Talk:Fort Worth, Texas

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Fort Worth, Texas article.
Article policies
To-do list for Fort Worth, Texas: edit · history · watch · refresh
  • Shorten length of introductory paragraph
  • Shorten length of history section (please transfer information to History of Fort Worth, Texas page)
  • Create separate sections for "Geography" and "Climate," as well as a "Topography" subsection under "Geography"
  • Create "Cityscape" section, with subsections such as "Architecture" and "Neighborhoods"
    • Remove current "Districts" section; section is extremely long, so please transfer valuable information to new "Neighborhoods" subsection under "Cityscape" section
  • Create "Culture" section, with subsections such as "Politics," "Cuisine," "Arts," "Sports and recreation," "Media," "Religion," "Languages," and "Events"
    • Remove current "Sports" section
  • Elaborate on new "Culture" section; please use citations (In progress Stallions2010)
  • Elaborate on "Economy" section; PLEASE REMOVE THE LIST!
  • Add "Law and government" section, with subsections such as "Crime" and "Fire protection"
  • Create "Infrastructure" section, with subsections such as "Roads and highways," "Transportation," "Utilities," "Airports," and "Health and medicine"
    • Remove current "Transportation" section
  • Elaborate on "Education" system; list should be removed
  • Add more citations from reliable sources


Contents

[edit] Transportation

Is there any particular reason why Transportation is a subheading of Economy? It seems like Transportation should be a heading of its own. - Thatdog 3 July 2005 02:53 (UTC)

UH Collegian took care of this. Thanks! - Thatdog 20:34, 30 July 2005 (UTC)
Disagree.
Is there any particular reason the largest employers in town are missing? Hello! American Airlines; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. At least a link, heh?

209.78.197.4 02:24, 15 November 2006 (UTC)20:23 11/14/2006, Tue

I have added American Airlines to this list. 24.68.249.197 10:04, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tandy Center Subway

There's no doubt that the Tandy Center Subway is an interesting piece of Fort Worth trivia, but should something that ceased to exist almost three years ago be called an attraction? Perhaps the article needs a new section for trivia/fun facts/etc. for this and other neat tidbits. - Thatdog 20:34, 30 July 2005 (UTC)

That sounds good to me. I've been trying to think what other trivial facts could be included. maltmomma 20:38, August 10, 2005 (UTC)

Here's some: Four of the subway cars are preserved in storage by North Texas Historic Transportation, Inc. (www.NorthtexasTransport.org) A fifth car still operates in Dallas on the McKinney Avenue Transportation Authority (www.mata.org). The only remaining streamlined car is currently undergoing restoration for static display at the Leonards Museum at 200 N. Carroll Street in Fort Worth.

[edit] City seal & flag

If someone can find an image of the seal of Fort Worth, please upload it or put it on this talk page. I want to make a city infobox for Fort Worth and I need a seal to complete the infobox. Thanks! – UH Collegian 05:42, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

You know, I've lived in Fort Worth most of my life and don't remember seeing a city seal. I did a quick search and couldn't come up with anything. There is a new city flag, do you have that? Here's the link - http://www.fortworthgov.org/cmo/pio/citypage/2004/cp2004706.asp#3 I'll email the city and see if they have a seal. Surely they do. maltmomma 19:29, August 8, 2005 (UTC)
Got a quick response. Emailed the city and here's what they said: "Yes, our City Secretary uses it on all official documents, but because it is official, it is not available for purchase. You can come to the City Secretary's office to see what it looks like if you like or they might be able to send you a photocopy although I am not sure that is legal. You may want to check with them at 817/392-6150." I'm sure a picture of it is somewhere. All the other cities have theirs available. Hmmm, I can try calling them later. Gotta run now though. maltmomma 19:43, August 8, 2005 (UTC)
Fascinating! I always assumed that Miss Molly was the only "seal" Fort Worth had since I've never seen anything else on civic forms. I hope they let you get a copy because I can't wait to see what it looks like! - Thatdog 19:57, 8 August 2005 (UTC)
I'm still trying to get a picture. I've had a couple of road blocks but hopefully I'll be able to get one. maltmomma 20:36, August 10, 2005 (UTC)
Finally came across the seal. Is there a spot for it on the main page? Maltmomma (chat) 00:41, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

