With a population of more than 800,000, Fort Worth is the sixteenth-largest city in the United States and the fifth-largest city in Texas. It is part of a metropolitan area with around 6.5 million inhabitants, which essentially consists of the metropolis of Dallas and Fort Worth, which is around 55 kilometers away, as well as numerous other cities such as Arlington, Irving and Grand Prairie.
Overview: Historical Monuments in Tarrant County
The museums
gathered in the "Cultural District" are among the most important museums
in the United States:
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth shows
2,600 paintings of art after 1945. Since 2002 the museum has been housed
in a building designed by the Japanese architect Tadao Andō.
The
Kimbell Art Museum displays fine art from antiquity to the 20th century,
including works by Caravaggio, Fra Angelico, El Greco, Rembrandt, Pablo
Picasso, Henri Matisse and Paul Cézanne. The museum building is the work
of architect Louis Kahn.
The Amon Carter Museum exhibits American art
from the 19th and 20th centuries. It houses a large collection of
Western Art, including works by Frederic Remington and Charles M.
Russell, and a collection of 30,000 photographs. The building was
designed by Philip Johnson.
Philip Johnson is also the creator of
the Water Gardens (1976), an inner-city park with spectacular fountain
structures, some of which are walk-through, that gained international
fame when some scenes of the science fiction film Logan's Run were
filmed there.
The Botanic Garden displays a variety of native plant
species. The Japanese garden and the tropical house are also worth
seeing.
Texas Motor Speedway
Will Rogers Memorial Center, 1936
multipurpose arena
Victorian and Art Deco style houses in the city
center and historic districts
1998 Art Deco-style Bass Performance
Hall near Sundance Square, home of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Dickies Arena seats 14,000 for concerts and sporting events. Many
international artists have performed there since November 2019.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens are located next to the Fort Worth Convention Center in the Texan city of Fort Worth. The park covers 1.7 hectares and features three large postmodern fountains. One of the fountains is the Active pool. Here the water falls down into an 11 meter deep pond. A walking path runs through it so that visitors can enter the middle of the water. There are also 500 different plants and trees in the park. In 2006, the Water Gardens were renovated.
The Fort Worth Zoo is the zoo of the city of Fort Worth in the US state of Texas. He is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). When the Fort Worth Zoo opened in 1909, the only animals on display were a lion, two cubs, an alligator, a coyote, a peacock, and a few rabbits. From its opening until 1991, the zoo was owned and operated by the City of Fort Worth. In addition, the Zoological Society was formed to raise additional funds needed to purchase more animals. This society was renamed the Fort Worth Zoological Association and contracted to manage the zoo in October 1991. Since that time, the systems have been constantly adapted to the current requirements of animal husbandry and new systems have been built. As of early 2021, the Fort Worth Zoo was home to approximately 7,000 animals in over 540 species, including 72 species of mammals, 148 species of birds and 172 species of ectotherms. Emphasis is placed on conserving endangered species and breeding animals in captivity. The following pictures show some selected mammal species.
By plane
Dallas-Forth Worth Airport (IATA: DFW) is one of the
busiest in the world. Direct flights are offered from Frankfurt
and Munich. DFW is also the hub of American Airlines and American Eagle
airlines, which fly here from almost every airport in the United States.
There is a Trinity Railway Express commuter train station near the
airport that runs at least every hour to Fort Worth Central Station in
downtown Fort Worth (journey time 25 minutes, ticket $2.50).
By
train
The American railway company Amtrak maintains rail connections
to Dallas and Fort Worth.
The day and night Texas Eagle train
runs once a day from Chicago (journey time almost 24 hours) via St.
Louis (17 hours), Little Rock (10 hours), Texarkana (7 hours) and
Dallas to Fort Worth. In the opposite direction, trains come from San
Antonio (7 hours) via Austin (4 hours). There is even a direct
connection to Los Angeles (journey time 38 hours), Tucson (28 hours) and
El Paso (22 hours) three times a week. The Heartland Flyer connects
Fort Worth with Oklahoma City once daily (journey time approximately 4
hours). Early booking is highly recommended, as the non-spare tickets
are extremely expensive.
