edgecliff
  • Edgecliff West
  • Edgepark
  • Edgewood
  • Edgewood Heights
  • Edgewood Park
  • Edgewood Place
  • Edgewood Terrace
  • Edmundson
  • Eighth Avenue Historic District
  • Elmwood
  • Elston
  • Emerald Park
  • Emory Place
  • Englewood Heights
  • Essex Place
  • Estancia
  • Everman Park South
  • Ewing
  • Factory Place
  • Fair Havens
  • Fair Lawn
  • Fair Meadows
  • Fairmount
  • Fairview Heights
  • Fairway Meadows
  • Fairways at Champions Circle
  • Fairways Of Fossil Creek
  • Falcon Ridge
  • Filing
  • Fishburn Place
  • Fleming Place
  • Forest Acres Gardens
  • Forest Highlands
  • Forest Park
  • Forest Park Place
  • Forty Oaks
  • Fossil Creek
  • Fossil Creek Estates
  • Fossil Hill
  • Fossil Hill Estates
  • Fossil Park
  • Fossil Park Estates
  • Fostepco Heights
  • Fox Run
  • Friars Square
  • Frisco
  • Frisco Heights
  • Gaither
  • Garden
  • Garden Meadows
  • Garden Springs
  • Gassoway
  • Giverny
  • Glen Garden
  • Glen Mills Village
  • Glen Park
  • Glencrest
  • Glencrest North
  • Glencrest South
  • Glencrest West
  • Gleneagles
  • Glenwood
  • Golden Gate
  • Golden Triangle Estates
  • Goldenrod
  • Golf Hill
  • Gradys
  • Graham Park
  • Grainger
  • Gramercy Condos
  • Grande Vista Heights
  • Green Hill
  • Green Meadow Park
  • Greenbriar
  • Greenfield Acres
  • Greenwood
  • Grove Hill
  • Hallmark
  • Hammond F M
  • Hampshire Heights
  • Hampton Place
  • Handley
  • Handley Heights
  • Hanna Ranch
  • Harbor East Estates
  • Harbour Point
  • Harbour View
  • Harbour View Estates
  • Harlem Gardens
  • Harlem Hills
  • Harmon
  • Harmon Ranch
  • Harriet Creek Ranch
  • Harston Woods Mobile Home Park
  • Harvest Ridge
  • Harwood Little Farms
  • Hassett Gardens
  • Havenwood Golf Villas
  • Hawthorne Park Estates
  • Haynes J W Surv
  • Heizman
  • Heritage
  • Heritage Bluffs
  • Heritage Glen
  • Heritage Hill
  • Heritage North
  • Heritage Oaks
  • Hi Mount
  • Hidden Hills
  • Hidden Meadows
  • High Crest
  • High Meadow Estates
  • Highland Hills
  • Highland Hills West
  • Highland Homes
  • Highland Lake
  • Highland Park
  • Highland Station
  • Highland Terrace
  • Highpoint Hill
  • Highpoint Terrace
  • Hightower
  • Hill Top Acres
  • Hillcraft
  • Hillcrest
  • Hillcrest Estates
  • Hills at Fossil Creek
  • Hills of Gilmore Creek
  • Hillsborough
  • Hilltop at Heritage
  • Hilltop Park
  • Hinton
  • Hinton Heights
  • Hoggard Heights
  • Hollis
  • Hollow Hills
  • Hollowbrook
  • Holly Ridge
  • Hollywood Hills
  • Home Acres
  • Homeland
  • Homestead
  • Homewood
  • Horse Shoe Hills
  • Houston Place Lofts
  • Hubbard Highlands
  • Hudson
  • Hulen Bend
  • Hulen Bend Estates
  • Hulen Meadow
  • Hulen Park
  • Hunters Field
  • Huntington Village
  • Hutcherson R J
  • Hyde Estates
  • Hyde Park
  • Imperial Terrace Condos
  • Indian Creek
  • Ingrams
  • Innisbrook Place
  • Isaacks
  • Jarvis Heights Apartments
  • Jennings South
  • Jennings West
  • Jersey Hill
  • Jinken Heights
  • Kaywood Heights
  • Kelco Acres
  • Kellis Park
  • Kennedale Acres
  • Kensington
  • Kilfoil
  • King Oaks
  • Kings Trail
  • Kingsbrook Estates
  • Kingspoint
  • Kingsridge
  • Krull Court
  • Kuykendalls
  • La Cantera
  • La Cantera West
  • La Valle Grande
  • Lacy
  • Lago Vista
  • Lake Country
  • Lake Country Estates
  • Lake Country Place
  • Lake Country Villas
  • Lake Crest Estates
  • Lake Oaks Estates
  • Lake Ridge
  • Lake Shores Acres
  • Lake Vista Estates
  • Lakepointe
  • Lakes Of River Trails
  • Lakeside Acres
  • Lakeview
  • Lakeview North
