History of Fort Worth, Texas in Timeline

Fort Worth, Texas, is the county seat of Tarrant County and extends into several other counties. With an estimated population of over 1 million in 2024, it is the 11th-most populous city in the U.S. and the fourth-largest in Texas. It is the second-largest city within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area with approximately 8.5 million residents, making it the fourth-most populous in the country.

1900: The Acre Expansion

By 1900, Hell's Half Acre covered four of Fort Worth's main north-south thoroughfares. Also in 1900, most of the dance halls and gamblers were gone from the Acre, leaving cheap variety shows and prostitution as the chief forms of entertainment.

1900: Decline of the Acre

By 1900, the popularity and profitability of the Acre in Fort Worth had declined, with dance halls and gamblers disappearing, leaving cheap variety shows and prostitution as the main forms of entertainment.

1901: Bishop & Sherwin Syndicate Buys Fort Worth Street Railway Company

In 1901, the Bishop & Sherwin Syndicate bought out the Fort Worth Street Railway Company and renamed it the Northern Texas Traction Company.

1902: Northern Texas Traction Company Railway Operational

In 1902, the Northern Texas Traction Company built a railway that ran 35 miles between Fort Worth and Dallas.

1905: Death of E.S. Terrell

In 1905, E. S. Terrell, who claimed to be the first resident of Fort Worth, passed away in Tennessee.

1906: Fort Worth Star Founded

In 1906, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was founded as the Fort Worth Star.

1911: Norris Launches Offensive

In 1911, Reverend J. Frank Norris began his campaign against racetrack gambling, vice, and prostitution in Fort Worth via the Baptist Standard and the First Baptist Church.

1911: Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Parsonage Built

Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Parsonage in Fort Worth was built in 1911 and is still operating.

February 4, 1912: Norris's Church Burned

On February 4, 1912, Reverend J. Frank Norris's church in Fort Worth was burned to the ground. Later that evening, there was an attempt to burn his porch as well, but the fire caused minimal damage.

1914: Lake Worth Dam Completed

In 1914, a large storage dam was completed on the West Fork of the Trinity River, 7 miles (11 km) from the city of Fort Worth. The lake formed by this dam is known as Lake Worth.

1917: Camp Bowie and Acre Regulation

After Camp Bowie was established outside of Fort Worth in 1917, the military implemented martial law to control prostitutes and barkeepers in the Acre, using fines and jail sentences to curtail their activities.

1917: Acre's End

In 1917, a new city administration and the federal government joined forces with Baptist preacher Norris to shut down the Acre in Fort Worth.

1919: Funeral for John Barleycorn

By 1919, Reverend Norris held a mock funeral parade to "bury John Barleycorn", marking the end of the Acre in Fort Worth.

1921: Lynching of Fred Rouse

In 1921, during a strike at the Fort Worth, Swift & Co. meatpacking plant, African-American strikebreaker Fred Rouse was lynched and his body was riddled with bullets by a white mob.

1921: Fort Worth Press Founded

In 1921, the Fort Worth Press was founded as a daily newspaper.

1921: Driest Year

The driest calendar year since records began in Fort Worth has been 1921 with 17.91 inches (454.9 mm).

April 1922: Wettest Month

April 1922 was the wettest calendar month in Fort Worth, with 17.64 inches (448.1 mm) of rainfall, including 8.56 inches (217.4 mm) on April 25.

1923: Tabernacle Baptist Church Built

Tabernacle Baptist Church in Fort Worth was built in 1923 and is still operating.

1924: St. Mary of the Assumption Church Built

St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Fort Worth was built in 1924 and is still operating.

1925: Northern Texas Traction Company Operations

In 1925, the Northern Texas Traction Company operated 84 miles of streetcar railways.

1929: Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church Built

Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Fort Worth was built in 1929 and is still operating.

1931: Birthplace of Western Swing

In 1931, Fort Worth became the birthplace of Western Swing music, created by Bob Wills, Milton Brown, and their Light Crust Doughboys band at the Crystal Springs Dance Pavilion.

1933: Courthouse Built

In 1933, the Eldon B. Mahon United States Courthouse was built.

1934: Northern Texas Traction Company Railway Closed

In 1934, the Northern Texas Traction Company Railway that ran between Fort Worth and Dallas closed.

1934: Morning Chapel C.M.E. Church Built

Morning Chapel C.M.E. Church in Fort Worth was built in 1934 and is still operating.

1940: Mechau Paintings Installed

In 1940, Frank Mechau's paintings (The Taking of Sam Bass, Two Texas Rangers, and Flags Over Texas) were installed in the Eldon B. Mahon United States Courthouse, becoming the only New Deal art commission in Fort Worth.

1948: Abandonment of electric interurban railways

By 1948, all electric interurban railways were abandoned in Texas.

1953: Opening of Greater Southwest International Airport

In 1953, Greater Southwest International Airport, originally named Amon Carter Field, opened and operated as the primary airport for Fort Worth.

November 21, 1963: Kennedy Arrives in Fort Worth

On November 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy arrived in Fort Worth, and was scheduled to speak the next morning before heading to Dallas.

