Although it certainly boasts plenty of culture, history and entertainment offerings, Fort Worth, Texas, occasionally has been overlooked in the shadow of next-door Dallas. To ignore the merits of Cowtown (the name the locals have given Fort Worth) would be a serious mistake, however. Fort Worth is an excellent counterpart to Dallas. Where Dallas specializes in newer, more modern structures, Fort Worth enjoys a larger share historical structures. As you make your way from Dallas to Fort Worth, you'll soon notice fewer skyscrapers and more converted brick buildings. Where Dallas moves to a fast beat, laid-back Fort Worth prefers to take things a bit more slowly. Fort Worth seems to revel more in its Western roots. This blending of two cultures makes the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex the best of all worlds.

This isn't to say, however, that Fort Worth isn't a cosmopolitan place. In fact, Fort Worth is brimming with cultural and recreational opportunities. The city is world renowned for its museums, particularly the Kimbell Art Museum and Amon Carter Museum. The Fort Worth-Dallas Ballet, which typically performs in Cowtown, is a draw even for the most die-hard Dallasite. Other cultural offerings include opera, theater, botanical gardens, plenty of live music -- from jazz to country and western -- and one of the best zoos in the Southwest.

The most unique aspect of Fort Worth is that whether you're ready to take in the latest art exhibit or put on your boots and head to Billy Bob's (the world's largest honky-tonk) for some live C&W, the city will accommodate you. While Dallas certainly hasn't lost all touch with its Western roots, that cultural element is much less noticeable than in Fort Worth, where patrons dine at restaurants wearing everything from jeans and cowboy boots to suits and ties.

Fort Worth was settled in 1849 as a Army outpost on the fork of the Trinity River. The site was one of eight posts in Texas intended to protect settlers from Indian attacks. Fort Worth soon grew and prospered, in part because of its location. As the last major stop on the Chisholm Trail, it became a magnet for many soldiers, settlers, and cattle drivers. When the railroad arrived here in the later portion of the 1800s, Fort Worth was transformed into a shipping outpost for livestock. As the meat packing industry began to take off, Fort Worth continued to prosper and soon became the country's second-largest livestock market. And when great reserves of oil were discovered in far West Texas, Fort Worth once again benefited as the last commercialized town before the vast stretches of monotonous prairie land began. In fact, many drilling supplies were sold in Fort Worth and then transported to West Texas.

Visit Fort Worth today, and you'll find plenty of the Old West -- right alongside a proliferation of high-tech industries, health-care resources, a thriving publishing industry and numerous international businesses. That blend of old and new is what continues to bring people to Fort Worth. Today, the city's population stands at approximately 460,000.

Among the sites not to be missed in Fort Worth: the Historic Stockyards District, home to Billy Bob's, which contains two dance floors, a selection of live performers, and an indoor rodeo; the Livestock Exchange Building, built in 1904 to serve as offices for livestock traders, and today contains the Stockyards Collection Museum, a tribute to Fort Worth's livestock/meat-packing industry; Cowtown Coliseum, the site of live rodeo on Saturday nights from April through September; and the Tarantula Train, a restored steam train that rolls visitors back through time during a tour of Fort Worth history.

Fort Worth recently celebrated the grand opening of the Sid Bass Performance Hall, a breathtakingly beautiful structure in which the Fort Worth Symphony plays. Fort Worth and Dallas residents alike flock to Bass Hall each weekend donned in tuxes and gowns not just to listen, but to see and be seen as well. Sundance Square, which derived its name from the Sundance Kid, Fort Worth's infamous 19th century outlaw, today is comprised of restored buildings in which visitors may choose from a variety of shops, restaurants, performing arts and other entertainment options. The Caravan of Dreams, also in Sundance Square, is Fort Worth's most loved venue for live jazz. Its rooftop Grotto Bar boasts spectacular city views.

Fort Worth cuisine, of course, is another reason tourists visit Cowtown in herds. Fabulous steaks are plentiful, of course, but you'll also find a wealth of authentic restaurants. The city's longtime favorite, Joe T. Garcia's, serves up bona fide south-of-the-border fare and ice-cold margaritas -- a relief in the scorching summer months.

Residential real estate in Fort Worth is often comparatively cheaper than in Dallas. The city and its outskirts contain many sprawling, historic homes along tree-lined streets, as well as renovated warehouse apartments in more urban settings. Several master-planned communities are in the works, and high-rise condos are common. True to its nature, Fort Worth has something for everyone.

The last stop on the Chisholm Trail is becoming the last stop for many relocating families to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. For those who want a little history mixed in with urban progress and high-tech development, Fort Worth is the perfect destination.

More Community Profiles

Published: December 3, 1998

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Courtney Ronan is a freelance writer who contributes a weekly column profiling various communities. She also writes a weekly review of real estate related web sites. Courtney's career in journalism has included recent stints as managing editor of Agent News and as associate editor of Texas Business magazine.

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