The flag as portrayed in the sidebar is incorrect. It is a logo that is in declining use among several municipal services (most noticably the police force, but new cruisers do not use the logo). The official flag is located at the City's Web site, but the site has no copyright disclaimer. Can we consider this fair use because it's material released by a local government? Caknuck 05:29, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

AFAIK, all flags are fair use and would be marked with {{Symbol}} for the licensing. Thatdog 06:02, 12 August 2006 (UTC)
I went ahead and put up the new one. Thatdog 06:07, 12 August 2006 (UTC)
Looks great! Thanks. Caknuck 06:11, 12 August 2006 (UTC)

Actually, that flag was discontinued two years ago. From the June 9, 2004, Star-Telegram: "Tuesday, the council approved a new official city flag design. The new flag will be white with the image of Molly -- the longhorn depicted on the front of Fort Worth's Livestock Exchange Building -- and will include "Fort Worth" in dark blue letters. The city's old flags -- which were multicolored, striped and featured a stylized drawing of a black steer head -- will be retired by sundown July 3." Does anyone know where to find a good graphic of the flag? All I can find is this: http://www.fortworthgov.org/cmo/pio/citypage/images/FWLogoFlag.jpg Thanks, Dmp348 03:12, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I was able to verify the flag was officially changed at both the Fort Worth government page, as well as the page for the previous flag's designer. I reverted the flag image back to the previous logo image, as that is more accurate, at least until a good hi-res version of the new flag is uploaded. Caknuck 01:49, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Infobox

I've implemented Template:Infobox City-NoFlag as a temporary solution. It can easily be switched over to Template:Infobox City once the seal is available. Thanks, Thatdog 06:02, 31 August 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Local Politics

I have been thinking that it might useful to add a government section in this as well as other articles. Such information might include: the type of charter the city has, key positions within the city government mayor etc. Some of this information might deserve its own article over time. Any thoughts or ideas? --Robert Harrisontalk contrib 20:20, 23 September 2005 (UTC)

Agreed. The section is coming soon. It's a bit surprising that this is being replied to nearly two years later. --Stallions2010 23:59, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

70.255.228.98 00:23, 10 September 2007 (UTC)==Funkytown==

Fort Worth is commonly referred to as "Funkytown" by Texas residents. I mentioned this, and the edit was reverted. Why?--147.124.49.89 14:38, 7 December 2005 (UTC)