  • Lakewood
  • Lamplighter Village
  • Las Brisas
  • Lasater
  • Lawn Place
  • Lawn Terrace
  • Le Bijou
  • Lee Rays Place
  • Legacy Pointe
  • Legacy Square
  • Legacy Village
  • Legacy West
  • Lesters
  • Lexington Square
  • Liberty Crossing
  • Limbaugh
  • Lincoln Place
  • Lincolnshire
  • Linda Vista Estates
  • Linley
  • Linwood
  • Little Chapel Creek
  • Live Oak Creek
  • Llano Springs
  • Lone Star Estates
  • Looney
  • Lost Creek
  • Lost Creek Garden Homes
  • Lost Creek Hollow
  • Lost Creek Ranch North
  • Lost Creek Ranch West
  • Lost Spurs
  • Lower Monticello
  • Lowery Acres
  • Lowery Oaks
  • Lowery Park
  • Loyds
  • Luthers Creek
  • Lynnhaven
  • Magnolia Green
  • Mallard Cove
  • Manor Hill
  • Manors Of Chasewood
  • Marine Creek
  • Marine Creek Estates
  • Marine Creek Heights
  • Marine Creek Hills
  • Marine Creek Meadows
  • Marine Creek Ranch
  • Marks Henry
  • Markum Ranch Estates
  • Marquette Place
  • Martin Place
  • Martindale
  • Marys Creek Estates
  • Masonic Hill
  • Matador Ranch
  • Mattison
  • McClellans
  • McCowens Wm Surv
  • McDonnell
  • Mcpherson Ranch
  • Meadow Creek
  • Meadow Creek South
  • Meadow Glen Estates Mobile Home Park
  • Meadow Hills Estates
  • Meadow Lakes
  • Meadowbrook
  • Meadowbrook Acres
  • Meadowbrook East
  • Meadowbrook Estates
  • Meadowbrook Heights
  • Meadowbrook Hills
  • Meadowbrook Park
  • Meadowbrook Terrace
  • Meadowcourt Estates
  • Meadowmere
  • Meadowood Village
  • Meadows
  • Meadows West
  • Meadowview
  • Merwick
  • Mesa Grande
  • Midwest
  • Mira Vista
  • Miracle
  • Mission Ridge Estates
  • Mistletoe
  • Mistletoe Heights
  • Mistletoe Sangamo
  • Mitchell Heights
  • Mockingbird Lane
  • Monarch Hills
  • Monticello
  • Monticello Park
  • Montserrat
  • Morgan Creek
  • Morgan Heights
  • Morningside Park
  • Morningside Terrace
  • Morris Estates
  • Morrison Acres
  • Mountain Vista Estates
  • Murray Hill
  • Mustang Creek Estates
  • Mustang Pointe
  • Newark
  • Newport Village at Trinity
  • Noe
  • Norma Court
  • Normandy Place
  • North Beverly Hills Estates
  • North Fork Estates
  • North Fort Worth
  • North Glen
  • North Jarvis Heights
  • North Meadowbrook Estates
  • North Meadowbrook Village
  • North Mistletoe
  • North Riverside Estates
  • Northbrook
  • Northcrest
  • Northview
  • Norton Heights
  • Oak Creek Trails
  • Oak Forest
  • Oak Grove
  • Oak Hill Estates
  • Oak Lawn
  • Oak Place
  • Oakhurst
  • Oakland
  • Oakland Park Estates
  • Oakland Park Heights
  • Oakmont Meadows
  • Oakridge Terrace
  • Oakview
  • Oakwood Heights
  • Obrien
  • Oconnell
  • Omni Residences
  • One Montgomery Plaza Residences
  • One Museum Place
  • Orchards
  • Orta
  • Overton Crest
  • Overton Park
  • Overton South
  • Overton Terrace
  • Overton West
  • Overton Woods
  • Ozee Michael Surv
  • Pace Crossing
  • Painted Oaks
  • Palmilla Springs
  • Palmnold Meadows
  • Panther Heights
  • Park Bend
  • Park Bend Estates
  • Park Creek Estates
  • Park Glen
  • Park Meadow
  • Park Palisades
  • Park Place
  • Park View
  • Parkhill
  • Parks Of Deer Creek
  • Parkside
  • Parkside East
  • Parkview
  • Parkview Estates
  • Parkview Hills
  • Parkway at Park Glen
  • Parkway Hill
  • Parkwood East
  • Parkwood Estates
  • Parkwood Hill
  • Pasadena Heights
  • Pavelski
  • Peaceful Acres
  • Pearl Ranch
  • Pebble Creek Ridge
  • Pecan Place Condos
  • Pine Tree Mobile Home Estates
  • Pinion Park
  • Pleasant Glade
  • Plum Valley Place Condos
  • Pollard Estates
  • Polytechnic Heights
  • Polytechnic Heights
