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City of Fort Worth celebrates 175th anniversary

June 12,2024

See full Community Impact article by Cody Thorn here.

The city of Fort Worth celebrated its 175th birthday on June 6.

The backstory

The town dates back to 1849 when the city was formed and named after Major General William Jenkins Worth, according to the city website. Worth was considered a hero of the Mexican-American War and helped create a fort system that stretched from the Rio Grande to the Red Rivers, according to the city website.

The U.S. Army opened camp in the spring of 1849 near the Trinity River, at the confluence of the Clear Fork and West Fork. By August 1849, a fort was constructed and about 100 people lived there, according to the city website.

Current situation

Fort Worth’s population now is 978,468, making it the 12th largest city in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest data. It is the fifth-largest city in the Lone Star state, according to the census data.

Fort Worth's population has grown by 81% since 2000, according to census data.

The city is currently in the process of moving into a new city hall location.