Hi, I've lived here in Fort Worth 38 years and I've never heard it called that nor have I heard of it called that outside of the city. Maltmomma (chat) 16:01, 7 December 2005 (UTC)
I had never heard of this either, but I just punched fort worth funkytown into Google and apparently its true! Bizzare. Thatdog 17:47, 7 December 2005 (UTC)
One of the first results is FWWeekly. You can't tell me you guys have never picked up one of those. --147.124.49.89 18:33, 7 December 2005 (UTC)
Crudely extrapolating from google: "Fort Worth" funkytown = 9,820 hits; "New York City" = 65,000; Seattle = 24,000; Chicago = 41,000; "Los Angeles" = 39,000; Atlanta = 20,000; "New Orleans" = 64,000; Austin = 29,000; "El Paso" = 12,000 hits. El_C 02:15, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
I have lived in Fort Worth my entire life and I have known exactly one other person who calls Fort Worth "Funkytown". He told me at the time that I worked with him that the term was popularized in the local/regional rap and hip-hop scene. I do not know if that assertion is true. As to if it should be included in this article, I shall remain silent. --Robert Harrisontalk contrib 04:27, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
Maybe put this information under trivia since it's not a widely known nickname plus the fact that other cities use the same nickname and it is more widely known in those places; i.e. above referenced numbers. There are 124,000 hits on Google for Cowtown Fort Worth and it is more widely known. Maltmomma (chat) 13:38, 10 December 2005 (UTC)
I have never heard it called Funkytown. Just because the Fort Worth Weekly calls it that in its MUSIC SECTION of all things doesn't make it true. I'm going to change it. Also, I don't know about you guys, but aside from a few walks through Sundance Square, who actually goes clubbing in Fort Worth? If Fort Worth is Funkytown, what does that make Dallas & Deep Ellum? Kade 19:14, 11 December 2005 (UTC)
I have a feeling many of you are older Texans/Fort Worth citizens. "Funkytown" is a nickname of Fort Worth. Do a google for "funkytown fort worth". It's right there. --66.190.72.175 00:17, 18 December 2005 (UTC)
Is there any information to verify this statement? "In more recent years, east Fort Worth has been referred to as "Funkytown" as well, mainly by urbanites. In the last two decades of the 20th century, when the Blood and Crip gangs started migrating from California, east Fort Worth was often referred to as "Murder Worth" or "Little Chicago", as hundreds of bodies started showing up with insufficient amounts of evidence required to bring those responsible to justice, thus increasing the murder rate. East Fort Worth has since then changed, as the size and skill of the police force has rapidly increased." I worked on the city contracted ambulance at the time and I don't remember there being 100's of murders nor the names it was called. I do however remember when the gangs started moving in to the area. Maltmomma (chat) 21:06, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
I lived in the East Side for most of my life. I've heard of it being called "Little Chicago", but it is also known as "Stop Six", "Polywood" and etc. I'm not sure about Crips being in that area because they were mostly on the southside, but I know most of my neighbors were Bloods. It's been called Funkytown on a regular basis if you all would listen to the radio where it is more popular with the younger generation. The best information to verify is first hand experience. You should take a trip down Rosedale and find out for yourself.
First hand experience is not enough,WP:VERIFY we need a reliable source that documents that fw is widely known as funky-town. Hip-hop stations do indeed use the moniker funkytown, as far as I can tell it is only the hip-hop stations though. I have a feeling that any city/town that starts with an F has been refered to as "funkytown." Maybe the section should mention something about hip-hop culture (anyway I like F-dub better :D) Diletante 17:43, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

This whole section seems somewhat awkward, esp. "as hundreds of bodies started showing up with insufficient amounts of evidence required to bring those responsible to justice, thus increasing the murder rate." "Hundreds of bodies" seems particularly unlikely as in 2005 the number of reported murders was only 52 and the highest count in the past 6 years was 67 in 1999. (http://www.fortworthpd.com/crimestats.htm) And would the murder rate have been lower had those responsible been brought to justice? Bignona 11:15, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

I have lived in Fort Worth since 1956. I was told by my uncle that the name Funky Town was given to the city of Fort Worth by people who visited, moved or traveled through the city in it's early existence. Fort Worth had two packinghouses Swift and Armour along with Resin Chemical Company operation that processed and slaughtered cows.The companies were located on the cities north side of Interstate 35W presently known as "Old Downtown Fort Worth, the stockyard area. The processing operation was the major contributor of the funky smell that caused vistors to ask "What's that funky smell?" The packinghouses closed in the late 1960's and the smell has ceased to exist. userslmonfay

[edit] Lets kick this article up a notch.

This article looks like every other city-related article I've seen, pretty much bland except for statistics and tourist attractions. Could we possibly write a sub-section about the Bass family? I could go check out one of the books about them from the Fort Worth Central Library this week and reference it. I mean, they own the entirety of Sundance Square, as well as most of the skyscrapers, I don't think you can mention Fort Worth without the Bass's. Kade 19:21, 11 December 2005 (UTC)

I'd recommend doing separate articles instead; there's already a Sid Bass article (with link to a nonexistent Perry Bass one), and I could see doing a "Bass family" article since there's apparently not *one* centralized Bass company. (Along the same lines... I'm off to start a Sid W. Richardson article -- I'm surprised there's not one already!) -Hedgey42 03:49, 8 July 2006 (UTC)
One important attraction missing is the annual Mayfest event. It's essentially a fund-raising festival for non-profit organizations that runs for four days in early May. Why is this significant? Not only is it an economic bonus for the city, but the 1995 Mayfest storm is considered to be one of the worst (if not the worst) storms in North Texas history. This storm may be important enough to justify its own article; it produced large hail that sent 90 Mayfest attendees to the hospital; from there the storm cells went on to spawn tornadoes and create flash floods that killed 13 people in and around Dallas. Some relevant web links include the Mayfest Website, a university paper on the event, a storm chase report with photos and WFAA's Wild Weather Week for 2005. -Eccl.7.12 18:35, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lead paragraphs

