Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas and the 19th-largest in the United States. The city is also large in geographic area as it covers almost 300 square miles and is the county seat of Tarrant County--the 18th most populous county in the country.
As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Fort Worth had a total population of 534,694 (though a 2004 estimate placed the population at 603,337). The city is the second-largest cultural and economic center of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area (colloquially referred to as Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex), which is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. with a population of 5.7 million in 12 counties.
Fort Worth was founded as a military camp in 1849, named after General William Jenkins Worth. Today, the city is portrayed as more old-fashioned and laid-back than its neighbor, Dallas. Known as "Cowtown" for its rough-and-rowdy roots, Fort Worth still celebrates its colorful Western heritage today and bills itself as "Where the West begins."
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 774.1 km2 (298.9 mi2). 757.7 km2 (292.5 mi2) of it is land and 16.4 km2 (6.3 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 2.12% water.
A large storage dam was built in 1913 on the West Fork of the Trinity River, 7 miles (10 km) from the city, with a storage capacity of 30 billion US gallons (110,000,000 m3) of water. The lake formed by this dam is known as Lake Worth. The cost of the dam was nearly $1,500,000 - a handsome sum at the time.
As of the census of 2000, there are 534,694 people, 195,078 households, and 127,581 families residing in the city. The July 2004 census estimates have placed Fort Worth in the top 20 most populous cities (# 19) in the U.S. with the population at 603,337. Fort Worth is also in the top 5 cities with the largest numerical increase from July 1, 2003 to July 1, 2004 with 17,872 more people or a 3.1% increase. The population density is 705.7/km2 (1,827.8/mi2). There are 211,035 housing units at an average density of 278.5/km2 (721.4/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 59.69% White, 20.26% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.64% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.05% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. 29.81% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 195,078 households out of which 34.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% are married couples living together, 14.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% are non-families. 28.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.33.
In the city the population is spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,074, and the median income for a family is $42,939. Males have a median income of $31,663 versus $25,917 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,800. 15.9% of the population and 12.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.4% of those under the age of 18 and 11.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
In 1849, during the closure of the Mexican-American War, General William Jenkins Worth established a fort near a high bluff where the West Fork and Clear Fork of the Trinity River merge together. The fort was established to protect 19th century settlers from Indian attacks. It grew into a bustling town when it became a stop along the legendary Chisholm Trail, the dusty path where millions of cattle were driven North to market. Fort Worth became the center of the cattle drives, and later, the ranching industry. The heyday of the cattle drives was the wild era of "Hell's Half Acre," an area of town filled with gambling parlors, saloons, and dance halls. In 1876, the Texas & Pacific Railway connected to Fort Worth and transformed the Fort Worth Stockyards into a premier livestock center. When oil began to gush in West Texas, Fort Worth was at the center of the wheeling and dealing.
Source:
FortWorthUSA.com
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