1964: Establishment of Greer Island Nature Center

In 1964, the Greer Island Nature Center and Refuge, later known as the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, was established.

1970: Population Demographics

In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Fort Worth's population as 72% non-Hispanic white, 19.9% African American, and 7.9% Hispanic or Latino.

1974: Greater Southwest International Airport Abandoned

In 1974, Greater Southwest International Airport was abandoned.

1975: Fort Worth Press Ceases Publication

In 1975, the Fort Worth Press ceased publication.

1977: Most Snowfall in a Season (Partial)

The 1977/1978 season saw the most snowfall in Fort Worth with 17.6 inches (447.0 mm).

February 1978: Most Snowfall in a Month

February 1978 saw the most snowfall in one month in Fort Worth, with 13.5 inches (342.9 mm).

1978: Cowtown Marathon Inauguration

The annual Cowtown Marathon has been held every last weekend in February since 1978.

June 26, 1980: Record High Temperature

On June 26, 1980, during the Great 1980 Heat Wave, the highest temperature ever recorded in Fort Worth was 113 °F (45.0 °C).

June 27, 1980: Record High Temperature

On June 27, 1980, during the Great 1980 Heat Wave, the highest temperature ever recorded in Fort Worth was 113 °F (45.0 °C).

1980: National Natural Landmark Designation

In 1980, the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge was designated a National Natural Landmark Site by the Department of the Interior.

1980: Demolition of Greater Southwest International Airport Terminal

In 1980, the terminal of the Greater Southwest International Airport was torn down.

1987: Construction Begins on Bureau of Engraving and Printing Facility

In 1987, construction began on the second Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility in Fort Worth.

December 1990: Currency Production Begins at Fort Worth BEP

Currency production began in December 1990 at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility in Fort Worth.

April 26, 1991: Official Dedication of Fort Worth BEP Facility

On April 26, 1991, the official dedication of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing facility in Fort Worth took place.

1997: Texas Motor Speedway Opens

In 1997, Texas Motor Speedway, also known as "The Great American Speedway", opened in the northern part of Fort Worth.

March 28, 2000: Downtown Tornado

On March 28, 2000, at 6:15 pm, an F3 tornado struck downtown Fort Worth, severely damaging many buildings, including the Bank One Tower, which housed the "Reata" restaurant.

2000: Fastest Growing City

From 2000 to 2006, Fort Worth was the fastest-growing large city in the United States; it was voted one of "America's Most Livable Communities".

2001: Courthouse Listed in National Register of Historic Places

In 2001, the Eldon B. Mahon United States Courthouse was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

2004: Texas Wesleyan Table Tennis Championship

In 2004, Texas Wesleyan University won the first of three consecutive National Collegiate Table Tennis Association (NCTTA) team championships.

2006: Fastest Growing City

From 2000 to 2006, Fort Worth was the fastest-growing large city in the United States; it was voted one of "America's Most Livable Communities".

2006: Texas Wesleyan Basketball Championship

In 2006, Texas Wesleyan University won the NAIA Div. I Men's Basketball Championship.

July 2007: Natural Gas Reserves Available

By July 2007, advances in horizontal drilling technology made vast natural gas reserves in the Barnett Shale available directly under the city of Fort Worth, helping many residents receive royalty checks for their mineral rights.

December 2009: Natural-Gas Wells Count

As of December 2009, Fort Worth had over 1,000 natural-gas wells tapping the Barnett Shale.

2009: Commuting Trends in Fort Worth

In 2009, a significant majority (80.6%) of Fort Worth commuters drove to work alone, while 11.7% carpooled, 1.5% used transit, 1.2% walked, and 0.1% cycled.

May 10, 2010: Heritage Park Plaza Added to National Register of Historic Places

On May 10, 2010, Heritage Park Plaza was added to the US National Register of Historic Places.

December 2010: City Council Forfeits Urban Circulator Grant

In December 2010, the Fort Worth City Council voted to end the streetcar study, forfeiting a $25 million Federal Urban Circulator grant intended to build a streetcar system.

2010: Racial Composition

According to the 2010 U.S. census, Fort Worth's population was 61.1% White, 18.9% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 3.7% Asian American, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 34.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 3.1% of two or more races.

2010: Housing and Income Statistics

In 2010, Fort Worth had an average household size of 2.78 and an average family size of 3.47. Median household income was $48,224, and 21.4% of the population lived at or below the poverty line.

2010: Jewish Community Estimate

In 2010, the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life estimated there were 5,000 Jews in Fort Worth.

2011: Walk Score Ranking of Fort Worth

A 2011 study by Walk Score ranked Fort Worth as the 47th-most walkable of the 50 largest U.S. cities.

2011: TCU Rose Bowl Win

In 2011, the TCU Horned Frogs, under Gary Patterson, became a Rose Bowl winner.

2011: Texas Ends Prison Contract

In 2011, the state of Texas decided not to renew its contract with the North Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility, a privately operated prison in Fort Worth.

2012: Romney Wins Tarrant County

In 2012, Mitt Romney won Tarrant County by 15.8 points, before the county shifted about 10 points to the left.

