Fort Worth History

The Final Frontier

Fort Worth's story is one of grandeur and grit, of ambition and resilience that has defined this city from its very beginnings. It is a story of cowboys and cattle drives, of gunslingers and outlaws, of oil barons and entrepreneurs, all converging on this frontier town to make their fortunes and leave their mark on history.

The fertile north Texas land surrounding the banks of the Trinity River was a favorite hunting ground for several indigenous tribes of Native Americans before settlers arrived in the area. Once a major stop on the cattle industry’s Chisholm Trail, the settlement began its development as a rough and tumble outpost on the edge of the Texas frontier. In 1849, a military post was established to protect settlers from hostile tribes and outlaws, and named for Gen. William Jenkins Worth, commander of the Texas army.

Wild, Wild West

During the late 1800s, Fort Worth became an important hub for cattle drives, earning the nickname "Cowtown." The Stockyards National Historic District, now a popular tourist attraction, was once the site of the world's largest livestock market. Cowboys and outlaws roamed the streets, while saloons and brothels offered entertainment for the hard-working ranch hands.

"Fort Worth was a trading center for cowboys, freighters, and other Westerners in the early days of the cattle drives. It was a rough and rowdy town, with more saloons and gamblers than churches and schools." - Charles Goodnight, legendary Texas cattleman

Cattle drives, saloons, and gambling dens dominated the city's landscape, attracting cowboys, outlaws, and fortune-seekers from all over. Shootouts were a common occurrence, and the streets were ruled by notorious gunslingers like “Big Jim” Courtright. The large concentration of criminal activity and violence that occurred there led to Fort Worth’s town center being referred to as “Hell’s Half Acre.”

Legend has it that Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, including the Sundance Kid, used the city’s Hell’s Half Acre as their playground between robberies.

But Fort Worth's history is not all crime and cowboys. Despite the lawlessness, Fort Worth continued to develop, becoming a major transportation hub with the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway, a railroad line connecting the ranches of Texas with the markets of California. Railroads and cattle drives brought wealth and prosperity to the town, and Fort Worth quickly transformed into a bustling city with a thriving economy by the early 1900s. 

Striking Black Gold

But with the dawn of the 20th century, the city began to change. Fort Worth diversified its economy and began to attract businesses from a variety of industries, such as meatpacking, milling, and grain storage. 

Yet, it would be the discovery of oil in Texas that would impact Fort Worth forever.

The Texas Oil Boom in nearby areas in the 1920s and 1930s brought new wealth and opportunity to Fort Worth. The city saw rapid growth and development, as people flocked to the city in search of work and prosperity. The city's skyline began to change, as new buildings sprang up to house the growing population.

The growth continued throughout the 1940s and 1950s, as Fort Worth became a hub for the aviation and defense industries. The city was home to major aircraft manufacturers, such as General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin, and played a crucial role in the military-industrial complex. The city's economy boomed, and the population has grown exponentially in recent years.

Fort Worth's early days were wild and untamed, but they also laid the foundation for the city's future success. Through hard work and perseverance, the people of Fort Worth transformed their rowdy frontier town into a thriving metropolis, one that continues to flourish to this day.