The Trinity Railway Express (TRE)
commuter train runs between Fort Worth and its sister city Dallas every
hour (every half hour during morning and afternoon rush hours). The
journey takes about an hour and costs $5.
By bus
Fort Worth is
accessible by Greyhound buses. The bus station is linked to the train
station. In addition, there are some private providers who maintain
regular bus connections to and from Mexico.
In the street
The
entire metropolitan area is crisscrossed by countless large and small
roads and connected to other regions via the network of interstate
highways. Fort Worth is located on Interstate I 35, which runs from
Oklahoma City through Austin and San Antonio to the Mexican border, and
on Interstates I 20 and I 30.
Fort Worth, Texas, often called "Cowtown" for its Wild West roots in
cattle drives and stockyards, harbors a shadowy underbelly of
supernatural tales and forsaken structures. With a history stretching
back to the 19th century as a frontier outpost, the city has accumulated
legends of restless spirits tied to saloons, mansions, and tragic
accidents. These stories blend fact with folklore, drawing ghost hunters
and history buffs alike. Meanwhile, urban decay has left pockets of
abandoned sites, from crumbling factories to overgrown ruins, fueling
urban exploration and myths of hidden dangers. Below, I'll delve into
some of the most prominent haunted legends and abandoned places, drawing
from local accounts and historical records.
Haunted Legends and
Places
Fort Worth's haunted reputation stems from its turbulent past,
including outlaws, bordellos, and untimely deaths. Many sites report
paranormal activity like apparitions, unexplained sounds, and objects
moving on their own. Here's an in-depth look at key locations:
Miss Molly's Hotel
Located at 109 W Exchange Ave in the historic Fort
Worth Stockyards, Miss Molly's began as an upscale boarding house called
The Palace Rooms in 1910. It evolved into a speakeasy during Prohibition
and later a bordello, hosting "working girls" until the mid-20th
century. Today, it's a bed and breakfast, but its past lingers in
spectral form. Legends center on the spirits of former prostitutes from
the 1940s and 1950s, some murdered or dying from illness like lung
disease. A young girl, believed to have succumbed to typhoid in the 19th
century, is often spotted in rooms. Paranormal reports include female
apparitions appearing at the foot of beds (especially in the Cattlemen's
Room), cold spots, flickering lights, unexplained smells, and shadows.
Guests frequently find coins left on surfaces as "tips" from ghostly
patrons, and mediums claim the spirits are unaware they're deceased. The
hotel is considered one of Texas's most active haunted sites, with
activity peaking in former bordello rooms.
Stockyards Hotel
Just across the street from Miss Molly's at 109 E Exchange Ave, this
1907 hotel embodies Fort Worth's cowboy heritage. It hosted infamous
guests like Bonnie and Clyde, who stayed in Room 305 during their crime
spree. The building's history as a hub for cattle barons and outlaws
fuels its legends. Ghostly activity includes faucets turning on by
themselves, radios switching to vintage songs, and shadows lingering in
Room 305, where Bonnie and Clyde's presences are felt most strongly.
Phantom cowboys have been reported in the lobby, and some guests hear
bootsteps or whispers echoing through halls. The hotel's Wild West
spirits seem tied to its frontier days, with reports of apparitions in
period clothing.
Fort Worth Zoo
At 1989 Colonial Pkwy, this
renowned zoo (one of the top five in the U.S.) dates to 1909 and blends
animal exhibits with unexpected hauntings. The primary legend involves
Michael A. Bell, a trainer crushed to death by a four-ton bull elephant
in 1987. His apparition is seen wandering near the elephant and zebra
enclosures, sometimes accompanied by phantom animal sounds like
trumpeting elephants or prowling tigers. Another spirit is a "lady in
white" from the 19th century, pacing with a parasol in front of the
cafe. The zoo hosts "spooky sleepovers," where participants report
feeling watched or hearing unexplained noises, attributing them to
devoted animal spirits and caretakers who never left.