2012: TCU Joins Big 12 Conference

In 2012, the TCU Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 athletic conference in all sports, ending their "BCS Buster" role.

2014: Nature Center 50th Anniversary

In 2014, the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge celebrated its 50th anniversary.

2014: Diversification Begins

In 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau noted the city's beginning of greater diversification until 2018.

2015: Wettest Year

2015 was the wettest year on record for Fort Worth with 62.61 inches (1,590.3 mm) of rain.

2015: Fort Worth Weekly Circulation

In 2015, The Fort Worth Weekly newspaper had an approximate circulation of 47,000.

2015: Commuting Trends in Fort Worth

In 2015, the American Community Survey estimated that 82% of Fort Worth commuters drove alone, 12% carpooled, 0.8% used transit, 1.8% walked, and 0.3% cycled. Also, 6.1 percent of Fort Worth households lacked a car.

2016: Car Ownership in Fort Worth Households

In 2016, 4.8 percent of Fort Worth households lacked a car. Fort Worth averaged 1.83 cars per household.

2018: Housing and Income

At the 2018 census estimates, Fort Worth had 337,072 housing units, a median income of $58,448, and a per capita income of $29,010. Roughly 15.6% of residents lived at or below the poverty line.

2018: Population Near 900,000

At the American Community Survey's 2018 census estimates, the city of Fort Worth had a population near 900,000 residents.

2018: Demographic Shifts

In 2018, Fort Worth was 38.2% non-Hispanic white, 18.6% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian or Alaska Native, 4.8% Asian American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.1% from two or more races, and 35.5% Hispanic or Latino, marking an era of diversification.

2018: Diversification Begins

In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau noted the city's beginning of greater diversification from 2014–2018.

January 10, 2019: TEXRail Service to DFW Airport Begins

On January 10, 2019, train service from Downtown Fort Worth to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's Terminal B became available via Trinity Metro's TEXRail service.

July 2019: Trinity Metro Partners with Via Transportation to Launch ZIPZONE

In July 2019, Trinity Metro partnered with Via Transportation to launch ZIPZONE, an on-demand microtransit service.

2019: Diversity Ranking

A study in 2019 determined Fort Worth as one of the most diverse cities in the United States.

2019: Population Growth

In 2019, Fort Worth grew to an estimated 909,585 residents.

2019: Charles Schwab Challenge

Since 2019, the Colonial Invitational Golf Tournament has been titled the Charles Schwab Challenge due to sponsorship reasons.

2020: Muslim and Jewish Community Numbers

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, there were an estimated 37,488 Muslims and 2,413 Jews living in Fort Worth.

2020: Population Recorded

At the 2020 United States census, Fort Worth had a population of 918,915.

2020: Population Diversification

By the 2020 census, Fort Worth's population further diversified with 36.6% non-Hispanic white, 34.8% Hispanic or Latino American, and 19.2% Black or African American; Asian Americans formed 5.1% of the population.

2020: Growth of Fort Worth

In 2020, Fort Worth's mayor announced the city's continued growth to 20.78%.

2020: Southern Baptist Community Numbers

In 2020, Southern Baptists were the second-largest single Christian denomination for Fort Worth's metropolitan division, with 347,771 adherents.

2020: Catholic Community Numbers

In 2020, the Catholic community in Tarrant County numbered 359,705, making it the Fort Worth metropolitan division's single largest Christian denomination or tradition with 378,490 adherents according to the Association of Religion Data Archives.

2020: Panther City Lacrosse Club Founded

In 2020, the Panther City Lacrosse Club of the National Lacrosse League was founded in Fort Worth.

February 2021: Fort Worth Report Intentions Announced

In February 2021, the Fort Worth Report, a nonprofit news organization, announced its intentions to launch.

April 2021: ZIPZONE Service Cost

As of April 2021, ZIPZONE shared rides cost a flat $3.

April 2021: Fort Worth Report Launches

In April 2021, the Fort Worth Report officially launched its newsroom.

2021: Austin Bold FC Relocation

In 2021, it was announced that Austin Bold FC would relocate to Fort Worth, providing Fort Worth with a USL Championship club.

2021: Mattie Parker Becomes Mayor

Mattie Parker became the mayor of Fort Worth in 2021.

2022: Population Estimated

The 2022 census estimates numbered approximately 956,709 residents in Fort Worth.

2023: Catholic Population Estimate

In 2023, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth estimated there were approximately 1,200,000 Catholics altogether.

2023: Southern Baptist Churches Listed

In 2023, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention listed 117 churches in the Fort Worth area.

2023: Print Circulation of Fort Worth Star-Telegram

In 2023, the print circulation of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was 43,342.

2024: Fort Worth Population Estimated

In 2024, Fort Worth's population was estimated to be 1,008,156, making it the 11th-most populous city in the United States.

2024: Panther City Lacrosse Club Folded

In 2024, the Panther City Lacrosse Club of the National Lacrosse League folded.

2024: Hispanic Voters Trend Right

In 2024, the Republican Party made significant inroads with Hispanic voters, capturing 55% of the Latino vote statewide.

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