  • Porter Estates
  • Post Oak Village
  • Poynter Crossing
  • Prairie Ridge Estates
  • Presidio South
  • Presidio Village
  • Presidio West
  • Primrose Crossing
  • Prospect Heights
  • Provinia
  • Pyle Place
  • Pyramid Acres
  • Quail Grove
  • Quail Grove Estates
  • Quail Ridge Estates
  • Quarter Horse Estates
  • Queensboro Heights
  • Raef
  • Rainbow Ridge
  • Ramey Place
  • Ranch at Eagle Mountain
  • Ranch at Eagle Mountain Ph V
  • Ranches East
  • Ranchette Estates
  • Ranchoaks
  • Randol Mill Villas
  • Reata Meadows
  • Reata Ranch
  • Regency Place
  • Remington Point
  • Remuda Ranch
  • Remuda Ranch Estates
  • Resort at Eagle Mountain Lake
  • Ridge Acres
  • Ridgecrest
  • Ridgeivew Farms
  • Ridgeview Estates
  • Ridgeview Farms
  • Ridgewest
  • Ridgewood
  • Ridglea
  • Ridglea Country Club Estates
  • Ridglea Crest
  • Ridglea Estates Condo
  • Ridglea Hills
  • Ridglea North
  • Ridglea Park
  • Ridglea Place
  • Ridglea South
  • Ridglea West
  • Ridgmar
  • Ridgmar Crossroads
  • Ridgmar Estates
  • River Bend Estates
  • River Bend Villas
  • River Crest Condos
  • River Elm
  • River Gardens
  • River Hills
  • River Oaks
  • River Park
  • River Trails
  • Riverbend Estates
  • Rivercreek Ranch
  • Rivercrest
  • Riverhollow
  • Rivers Edge
  • Riverside
  • Riverside Estates
  • Riverview Estates
  • Riverwood
  • Rockwood Terrace
  • Rollie Estates
  • Rolling Hills
  • Rolling Meadows
  • Rolling Wood Homesites
  • Rollins Hills Estates
  • Rosedale
  • Rosedale Park
  • Roselane
  • Rosemary Ridge
  • Rosen Heights
  • Ross D S
  • Rowland Place
  • Royal Acres
  • Royal Crest
  • Royale Orleans East Condos
  • Royale Orleans North Condos
  • Royale Orleans South Condos
  • Ryan J C
  • Ryan Place
  • Ryan Southeast
  • Ryanwood
  • Ryanwood North
  • Sabine Place
  • Sabre
  • Saddle Creek
  • Samuels
  • San Roe
  • Sandshell Heights
  • Sandy Acres
  • Sandy Oaks
  • Sandy Ridge Estates
  • Sandybrrok
  • Sandywoods Estates
  • Sangamo Park
  • Sansom Park
  • Santa Fe Enclave
  • Saratoga
  • Savanna Estates
  • Scenery Hill
  • Scenery Hill Park
  • Scenic Village
  • Seidels
  • Seminary Hill
  • Sendera
  • Sendera Ranch
  • Sendera Ranch East
  • Senisa Hill
  • Settlement Plaza
  • Seventeen Lakes
  • Seville
  • Shadow Glen Estates
  • Shady Oaks
  • Shalon Acres
  • Shaw Clark
  • Shaw Heights
  • Shelmire
  • Shelton
  • Sierra Vista
  • Silver Lake
  • Silver Ridge
  • Sisk Heights
  • Skyline Ranch
  • Skyline Terrace
  • Slone
  • Smokey Hill
  • Somerset Estates
  • South Brook
  • South Creek
  • South Eastlawn
  • South Fork
  • South Fork Twnhs
  • South Hemphill Heights
  • South Hills
  • South Meadow
  • South Meadow
  • South Oak Grove Estates
  • South Ridge
  • South Seminary
  • South Side
  • South Summitt Heights
  • Southcrest
  • Southfield
  • Southgate
  • Southland
  • Southland Terrace
  • Southpark Station
  • Southport
  • Southwest Hills
  • Spanish Gardens Condos
  • Spring Ranch
  • Springdale
  • Springleaf
  • Steiner J M Surv
  • Sterling Creek
  • Stewart
  • Still Meadows
  • Stockdale
  • Stone Creek
  • Stone Creek Ranch
  • Stone Crossing
  • Stone Hollow
  • Stone Manor
  • Stone Meadow
  • Stone Wood
  • Stonegate
  • Stoneglen at Fossil Creek
  • Stonewood
  • Stouts
  • Stratford
  • Strawberry Creek Estates
  • Summer Creek
  • Summer Creek Meadows
  • Summer Creek Ranch
  • Summer Creek South
  • Summerfields
  • Summerfields East
  • Sun Valley
  • Sundance Springs
  • Sundown Park
  • Sunrise
  • Sunrise Park
  • Sunset Acres