Thistle
Hill (Wharton-Scott House)
This grand Victorian mansion at 1509
Pennsylvania Ave was built in 1903 for Electra Waggoner Wharton,
daughter of wealthy rancher William "Tom" Waggoner. Now a venue for
events, its hauntings emerged in the 1970s after renovations disturbed
the spirits. Legends include a "lady in white" on the grand staircase,
eternally waiting for a dance partner, and a mustachioed man in tennis
whites striding across the lawn or inside. Phantom music drifts from the
ballroom, footsteps echo in empty rooms, and disembodied voices whisper.
Tragic family historymysterious child deaths and a murder-suicidefuels
the activity, making it a hotspot for paranormal investigations.
W.E. Scott Theatre
Situated at 3505 W Lancaster Ave, this 1926
theater is named after its founder, Mr. Scott, whose spirit reportedly
oversees his legacy. Another ghost is Kenneth Walker, a stagehand who
hanged himself in the prop room in 1970; he's seen in a brown suit
crossing the stage or heard laughing from below. Apparitions straighten
crooked pictures, and phantom performers continue "eternal runs" with
ghostly applause from empty seats. The theater's stage lights dim
mysteriously, adding to its eerie reputation.
Castle of Heron Bay
(Old Heron Castle)
At 9115 Heron Dr on Lake Worth's shore, this
Gothic Revival mansion from 1890 was built by cattle baron Theodore
Heron, whose family faced ruinous secrets. Legends feature a young man's
spirit wandering the grounds and interior, alongside the "Runaway
Bride," who flees across the entrance road before vanishing. The
castle's dark towers are said to conceal supernatural echoes of family
scandals.
Other Notable Haunted Spots
White Elephant Saloon
(Stockyards): Spirits react to names like Bat Masterson, with meters
spiking during tours; dim lights and shimmering shadows suggest
lingering cowboys.
Log Cabin Village: A benevolent caretaker, "Ms.
Jane," watches over the Foster Cabin with gentle presences felt by
visitors.
Pioneers Rest Cemetery: Fort Worth's oldest burial ground,
where faint music and voices of early families whisper among the oaks.
Double Eagle Steakhouse: Phantom cowboys order whiskey and play cards in
this 1885 Hell's Half Acre spot.
These legends often involve
friendly or tragic spirits, with many sites offering tours for those
brave enough to experience them.
Abandoned Places
Fort Worth's
industrial and urban growth has left behind eerie relics, attracting
urban explorers despite risks like trespassing or structural hazards.
These sites often overlap with legends, blending decay with myth.
Abandoned Power Plant
Deep in Fort Worth, this forsaken power
plant (exact location often kept vague for safety) features vast,
graffiti-covered halls and rusted machinery. Explored in videos by urban
adventurers like a father-daughter team, it's rumored to be haunted,
with reports of strange noises and shadows amid the crumbling
infrastructure. The plant's history ties to the city's energy boom, now
a canvas for street art and a site for daring photography.
Abandoned Factory off Berry Street (Incinerator)
Near Berry Street,
this old factory-turned-incinerator stands as a hulking ruin filled with
murals and debris. Urban explorers describe walking through layers of
street art, with the site's industrial past evoking a sense of forgotten
labor. Legends include it being guarded by reclusive figures, adding a
thrill to visits.
Midget Town by Echo Lake Park
This urban
myth near Echo Lake Park claims a hidden community of "midgets" (a
derogatory term for people with dwarfism) lived in tiny houses within an
abandoned area, fiercely protecting their turf. Though likely
exaggerated folklore, explorers report overgrown ruins and eerie vibes,
blending abandonment with creepy tales of territorial guardians.
Stockyards Ruins and Old Buildings
In the Stockyards district,
scattered ruins and aging structures from the cattle era sit derelict,
including forgotten warehouses and facades. Photographers like Zakery
Sanchez capture their haunting beauty, revealing layers of history amid
decay. These spots tie into haunted legends, with some believing spirits
linger in the shadows.
