Schmap Fort Worth Historical Background

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Fort Worth - Historical Background
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Fort Worth Home
Schmap Fort Worth guide and map

Welcome to Fort Worth, known for many years in Texas as "Where the West Begins." Established in 1849 as an army post to protect East Texas settlements from Indian attack, Forth Worth was named for General William Jenkins Worth, one of the first commanders of the outpost and a veteran of the War of 1812, the French and Indian War and the Mexican War. The little outpost quickly developed a rowdy reputation, which was intensified with the establishment of a stage line from Fort Worth to Yuma, Arizona, in 1850. But by 1853, the frontier had moved to the west and the fort was abandoned. The buildings from the fort housed the town of Fort Worth as settlers, soldiers, cowboys and even outlaws took up residence.

Tarrant County's first county seat was in Birdville (now part of Haltom City), which was actually a larger community than Fort Worth. The courthouse, used from 1850-1856, was housed in a log cabin. As Fort Worth grew in population, its citizens forced an election in 1856 to decide where the county seat should be. Fort Worth won the election, and despite Birdville's protests and another election four years later, the county seat remained Fort Worth, as it still is today.

“Cowtown”

As the demand for beef in the East rose after the U.S. Civil War, cowboys rounded up millions of free-ranging longhorns and drove them north to market along the Chisholm Trail. Fort Worth was the last bit of civilization before the long lonely trail drive, so by 1866, the town had a new nickname, "Cowtown," and a new source of prosperity in the cattle business—not to mention an even rowdier reputation and a famous neighborhood known as Hell's Half Acre. It is said that even Butch Cassidy, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang stopped here to enjoy food and fun!

Tarantula Train

By 1872, Fort Worth was ready for a new step into the future: bringing the railroad through Texas. In 1873, Captain B.B. Paddock developed a map showing Fort Worth in the center of a circle and proposed rail lines radiating in all directions from that center. As the map began to resemble a giant tarantula, it was fittingly named the Tarantula Map and became the main plan used to attract railroads to the city. Despite many difficulties and delays, the Texas and Pacific Railroad pulled into Fort Worth in 1876; by 1900, nine railroads were operating through the town. Part of the first true effort to establish an extended rail system in North America, it was a narrow-gauge route going from St. Louis, Missouri, through Eagle Pass, Texas, on the Mexican border, and then into the interior of Mexico. Known as the Cotton Belt Route, the route was extended into Fort Worth in 1887 as an outlet for lumber, and passenger service continued until about 1930. The Tarantula Train is now a popular tourist attraction.

Stockyards

It was only natural for a thriving meatpacking industry to be next to spring up in Fort Worth—after all, the railroads were now in place to bring in the cattle and ship out the meat. Swift and Armour, among other packers, built regional plants—Swift's on the south hillside of Exchange Avenue and Armour's on the north side. The plants opened in late 1902 and held grand openings in March 1903 in conjunction with the annual livestock show, known today as the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. A month later, the Exchange building opened, and the Cowtown Coliseum followed in 1908. By 1909, the new city of North Fort Worth had grown to a population of 12,000 and was annexed by its older sibling. Eight years later, cattlemen decided to hold a contest for cowboys in the coliseum. Lacking a name, one rancher suggested "rodeo," the Spanish word for "roundup."

Fort Worth soon became the second largest livestock market in the country as well as one of its major beef suppliers. It retained that status until the 1960s, when Swift and Armour closed their doors. The Stockyards didn't go away, however; the area underwent complete restoration in the 1970s and remains one of North Texas' most popular tourist destinations. Stockyards Station is deemed a living tribute to a gone, but not forgotten, way of life.

Oil Money

Fort Worth's commercial role expanded yet again with the discovery of rich oil fields in West Texas in the early 20th century, for here is where the drilling supplies were manufactured, purchased and sold even as oil was struck. Sinclair, Texaco, and Humble Oil and Refining Company (now Exxon) built regional offices, and new skyscrapers sprang up as a result of oil money. Meanwhile, a major flood in 1909 spurred the city to begin the ambitious projects of controlling the Trinity River and ensuring a safe water supply for its residents. These projects resulted in the formation of Lake Worth, located northwest of downtown.

