Located in North Central Texas, the city of Fort Worth is a cultural gateway into the American West and serves as the seat for Tarrant County. Established in 1849 as an Army outpost overlooking the Trinity River, it is the second most populated city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area and is dedicated to embracing its Western heritage and traditional architecture and design. From a sleepy outpost, Fort Worth developed into a bustling town when it became a stop along the legendary Chisholm Trail, the dusty path on which millions of head of cattle were driven to market. This helped Fort Worth earn the nickname “Cowtown,” establishing itself as a trading, cattle center and later in the ranching industry. In modern Fort Worth, horizontal drilling technology has made vast natural gas reserves in the Barnett Shale available, helping residents receive royalty checks for their mineral rights. The beltway for the present-day city is Interstate 820, a spur of Interstate 20. Interstate highways 20, 30, 35W and 820 all pass through the Fort Worth city limits.
 


Sundance Square in Downtown Fort Worth

Staying true to its western heritage and promoting local arts patronage, Fort Worth has started to promote itself as the “City of Cowboys and Culture.” The city’s downtown area is known for its Art Deco-style buildings, preserving their early 20th century facades. Modeled after the Texas State Capitol building, the Tarrant County Courthouse was created in the American Beaux Arts design. Culturally, Fort Worth is home to the Bass Performance Hall, Kimbell Art Museum, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and Billy Bob’s among others.
 


Fort Worth has established its own athletic identity. The TCU Horned Frogs compete in NCAA Division I Athletics and Texas Wesleyan University competes in the NAIA Division I Athletics. Fort Worth also has its own minor league baseball team, the Fort Worth Cats and is home to the NCAA Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Football Bowl. Every May, Fort Worth hosts the men’s Colonial Invitational Golf Tournament, one of the most prestigious and historical events on the tour calendar. Texas Motor Speedway, “The Great American Speedway,” calls Fort Worth home and hosts NASCAR and IndyCar Series races.
 


Economically, Fort Worth is the base for major companies including AMR, Pier 1 Imports, RadioShack, the BNSF Railway and Lockheed Martin.