Other mentions include demolished sites like
Valley View Mall and Woodmen's Circle Orphanage, but current explorers
focus on remaining historic buildings discussed in local forums. Always
prioritize safety and legality when visitingmany are private property.
Prehistory and Native American Period
The area that would become
Fort Worth, Texas, has a rich prehistory tied to the northern Texas
frontier, situated on the edge of the Great Plains with the Cross
Timbers to the east and flat prairieland to the west. Native American
tribes, including the Wichita, Caddo, and Comanche, used the region
along the Trinity River as hunting grounds for centuries. In the early
19th century, European-American exploration intensified, leading to
conflicts and treaties. In 1843, the Treaty of Bird's Fort was signed
between the Republic of Texas and several Native American tribes at
Bird's Fort in present-day Euless, establishing a boundary line west of
the future city site and prohibiting unauthorized settlement in Native
territories without permission. This treaty inspired Fort Worth's
enduring slogan, "Where the West Begins." Despite the agreement, Native
Americans continued to defend their lands as pioneers encroached,
setting the stage for military intervention.
Founding as a
Military Outpost (18491853)
Following the Mexican-American War, the
U.S. Army sought to secure the western frontier. In January 1849,
General William Jenkins Worth proposed a chain of ten forts from Eagle
Pass to the confluence of the Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity
River. Worth died of cholera in May 1849, but General William S. Harney
tasked Major Ripley A. Arnold with establishing the northernmost
outpost. On June 6, 1849, Arnold founded Camp Worth on the riverbanks,
later relocating it in August to a north-facing bluff overlooking the
Clear Fork's mouth for better defense and visibility. The U.S. War
Department officially named it Fort Worth on November 14, 1849, in honor
of the late general. Company F of the 2nd Dragoons constructed wooden
barracks, a hospital, and other structures by August, protecting
settlers from potential Comanche raids, though the local tribes were
relatively peaceful and often sought gifts or alliances rather than
conflict.
The fort served as the anchor of a protective system for
the American Frontier but was evacuated on September 17, 1853, as new
forts were built farther west. At its peak, it housed around 350
settlers drawn by the rich soil and military protection. Early civilian
developments included sutler's stores, schools, and general stores
operated by pioneers like George "Press" Farmer, Howard W. Peak, Ed
Terrell, George W. Terrell, Ephraim M. Daggett, and Julian Feild. John
Peter Smith, later known as the "father of Fort Worth," opened the first
school in 1854 with twelve students. Connectivity grew with stage lines,
including the Butterfield Overland Mail in 1858, using the town as a
western terminus for routes to California.
Early Settlement and
County Seat Struggles (1850s1860s)
After the army's departure,
settlers repurposed the fort's buildings, transforming the site into a
civilian community initially called "Fort Town." Tarrant County was
formed in 1849 with Birdville as the seat, but Fort Worth residents
campaigned fiercely for the title. A disputed election in 1856, marred
by allegations of illegal voting, favored Fort Worth, solidified in a
1860 rematch. Construction of a stone courthouse began but was delayed
by the Civil War, completing in the 1870s. The antebellum period saw a
small slaveholding population; by 1860, Tarrant County had 5,170 Whites
and 850 enslaved people, with most residents supporting secession.
Infrastructure expanded modestly: a three-room wood-frame courthouse in
1857, artesian wells, and early businesses like flour mills and
department stores. Population remained under 100 initially but grew to
around 350 by the Civil War's onset. The community's demographics were
over 90% Anglo, with limited diversity including small numbers of
African Americans, Europeans, and Mexicans.
Civil War and
Reconstruction (1860s1870s)
The Civil War devastated Fort Worth,
reducing its population to as low as 175 due to shortages of food,
money, and supplies. Many men enlisted in Confederate forces, and the
area suffered economic isolation. Reconstruction brought slow recovery;
by the 1870s, businesses revived with general stores by William C. Boaz,
William Henry Davis, and Jacob Samuels in 1872, and the Fort Worth
National Bank (originally Tidball, Van Zandt, and Company) in 1873.