  • Sunset Heights
  • Sunset Heights South
  • Sunset Hills
  • Sunset Oaks
  • Sunset Ridge
  • Sunset View
  • Sunshine Hill
  • Sutters Mill
  • Sutton Place
  • Sycamore Heights
  • Sycamore Pointe
  • Sylvan Heights
  • Sylvania Park
  • Sylvia Place
  • Tandyland
  • Tanglewood
  • Tanglewood North
  • Tanglewood Park
  • Tarrant Town
  • Teham Ridge
  • Tehama
  • Tehama Ridge
  • Tejas Trails
  • Ten Mile Bridge
  • Terrace Landing
  • Texas and Pacific Lofts
  • The Bluffs at Heritage
  • The Cliffs
  • The Creeks Of Aledo
  • The Greens at The Fairways
  • The Orchards
  • The Parks at Willow Ridge
  • The Tower
  • Thomas Crossing
  • Tiara Ranch
  • Tiara Ranch Estates
  • Tidballs
  • Tierney Heights
  • Tiffany Gardens
  • Timberland
  • Timberland Estates
  • Tipton Place
  • Tower Residential Condos
  • Trace Ridge
  • Trail Lake Estates
  • Trail Ridge Estates
  • Trails of Fossil Creek
  • Trails of Marine Creek
  • Trails of Willow Creek
  • Trailwood Estates
  • Tranquil Acres
  • Trentman
  • Triangle Estates
  • Trinity at Heritage
  • Trinity Bluff
  • Trinity Glen
  • Trinity Heights
  • Trinity Lakes
  • Trinity River
  • True Acres
  • Trueland
  • Turtle Creek Ranch
  • Tuscany Valley Estates
  • Twin Mills
  • Twin Mills Farms
  • Union Depot
  • University Hill
  • University Park Condos
  • University Place
  • Urban Meadows
  • Valley Brook
  • Valley Brook Estates
  • Valley Ridge
  • Valley Vista
  • Van Horn
  • Van Zandt Farms
  • Van Zandt Hillside
  • Vanriper John Surv
  • Ventana
  • Veraison Village
  • Vickery
  • Vickery Acres
  • Vickery Garden Tracts
  • Vickery Southeast
  • Victorian Oaks
  • Victory Heights
  • View Park
  • Village Garden
  • Village Meadows
  • Villages of Chisholm Ridge
  • Villages of Crawford Farms
  • Villages of Marine Creek
  • Villages of Parkwood Estates
  • Villages of Parkwood Hill
  • Villages of Stonegate
  • Villages of Sunset Pointe
  • Villages of Woodland Springs
  • Villages of Woodland Springs West
  • Villas at Fossil Creek
  • Villas at Waterchase
  • Vineyards at Heritage
  • Vista Greens
  • Vista Meadows
  • Vista Meadows North
  • Vista Ranch
  • Vista Ridge
  • Vista West
  • Walkers
  • Washington Heights
  • Waterchase Estates
  • Waterfront
  • Waterfront at Enchanted Bay
  • Waverly Park
  • Wayne Place
  • Weaver
  • Wedgewood
  • Weisenberger
  • Welborn View
  • Wellington Point
  • Wernet Place
  • Wesleyan Heights
  • Wesleyan Hills
  • West Bluff Condos
  • West Fork
  • West Highland
  • West Morningside
  • West Oak
  • West Oakhurst
  • West Point Village
  • West Ridge
  • West Vickery Heights
  • Westcliff
  • Western Hills
  • Western Meadows
  • Western Trails
  • Westhaven
  • Westland
  • Westland Acres
  • Westover Acres
  • Westover Hills
  • Westover Ridge
  • Westover Square
  • Westpoint
  • Westpoint Village
  • Westside Acres
  • Westview
  • Westwood
  • Wheat
  • White Lake Hills
  • White Lake Villas
  • Whitehall
  • Whitmore Courts
  • Whitney Meadows
  • Wilkes Estates
  • William J. Bailey
  • Willow Creek
  • Willow Lake
  • Willow Lake North
  • Willow Ridge
  • Willow Ridge Estates
  • Willow Springs Ranch
  • Willow Wood
  • Wilshire
  • Wilshire Valley
  • Winchester Park
  • Windsor Park
  • Windsor Place
  • Winston
  • Woodhaven
  • Woodhaven Country Club
  • Woodhaven Country Club Estates
  • Woodhaven East
  • Woodhaven Golf Villas
  • Woodhaven Hills Condos
  • Woodhaven Village
  • Woodland Acres
  • Woodlands of Bear Creek
  • Woodmont
  • Woodrose
  • Woodward
  • Worth Heights
  • Worth Hills
  • Yellow Rose

