Fort Worth, located in the state of Texas in the United States, serves as the main city in Tarrant County and spans approximately 350 square miles (910 km2) across Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise counties.
In the year 1849, the city of Fort Worth was founded as a military outpost, strategically located on a hillside that offered a commanding view of the Trinity River.
Between 2000 and 2006, Fort Worth experienced rapid growth and was recognized as one of the top large cities in the country. It was praised for being a highly livable community. Along with a shift in migration patterns, a significant number of African Americans have been moving to Fort Worth due to its reasonable living expenses and employment prospects.
A collision on I-35W caused by freezing rain and ice on February 11, 2021, involved 133 cars and trucks. This incident resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals and left many others injured.
Fort Worth has a unique cityscape, featuring various enclaves, practical enclaves, semi-enclaves, and surrounding cities that are partially or completely enclosed by it. These areas include Westworth Village, River Oaks, Saginaw, Blue Mound, Benbrook, Everman, Forest Hill, Edgecliff Village, Westover Hills, White Settlement, Sansom Park, Lake Worth, Lakeside, and Hasle.
Fort Worth’s city center is divided into various areas, each with its own unique character and purpose. One such area is Sundance Square, a lively neighborhood that combines commercial and residential spaces with a vibrant entertainment scene, making it a go-to destination for nightlife and leisure activities.
The historic district of Downtown Fort Worth boasts a distinctive blend of architectural styles, with a prevalence of Art Deco influences. The iconic Tarrant County Courthouse, inspired by the Texas State Capitol, showcases an elegant Beaux Arts design. Many buildings surrounding Sundance Square have maintained their original early 20th-century facades, adding to the area’s charm and character.
Fort Worth experiences a humid subtropical climate as classified by the Köppen system and falls within USDA hardiness zone 8a. This area has hot and humid summers, along with mild to cool winters. August is the hottest month with an average high temperature of 96 °F (35.6 °C) and an average low of 75 °F (23.9 °C), resulting in an average temperature of 85 °F (29.4 °C). In contrast, January is the coldest month with an average high of 56 °F (13.3 °C) and an average low of 35 °F (1.7 °C), giving an average temperature of 46 °F (8 °C). Fort Worth has recorded extreme temperatures of 113 °F (45.0 °C) in June 1980 and −8 °F (−22.2 °C) in February 1899. Due to its location in North Texas, Fort Worth often experiences severe thunderstorms that can bring large hail and tornadoes.
Fort Worth is the second-largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the most populous city in Tarrant County. Its metropolitan area is home to nearly one-quarter of the state’s population, making it the largest in both the Southern U.S. and Texas, with the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area being the second largest.
In the year 2020, there were 31,485 residents who identified with two or more races.
First Christian Church, established in 1855, is the longest-running church in Fort Worth. Alongside it, several other historic churches have also remained active in the city, such as St. Patrick Cathedral (established in 1888), Saint James Second Street Baptist Church (established in 1895), Tabernacle Baptist Church (constructed in 1923), St. Mary of the Assumption Church (built in 1924), Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and Parsonage (constructed in 1929 and 1911), and Morning Chapel C.M.E. Church (erected in 1934).
Since the 1980s, Fort Worth has been home to several prominent companies, including American Airlines Group and its subsidiaries, John Peter Smith Hospital, Pier 1 Imports, Chip 1 Exchange, RadioShack, Pioneer Corporation, Cash America International, GM Financial, Budget Host, BNSF Railway, and Bell Textron. Additionally, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Lockheed Martin, GE Transportation, and AT&T have a significant presence in the city. Metro by T-Mobile is also a notable presence in Fort Worth.
With its rich Western history and tradition of supporting the arts, Fort Worth markets itself as the “City of Cowboys and Culture.” The city is home to the largest indoor rodeo globally, top-tier museums, various festivals, and a thriving local arts community.
More than 5,000 creatures call the Fort Worth Zoo their home.
Fort Worth boasts an impressive 263 parks, with 179 of them being conveniently located in residential areas. These parks cover a total of 11,700.72 acres, with an average of 12.13 acres per park, providing ample green spaces for recreation and relaxation.
