Timeline of Fort Worth, Texas

Prior to 20th century

1843 - The Treaty of Bird's Fort between the Republic of Texas and several Indian tribes was signed at Bird's Fort in present-day Haltom City, Texas. Article XI of the treaty provided that no one may “pass the line of trading houses” (at the border of the Indians’ territory) without permission of the President of Texas, and may not reside or remain in the Indians’ territory. In November, these "trading houses" were established at the junction of the Clear Fork and West Fork of the Trinity River in present-day Fort Worth.

1849 - US Army Department of Texas's "Camp Worth" was founded at the junction of the Clear Fork and West Fork as the northernmost of a system of forts for protecting the American Frontier following the end of the Mexican-American War.

1855 - Masonic Hall built.

1856 - Fort Worth becomes seat of Tarrant County.

1873

Fort Worth incorporated.

Fort Worth Fire Department established.

1874 - Dallas-Fort Worth telegraph begins operating.

1876 - Texas and Pacific Railway begins operating.

1882 - Public school established.

1883 - First National Bank of Fort Worth established.

1888 - Fort Worth Cats baseball team formed.

1889

Texas Spring Palace ("hall built of grain") opens.

New Trinity Cemetery established.

1890

Fort Worth Union Stockyards begin operating.

Polytechnic College founded.

1895 - Tarrant County Courthouse built.

1896 - Fort Worth Fat Stock Show (livestock exhibit) begins.

1898 - Bohemian literary club formed.

20th century

1901 - Carnegie Public Library opens.

1903 - Armour and Swift meatpacking plants begin operating.

1907

Young Women’s Christian Association established.

Fire Station #1 built.

1908 - Cowtown Coliseum built.

1909

"Fire destroys 20 blocks in Fort Worth."

Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper in publication.

Fort Worth Zoo and Greenwood Memorial Park (cemetery) established.

1910

Texas Christian University relocates to city.

Population: 73,312.

1912

Oil discovered in vicinity of Fort Worth (at Burkburnett).

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary opens.

1914 - Lake Worth (reservoir) and Allen Chapel AME Church built.

1920 - Population: 106,482.

1922 - Niles City becomes part of Fort Worth.

1926 - Woolworth Building constructed.

1929 - Blackstone Hotel built.

1930

Texas & Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Z Boaz municipal golf course open.

Population: 163,447.

1933

Fort Worth Botanic Garden established.

US Post Office built.

1934 - Texas Wesleyan College established.

1936 - US mental health hospital/farm opens on outskirts of city.

1939 - City Hall built.

1940

Lake Como Weekly newspaper begins publication.

Population: 177,662.

1942 - US Army Tarrant Field and Consolidated Vultee Aircraft plant begin operating.

1945 - Fort Worth Children's Museum opens.

1946 - Fort Worth Civic Opera Association and All Saints’ Episcopal Church congregation established.

1948 - Tarrant County Historical Society established.

1950

Cowtown Drive-In cinema opens.

Population: 278,778.

1954 - Fort Worth Art Museum opens.

1957 - Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike and American Airlines Stewardess College open.

1958 - Casa Mañana theatre rebuilt.

1960 - Population: 356,268.

1961 - Amon Carter Museum of American Art opens.

1962

Van Cliburn International Piano Competition begins.

Miss Texas Pageant (beauty contest) relocates to city.

1964 - Fort Worth Civil Liberties Union formed.

1968 - Fort Worth Museum of Science and History active.

1969

Alleged Lake Worth Monster spotted.

Historic Fort Worth nonprofit established.

1970 - Population: 393,476.

1972 - Kimbell Art Museum opens.

1973

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport begins operating.

Fort Worth Japanese Garden built.

1975 - Fort Worth Water Gardens (fountain) built.

1977 - Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society founded.

1978

Sundance Square redevelopment begins.

Fairmount Neighborhood Association incorporated.

Tandy Foundation established.

1980 - Population: 385,164.

1981 - Billy Bob's Texas nightclub in business.

1982 - Tarrant Area Food Bank founded.

1983 - June 14: Hotel fire.

1990 - Population: 447,619.

1991

AMC Sundance cinema in business.

Kay Granger becomes mayor.

1992 - Courthouse shooting.

1994

US Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in operation.

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame relocates to city.

1997 - Kay Granger becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 12th congressional district.

1998 - City website online (approximate date).

1999

September 15: Shooting at Wedgwood Baptist church.

Bass Performance Hall opens.

21st century

2000 - Trinity Railway Express (Dallas-Fort Worth) in operation.

2001 - Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame open.

2002 - LaGrave Field (stadium) and Modern Art Museum building open.

2010 - Population: 741,206 city; 6,371,773 metro; 19,728,244 megaregion.

2011 - Betsy Price becomes mayor.

2013 - Fort Worth Vaqueros FC (soccer club) formed.