More than 80 percent of Fort Worth's population is native American. Many of them are descendants of the wiry pioneers of the plains country. Yet for all its speed and activity, Fort Worth is one of the State's most hospitable cities. There is still time for a cordial "Howdy stranger," and a nice disregard of the city's uproar in the easy pause for conversation that is definitely reminiscent of the top rail of a corral fence, with boot heels hooked for balance and plenty of time for talk.

Rather oddly, Fort Worth was never a fort. Originally it was a camp where, in 1849, Brevet Major R. A. Arnold and a troop of dragoons kept a watchful eye on the Indians. The camp was named Fort Worth in honor of General William Jenkins Worth, Mexican War hero. After the Civil War, when the cattle drives trailed up through the little community, it became an important trading and supply center. By 1866 educational facilities were urgently needed, so its citizens bought a wagonload of flour which they traded for lumber, to convert the Masonic Hall into a school building.

In 1870, when it became apparent that a railroad might soon reach the settlement, Fort Worth enjoyed rapid growth. It was incorporated in 1873. That same year, with the railroad as near as Eagle Ford, 26 miles distant, land values boomed and the population was more than 5,000. Then came the "Panic of '73," with the failure of Jay Cooke & Company, which held most of the liens against the new railroad, the Texas and Pacific, and also against much of the property in Fort Worth.

