Fort Worth, Texas

Demographics:

• The population of Fort Worth is estimated at 703,073
• There are 211,165 households within the city limits
• The average income per household is $47,104
• People who live in Fort Worth use the area code 817 (Find a phone number in Fort Worth here)

Many famous people have lived in Fort Worth, including:
Larry Hagman, Bill Paxton, Willie Nelson, Kelly Clarkson, Rex Reed, Liz Smith, Ben Hogan, Robert Yale Lary

Historical Notes:
Fort Worth started off as a cattle center and training post, which led to the area being commonly referred to as "Cowtown".

During the 1800's a panther was said to be loose on the streets of Fort Worth. A nearby newspaper dubbed the spot "Panther City" and the animal became a common logo for local sports teams and retailers.

In the early days of Fort Worth, one part of town was so notorious for bars, rowdy cowboys and bawdy theaters that it earned the nickname "Hell's Half Acre".

Fort Worth is home to the infamous Texas Motor Speedway.

William Jenkins Worth was a beloved General who wanted to build several forts near the Trinity River. The General passed away before the project could be carried out, but his plan went forward anyway after General William S. Harney took over the mission and sent Major Ripley A. Arnold out to build one large Fort in that area. It would be known as Fort Worth, and the name would stick when the area became incorporated as a town and later a city.

After the Civil War, Fort Worth lost a large portion of its population and the town was at risk of disappearing. Over the next few years so large general stores opened in the area, and 1884 brought the town the Fort Worth National Bank. Slowly the area began to grow again, largely because it offered the last stop for cattlemen who were taking the Chisholm Trail to Kansas.

Fort Worth started off as a rowdy and often violent place, but as more businesses and families moved to the area, things finally started to settle down. Today the city is home to a large population, a variety of major industries, and one of the largest international airports in the world.