Saloons like Tom Prindle's and Steele's Tavern proliferated, alongside
newspapers such as the Fort Worth Chief and Democrat. Schools reopened,
with teachers like Randolph, Addison, and Ida Clark educating small
groups in churches.
The Panic of 1873 caused a temporary decline,
inspiring a Dallas Herald article dubbing the city "Panther City" after
a lawyer claimed a panther slept undisturbed in the streetsa slur that
Fort Worth embraced as a nickname. Incorporation occurred in 1873 under
a mayor-council government, with W.P. Burts as the first mayor.
Population rebounded to about 2,500 pre-incorporation and 4,000 by late
1873.
Cattle Boom and Railroad Era (1870s1890s)
The post-war
cattle industry propelled Fort Worth's transformation into "Cowtown." As
a key stop on the Chisholm Trail, it hosted cowboys driving longhorn
cattle north to Kansas railheads starting in 1867. Northern buyers
established headquarters, boosting liquor wholesalers, dry goods stores,
and banks like Martin B. Loyd's Exchange Office. The city's "Hell's Half
Acre," a notorious red-light district in the south end, catered to
drovers with saloons, gambling, and prostitution, tolerated for economic
benefits despite periodic clean-up attempts.
The Texas and Pacific
Railway's arrival on July 19, 1876after citizens raced to build tracks
against a legislative deadlinecemented Fort Worth as a rail hub,
earning the title "Queen City of the Prairies." Additional lines like
the Katy and Fort Worth and Denver City followed, facilitating grain
shipping and regional markets. The first Fat Stock Show in 1886 evolved
into the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. Population surged
from 6,663 in 1880 to 23,076 in 1890 and 26,688 in 1900. Cultural
highlights included the Texas Spring Palace (18891890), an agricultural
exhibit that burned dramatically in 1890.
The Fort Worth Stockyards,
established in the late 19th century, became a premier cattle trade
center, solidifying the city's Western identity.
Industrial
Growth and Meat Packing (1900s1910s)
The early 20th century marked
industrial expansion. In 1902, Swift and Armour opened meat-packing
plants north of the river, tripling population from 26,688 in 1900 to
73,312 in 1910 by attracting rural migrants and immigrants. This spurred
north-side growth, dubbed "the North Side," with diverse communities
including Eastern Europeans and Mexicans fleeing the 1910 Revolution.
The Fort Worth Gas Company formed in 1909, supplying 4,000 customers via
a 90-mile pipeline. Higher education advanced with institutions like
Polytechnic College (1891, precursor to Texas Wesleyan University) and
the relocation of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1910) and
Texas Christian University (TCU, 1911).
Segregation persisted,
limiting opportunities for African Americans and other minorities.
Infrastructure included Lake Worth's completion in 1916 for water supply
and recreation, featuring Casino Park with amusement facilities.
World War I and Oil Boom (1910s1920s)
World War I accelerated
growth. Canadian airfields (Taliaferro Fields) were taken over by the
U.S. in 1917, renamed Carruthers and Barron Fields. Camp Bowie, built on
1,410 acres for $3 million, trained over 100,000 troops, including the
36th Infantry Division, and served as a demobilization center until
1919. Oil discoveries in Ranger (1917), Desdemona, Breckenridge, and
Burkburnett sparked a boom; by 1920, Fort Worth had three refineries,
with more under construction, creating millionaires like the Waggoners
and Moncriefs.
The 1920s saw aviation pioneers like Bowen Air Lines
(1930) and Texas Air Transport (1928, precursor to American Airlines),
Meacham Field as a municipal airport, and the first helium plant. George
E. Kessler designed Camp Bowie Boulevard in 1918 for beautification.
Businesses like Hinckley-Tandy Leather (1919, later Tandy Corporation
and RadioShack) thrived. Population reached 163,447 in 1930. Hell's Half
Acre faded by 1917 due to military and ministerial pressures.
