Timeline of Fort Worth, Texas facts for kids

Fort Worth is a big city in Texas, United States. It's known for its Western heritage and modern attractions. This timeline will take you on a journey through the most important events in Fort Worth's history, from its early days as a fort to the bustling city it is today. You'll learn about how it grew, what major buildings were built, and how its population changed over the years.

Early History of Fort Worth

• 1843 – An important agreement called the Treaty of Bird's Fort was signed near what is now Fort Worth. This treaty was between the Republic of Texas and several Native American tribes. It set up special "trading houses" at the meeting point of the Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River. These houses marked the edge of the Native American territory.
• 1849 – The U.S. Army set up "Camp Worth" at the same river junction. This camp was the northernmost of many forts built to protect the American frontier after the Mexican-American War. This is how Fort Worth got its start!
• 1855 – The Masonic Hall, a building for a community group, was constructed.
• 1856 – Fort Worth became the main government center for Tarrant County. This meant important county offices were located here.
• 1873
  • Fort Worth officially became a city. This is called being "incorporated."
  • The Fort Worth Fire Department was started to help keep the city safe from fires.
• 1874 – A telegraph line, which allowed people to send messages quickly over long distances, began working between Dallas and Fort Worth.
• 1876 – The Texas and Pacific Railway, a train line, started operating, connecting Fort Worth to other places.
• 1882 – The first public school was established, meaning kids could go to school for free.
• 1883 – The First National Bank of Fort Worth opened, helping people with their money.
• 1888 – The Fort Worth Cats baseball team was formed, bringing sports entertainment to the city.
• 1889
  • The Texas Spring Palace, a unique building made partly of grain, opened.
  • The New Trinity Cemetery was established.
• 1890
  • The Fort Worth Union Stockyards began operating. This was a huge place where livestock (like cattle) were bought and sold.
  • Polytechnic College was founded, offering higher education.
• 1895 – The Tarrant County Courthouse, an important government building, was built.
• 1896 – The Fort Worth Fat Stock Show, an event showcasing farm animals, began.

Fort Worth in the 20th Century

• 1901 – The Carnegie Public Library opened, giving people access to books and knowledge.
• 1903 – Large meatpacking plants, Armour and Swift, started operating. These plants processed meat for sale across the country.
• 1907
  • The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) was established, offering support for women.
  • Fire Station #1 was built.
• 1908 – The Cowtown Coliseum, a famous arena for rodeos and other events, was built.
• 1909
  • A large fire destroyed many buildings in Fort Worth.
  • The Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper began publishing.
  • The Fort Worth Zoo and Greenwood Memorial Park (a cemetery) were established.
• 1910
  • Texas Christian University moved to Fort Worth.
  • The city's population grew to 73,312 people.
  • The City of North Fort Worth became part of Fort Worth.
• 1912
  • Oil was discovered near Fort Worth, which helped the city's economy.
  • Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary opened.
• 1914 – Lake Worth, a large water reservoir, and Allen Chapel AME Church were built.
• 1920 – The population reached 106,482 people.
• 1922
  • Niles City became part of Fort Worth.
  • KFJZ and WBAP radio stations began broadcasting, bringing news and entertainment to homes.
• 1926 – The Woolworth Building was constructed.
• 1927 – KTAT radio began broadcasting.
• 1929 – The Blackstone Hotel was built.
• 1930
  • The Texas & Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and the Z Boaz municipal golf course opened.
  • The population grew to 163,447 people.
• 1933
  • The Fort Worth Botanic Garden, a beautiful place with many plants, was established.
  • A new U.S. Post Office was built.
• 1934 – Texas Wesleyan College was established.
• 1939 – The City Hall, where the city government operates, was built.
• 1940 – The population reached 177,662 people.
• 1942 – The U.S. Army's Tarrant Field and the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft plant began operating, supporting the war effort.
• 1945 – The Fort Worth Children's Museum opened, offering fun and learning for kids.
• 1946 – The Fort Worth Civic Opera Association and All Saints' Episcopal Church congregation were established.
• 1948
  • WBAP-TV began broadcasting television programs.
  • The Tarrant County Historical Society was established to preserve local history.
• 1950 – The population reached 278,778 people.
• 1954 – The Fort Worth Art Museum opened.
• 1955 – KFJZ-TV began broadcasting television programs.
• 1957 – The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, a major highway, and the American Airlines Stewardess College opened.
• 1958 – The Casa Mañana theatre was rebuilt.
• 1960 – The population grew to 356,268 people.
• 1961 – The Amon Carter Museum of American Art opened, showcasing American art.
• 1962
  • The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a famous music contest, began.
  • The Miss Texas Pageant, a beauty contest, moved to Fort Worth.
• 1968 – The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History was very active, providing educational experiences.
• 1969
  • There were alleged sightings of the Lake Worth Monster.
  • Historic Fort Worth, a group dedicated to preserving old buildings, was established.
• 1970 – The population reached 393,476 people.
• 1972 – The Kimbell Art Museum, a famous art museum, opened.
• 1973
  • The Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, a huge airport, began operating.
  • The Fort Worth Japanese Garden was built, offering a peaceful place to visit.
• 1975 – The Fort Worth Water Gardens, a unique fountain park, was built.
• 1977 – The Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society was founded.
• 1978
  • The Sundance Square area began to be redeveloped, becoming a popular entertainment district.
  • The Fairmount Neighborhood Association was formed.
  • The Tandy Foundation was established.
• 1980 – The population was 385,164 people.
• 1981 – Billy Bob's Texas, a famous country music nightclub, opened.
• 1982 – The Tarrant Area Food Bank was founded to help people in need.
• 1990 – The population reached 447,619 people.
• 1991
  • The AMC Sundance cinema opened.
  • Kay Granger became the mayor of Fort Worth.
• 1994
  • The U.S. Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth was in operation.
  • The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame moved to Fort Worth.
• 1997 – Kay Granger became a U.S. representative for Texas.
• 1998 – The city's website went online, making information more accessible.
• 1999 – The Bass Performance Hall, a beautiful venue for performances, opened.
• 2000 – The Trinity Railway Express train service between Dallas and Fort Worth began operating.

Fort Worth in the 21st Century

• 2001 – Fort Worth Central Station (which used to be called the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center) and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame opened.
• 2002 – LaGrave Field, a baseball stadium, and the Modern Art Museum building opened.
• 2010 – The population of Fort Worth was 741,206 people. The larger metro area had 6,371,773 people.
• 2011 – Betsy Price became the mayor of Fort Worth.
• 2013 – The Fort Worth Vaqueros FC soccer club was formed.