That blow immediately shifted the weak-hearted from the community. A majority of the new residents headed east and the population fell below 1,000. During the hegira a young lawyer wrote a letter to the Dallas Herald asserting that Fort Worth was so dead he had seen a panther lying asleep and unmolested in the main street.

The thousand stalwarts who remained greeted that calumny with hoots of derision. The fire department bought a panther cub for a mascot. Local clubs attached the name "panther" to their former titles, and the "Panther City" was born.

The Panthers sharpened their claws. They wanted a railroad, and a railroad they would have if, as a local resident declared, "every bank and peanut stand in the entire East failed." They offered to grade the remaining 26 miles of unfinished roadbed in exchange for a lien on the road. The Texas and Pacific agreed and the Panthers set out to help complete the moribund railway before the land grant subsidy given by the legislature should expire. In 1876 the situation developed into a race against time. The road had to be completed before the legislature adjourned—and adjournment day was near.

Meanwhile, Fort Worth scratched gravel. Every business house operated with the barest minimum of workers and sent the bulk of its men to the railroad right-of-way to wield pick and shovel. The women of the city worked in relays, preparing hot coffee and food, and feeding and watering the mules. The legislature remained in session until the road was completed, and on July 19, 1876, the first train into Fort Worth stopped at what is now Boaz Street and Lancaster Avenue, its whistle cord tied down and the editor of the local newspaper frantically shoving fuel into the firebox to keep the steam whistle going.

That was the beginning of the city's present network of nine trunk line railroads.

During the construction of its first rail line, and for some time thereafter, Fort Worth was a typical frontier town. Gamblers, cattlemen, and all types of characters familiar to the Old West thronged the city. A bit of unusual excitement was provided when the Comanche chiefs, Yellow Bear and Quanah Parker, the latter famous for his raids against the whites, visited town and went to bed after blowing out the gas. Yellow bear never awakened, but Quanah Parker recovered and lived to become a friend of his former enemies.

By 1875 citizens of Fort Worth had sensed the value of capitalizing the city's strategic location as the market place of a great southwestern empire of cattle and cattlemen. They organized a meat packing company and built the first stockyards in Fort Worth. A quarter century later, Swift & Company, Armour & Company, and Libby, McNeill & Libby entered the field, and by 1902 those companies had completed a group of packing houses in Niles City, then on the outskirts of Fort Worth. Their presence attracted allied industries, and during the decade that followed, the population jumped from 26,699 to 73,312.

The World War wrote a new chapter in the story of Fort Worth, with the establishment of Camp Bowie within the city and of several flying fields in its immediate vicinity. Little remains of any of the military camps and fields, the site of Camp Bowie now being virtually filled with residences.

Oil was discovered in 1912 at Burkburnett, 125 miles northward, and immediately after the World War, the Ranger field, 100 miles westward, was brought in.

  1. Works Projects Administration, Federal Works Agency, Federal Writers' Program, Texas: A Guide to the Lone Star State, American Guide Series, Texas State Highway Commission, 1940.

Home | Contact | Site Index | Whats New | Search

Privacy | Disclaimer | © 1997-2024, The Gombach Group