Great Depression and New Deal (1930s)
The Great Depression hit Fort
Worth later due to oil and construction, but recovery involved New Deal
projects like the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, Botanic Garden, city
hall, and library. The 1936 Texas Frontier Centennial, costing $2.8
million, attracted two million visitors with attractions like Casa
Maana amphitheater (rebuilt in 1958). Amon G. Carter, a key booster
through the Star-Telegram (founded 1909), promoted the city nationally.
World War II and Post-War Growth (1940s1950s)
World War II ended
the Depression with the Consolidated Vultee Bomber Plant (1942),
producing B-24 Liberators and later models, employing thousands
(including 23% women). Fort Worth Army Airfield became Carswell Air
Force Base in 1948. Population grew to 177,662 in 1940 and 278,778 in
1950. Post-war diversification included lakes like Bridgeport and Eagle
Mountain, Greater Fort Worth International Airport (1953, later
Dallas-Fort Worth International in 1974), and interstates like I-35W.
The city expanded to 100 square miles by 1949, with suburban growth
south and east. Manufacturing and retail boomed, but downtown declined
in the 1960s.
Modern Era: Aviation, Civil Rights, and Cultural
Development (1960sPresent)
Fort Worth lagged in civil rights;
integration began with Flax v. Potter (1959) for schools, fully
implemented by the 1970s. Suits like Rufino Mendoza, Sr.'s (1972)
addressed Mexican American education. Single-member districts
(19771978) increased minority representation. Violence included
bombings in Riverside (1953) and demonstrations in Morningside (1956),
with ongoing issues like redlining. Leaders like Marion J. Brooks, L.
Clifford Davis, Lenora Rolla, Gilbert Garcia, and Sam Garcia advanced
desegregation in churches, bars, and public spaces by the late 1960s.
Aviation and defense solidified with the bomber plant becoming
Lockheed-Martin (1994). Alliance Airport (1989) spurred northern growth.
Population milestones: 356,268 (1960), 393,476 (1970), 385,141 (1980),
447,619 (1990), 534,694 (2000), 741,206 (2010), and over 894,195 by
2019, spanning 272 square miles. Demographics shifted, with significant
growth in Hispanic (26%), African American (32%), and Asian (40%)
communities.
Cultural institutions flourished: Fort Worth Symphony
(reorganized 1957), Opera (1946), Van Cliburn Competition (1962), Amon
Carter Museum (1961), Kimbell Art Museum (1972), and Modern Art Museum.
Sports include TCU football (1938 national champions, multiple bowls
under Gary Patterson), Colonial golf tournament (1946), Texas Motor
Speedway (1997), and the Stock Show and Rodeo at Dickies Arena (2020).
Downtown revitalized in the 1980s via Sundance Square by the Bass
Brothers, adding residences and businesses. Recent projects like Panther
Island (Trinity River Vision, $1.2 billion for flood control and
recreation) and events such as festivals and the Lockheed Martin Armed
Forces Bowl highlight Fort Worth's blend of Western heritage and modern
innovation. By 2025, it ranks as the 5th-largest city in Texas, a
transportation hub, tourist destination, and education center.
Fort Worth is situated in north-central Texas, serving as the county seat of Tarrant County and forming a key part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area, often referred to as the DFW Metroplex. Geographically, it lies at the confluence of the Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River, which has historically shaped its development as a major urban center. The city's coordinates are approximately 3245′ N latitude and 9720′ W longitude, with the geographic center of Tarrant County located at 3245' N and 9717' W, just a few miles east-southeast of downtown Fort Worth. As of recent estimates, Fort Worth spans a total area of about 355.56 square miles (920.89 square kilometers), with roughly 347.82 square miles (899.44 square kilometers) consisting of land and 7.74 square miles (21.45 square kilometers) of water bodies. This makes it the fifth-largest city in Texas by population and the 13th-largest in the United States, but its expansive geography contributes to a blend of urban, suburban, and semi-rural landscapes.