Despite the majority of sports focus in Fort Worth being on Dallas’s professional sports teams, the city maintains its own unique athletic presence. Fort Worth is home to three amateur soccer clubs – Fort Worth Vaqueros FC, Inocentes FC, and Azul City Premier FC. Inocentes FC and Azul City Premier FC are both members of the United Premier Soccer League, while the Vaqueros compete in the National Premier Soccer League.
In the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State and TCU faced off in a highly anticipated match. TCU’s sports teams, known as the Horned Frogs, are considered the top college sports teams in Fort Worth. They compete in NCAA Division I athletics and have a history of success, including winning two national championships in football during the 1930s. While they were strong competitors in the Southwest Conference until the 1960s, the team struggled in the following years.
Every May, Fort Worth plays host to a prestigious professional men’s golf tournament, the Fort Worth Invitational, which takes place at the esteemed Colonial Country Club. This event has a rich history and is highly regarded on the tour circuit. The Colonial Country Club holds a special significance as it was the home course of the legendary golfer Ben Hogan, who hailed from Fort Worth.
The city of Fort Worth operates under a council-manager system, with a mayor and eight council members who are elected by the people. The mayor is chosen by the entire city, while the council members are elected by the residents of their respective districts. Elections for these positions take place every two years.
The Fort Worth District Office is managed by the Texas Department of Transportation and is situated in Fort Worth.
The city of Fort Worth hosts one of the two branches of the government’s currency-producing agency, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
The majority of Fort Worth’s population is covered by the Fort Worth Independent School District.
There are various private schools in Fort Worth, Texas, that cater to different educational needs and preferences. These institutions include All Saints’ Episcopal School, Bethesda Christian School, Covenant Classical School, Fort Worth Christian School, Fort Worth Country Day School, Lake Country Christian School, Montessori School of Fort Worth, Nolan Catholic High School, Trinity Valley School, Temple Christian School, Trinity Baptist Temple Academy, Hill School of Fort Worth, Southwest Christian School, and St. Paul Lutheran School. Additionally, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth manages several Catholic elementary and middle schools in the area.
Fort Worth’s primary daily newspaper is the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which was established in 1906 as the Fort Worth Star. It holds a strong presence in the western half of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, while The Dallas Morning News has a stronger following in the eastern half. With a daily circulation of 210,990 and a Sunday circulation of 304,200, the Star-Telegram ranks as the 45th most widely circulated newspaper in the United States.
In and around Fort Worth, there are over 33 radio stations that cater to diverse tastes and preferences with their unique formats.
Fort Worth, like many other cities that experienced rapid growth after World War II, relies heavily on personal vehicles as the primary mode of transportation. However, residents also have access to public transportation options, including buses operated by Trinity Metro and a train service connecting Fort Worth to Dallas through the Trinity Railway Express.
Fort Worth’s transportation infrastructure is comprised of four interstates and three U.S. highways, which provide efficient access to surrounding areas. Additionally, the city’s grid-like layout features several arterial streets that facilitate easy navigation for residents and visitors alike.
The city limits are crossed by Interstate highways 30,20, 35W, and 820.
Interstate 820 encircles the city as a beltway, providing a convenient route for travelers. Interstate 20 and Interstate 30 connect Fort Worth to nearby cities like Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Dallas. Additionally, Interstate 35W links Fort Worth to Hillsboro to the south and Denton and Gainesville to the north.
In the southern part of Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Route 287 moves southeastward, linking Wichita Falls to the north and Mansfield to the south. U.S. Route 377 heads south through the northern suburbs of Haltom City and Keller, passing through the central business district. U.S. Route 81 briefly shares a concurrent route with Highway 287 to the northwest of Interstate 35W.
Prominent state highways in Texas include:
* Texas State Highway 114, running east-west
* Texas State Highway 183, also extending east-west
* Texas State Highway 121, traversing the state from north to south
Fort Worth is involved in the Sister Cities International program and engages in cultural and economic exchange initiatives with its partner cities.