Military/Aerospace

The U.S. Army established Camp Bowie as a training site during World War I. Later, Amon G. Carter Sr. co-founded American Airways, now known as American Airlines and still based at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Early in World War II, when the U.S. War Department needed an aircraft plant to build bombers, Carter and his partner C.R. Smith sold Washington on the idea of putting it in Fort Worth. The plant broke ground in April, 1941. After Pearl Harbor triggered a step-up in the work, an extension was added for the Air Force. Four months later, the Air Force activated Tarrant Field Airdrome as a training base, which later became Carswell Air Force Base. In 1951, an aircraft manufacturer from New York, Larry Bell, brought his helicopter factory to Hurst; today, Bell Helicopter Textron is still a vital contributor to the area's economy.

The oil industry's collapse in the early 1980s, along with the shrinking of the defense industry, negatively impacted Fort Worth's economy, but diversification and thriving tourism in all of North Texas have combined to give it a much-needed boost.

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Cowtown Coliseum

Site of first indoor rodeo still going strong

121 East Exchange Avenue
(At Main Street)
Fort Worth, TX 76106
United States
+1 817 625 1025
http://www.cowtowncoliseum.com/

Located in the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Coliseum has a tremendous history. It was the site of the first indoor rodeo, held in 1918, and the first live radio broadcast, which took place at a rodeo here in 1923. Despite its history, the Coliseum has such modern conveniences as arena seats for 2,500 people, air conditioning, production lighting and a great sound system. Cowtown Coliseum is home to the Stockyard Championship rodeo, which takes place here Friday and Saturday. Rodeos feature traditional bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping and barrel racing.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Coy West

Photo: Melissa Myers

Photo: abbeyholt

Stockyards Station

Urban Cowboy paradise with shopping and shows 130 East Exchange Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76106
United States
+1 817 625 9715
http://www.stockyardsstation.com/ Along the narrow streets of Stockyards Station you'll find storefronts from the late 1800s, which were renovated for tourism in the 1970s. Stores are full of western memorabilia including paintings, leather goods, books, glassware and hundreds of other treasures. Wild west performances are staged frequently at the Cowtown Coliseum, while Billy Bob's Texas offers other entertainment options. At mealtime, Riscky's and other restaurants offer steak, catfish and other local fare. A children's amusement park features a lovely old carousel and several other rides. Through the middle of it all runs the Tarantula Train, which shuttles passengers on a nostalgic trip to and from Grapevine.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Coy West
Photo: Coy West
Photo: beni o' Chicago

Tarantula Train

Restored turn-of-the-century steam train 709 South Main St
Fort Worth, TX 76051
United States
+1 817 625 7245
http://www.tarantulatrain.com/ Tracing the trails once used by cowboys and ranch hands to herd cattle, this restored steam train takes passengers on a ride in true-to-the-era style. The name of the train comes from the 1873 railroad map, which showed the city as the central station with routes branching off like the legs of a spider. Grapevine Vintage Railroad uses an 1896 steam locomotive, nicknamed "Puffy," that pulls four 1925-day coaches. It tours approximately 21 miles of the "Cotton Belt Route," traveling the communities of Grapevine, Colleyville and North Richland Hills before concluding in Stockyards.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Bearded Jon
Photo: dallasphotoworks.com
Photo: Bearded Jon
Photo: Christopher Turner
Photo: Amy L. Chambless
Photo: Russell Turns
Photo: Bob Owen

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Fort Worth - Historical Background"
Fort Worth
Fort Worth - Neighborhood Guide
Fort Worth - Where to Stay
Fort Worth - Dining & Drinking
Fort Worth - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Dallas (9 miles)
Austin (296 miles)
Oklahoma City (298 miles)
Houston (392 miles)
San Antonio (401 miles)
Memphis (696 miles)
New Orleans (729 miles)
St. Louis (883 miles)
Albuquerque (920 miles)
Omaha (938 miles)

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