Fort Worth is positioned within the Cross Timbers ecoregion, a
transitional zone that marks the boundary between the vast prairies of
the Great Plains to the west and the more densely wooded areas of
eastern Texas. This region features a mix of rolling hills, flat
prairies, and scattered woodlands dominated by post oak and blackjack
oak trees, creating a diverse topography that contrasts with the flatter
landscapes further west. The city's elevation varies, averaging around
650 feet (198 meters) above sea level, with gentle undulations that
provide natural drainage toward the Trinity River system. Floodplains
along the river have historically posed challenges, leading to
engineered levees and reservoirs to mitigate flooding risks. The Trinity
River itself acts as a natural divider, separating the more
industrialized eastern sections from the western residential and
cultural districts, influencing urban planning and development patterns.
Surrounding the city, the terrain transitions into the broader North
Texas prairie, with occasional escarpments and low ridges formed by
sedimentary rock layers from ancient seas. To the south and east, the
landscape becomes more urbanized as it merges with Dallas, while
westward areas retain a more rural character with ranches and open
spaces. This varied topography supports a range of ecosystems, from
riparian zones along waterways to upland prairies that host native
grasses and wildflowers.
The Trinity River is the defining hydrologic feature of Fort Worth,
originating from its two main forks that converge within the city
limits. The West Fork flows from the northwest, while the Clear Fork
approaches from the southwest, meeting near downtown to form the main
stem of the river, which then continues southeast toward Dallas and
eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This river system not only provides a
vital water source but also creates extensive floodplains that have been
developed into parks, trails, and recreational areas, such as the
Trinity Trails network spanning over 100 miles for hiking and biking.
Several reservoirs and lakes enhance the region's water geography,
including Lake Worth to the northwest (a 3,489-acre reservoir impounded
in 1914 for water supply) and smaller bodies like Eagle Mountain Lake
further north. These features contribute to about 2-3% of the city's
total area being water, supporting biodiversity with habitats for fish,
birds, and other wildlife. Groundwater from the Trinity Aquifer also
plays a role in the local hydrology, though surface water from the river
and reservoirs is the primary municipal supply.
Fort Worth experiences a humid subtropical climate (Kppen
classification Cfa), characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to
cool winters. Average high temperatures in July and August often exceed
95F (35C), with humidity amplifying the heat index. Winters are
generally moderate, with January lows around 35F (2C), though
occasional Arctic blasts can bring freezing conditions and light snow.
Annual precipitation averages about 37 inches (940 mm), distributed
unevenly with peaks in spring (March-May) and fall (September-October),
often in the form of severe thunderstorms that can produce hail, high
winds, and tornadoesplacing the area in the southern edge of Tornado
Alley.
The Cross Timbers location influences microclimates, with
urban heat islands in the densely built downtown exacerbating summer
highs, while greener suburbs offer slight cooling. Climate change trends
indicate increasing temperatures and more extreme weather events,
including prolonged droughts interspersed with heavy rainfall.
Fort Worth is embedded in the broader North Texas region, bordered by Parker County to the west, Denton County to the north, Dallas County to the east, and Johnson County to the south. The DFW Metroplex as a whole covers over 9,000 square miles, with Fort Worth acting as the western anchor, contrasting Dallas's more eastern, cosmopolitan vibe with its own "Cowtown" heritage rooted in ranching and the stockyards. Nearby natural attractions include the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, a 3,662-acre preserve featuring prairies, forests, and wetlands, as well as the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center to the southwest for glimpses of the area's geological history.
Some of the companies based in Fort Worth include:
Alcon,
pharmaceutical company
American Airlines Group, an airline holding
company
Bell Helicopter, helicopter manufacturer
Williamson-Dickie
Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of textiles, shoes and accessories
for school and work
Lockheed Martin, defense and technology company
RadioShack, home of the electronics products chain
Texas Pacific
Group, venture capital investment firm
XTO Energy, energy company
Fort Worth is home to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (IATA
code: DFW).
Inner-city and regional traffic is determined by
automobiles. Leonard's Subway operated in the city from 1963 to 2002.
This streetcar was advertised by its owner as the first private subway
in the United States. Plans are currently underway to build a
12-kilometer streetcar line on Rosedale Street. Fort Worth is home to
the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. In addition, the U.S. Highway
287 through town.