I rewrote the lead paragraphs entirely (now has three paragraphs with more information), formatted the article, and added a new infobox with the official logo of Fort Worth. I think we should transform some of the lists in this article into proses. Currently, there are too many lists and few proses. Just a suggestion. RJN 20:49, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

Looks good! I agree, it needs some sprucing up. Maltmomma (chat) 00:44, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] No panther?

The famed "sleeping panther" story needs to figure in here somewhere – "Panther City" is still occasionally used as a nickname for Fort Worth (even by some businesses), and there are a couple of different statues in the city linked to it. – Hedgey42 05:12, 8 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] History

This article needs to be improved in the history section. Just take a look at the history section of Dallas. There are even two articles entitled History of Dallas, Texas and Historical events of Dallas, Texas. We should improve the Fort Worth history section, including antebellum Fort Worth, the effect of the Civil War, historical population growth in the city, segregation (examples of that in Fort Worth), and so on. If we improve even one section we will eventually amount up to the Dallas article on Wikipedia. --Stallions2010 22:49, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mayors

I've started the article List of mayors of Fort Worth, Texas, but it is incomplete, as I have few Fort Worth reference materials at my disposal. If you can fill in any of the gaps, please go for it. Dmp348 04:47, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, formerly known as Carswell Air Force Base, a major military installation adjacent to northeast Fort Worth, and a major contributor to the local economy.

First, the base is in west Fort Worth (could be considered northwest I suppose but certainly not northeast).

Also, would you say it's adjacent to Fort Worth or in Fort Worth?

Very new at this so please excuse me if this is the wrong place for this discussion or such...Thanks.

Aggiebud 17:39, 6 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Metropolitan area

According to the Southern United States article, Fort Worth is the second-largest city of the largest metropolitan area in the South. This is important (it could also fit under trivia) and should be incorporated into the article. --Stallions2010 22:59, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] WikiProject Fort Worth

I have proposed a WikiProject for Fort Worth. Please show your support by going here and adding your name to the list of interested Wikipedians. To improve the quality of this and other Fort Worth-related articles, I believe it necessary now for this project to exist. Dallas, Texas, although not yet a featured article, is of signficantly higher quality than Fort Worth's article is. Thanks! Stallions2010 01:58, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Southeast, NOT southwest

I'm not saying Fort Worth is within the Southeastern United States region, but it is located in the southeastern part of the country (personally I don't see it as being part of the Southwest though, it's part of the South). Lebanon, Kansas marks the geographic center of the continental United States. Fort Worth is located south of Lebanon, as well as east of it. Look at the coordinates of the two cities. I am reverting the southwest reference now that proof has been provided. --Stallions2010 21:13, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

We are not talking solely about geographic regions, rather accepted cultural names for regions. If "the west" only starts west of Lebanon,KS then we need a new name for the Midwest. The stock show is the "Southwestern Exposition Livestock Show and Rodeo". The city slogan is "where the west begins." I think it is pretty safe to say that Fort Worth is in the South-Western united states. This is especially so if we want to talk about population density of the US, or cultural influences. -- Diletante 18:34, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

>>Once again though, as noted on the Texas page, the term "Southwest" when referring to Texas denotes something quite different in history, culture, traditions, etc, than in states like New Mexico and Arizona which are also labeled "Southwest." As the term applies to areas west of Ft. Worth within the Lone Star State (with the trans-pecos being an exception), the term Southwest is pretty much synonymous, in the above mentioned criteria, with "Western South" (this is the label used in Raymond Gastil's classic work "Cultural Regions of the United States").

>>Also, as mention on the larger "Texas" talk page, this is almost certainly how the early settlers would have thought of it, as the city's moniker "Where The West Begins" was never intended to mean anything like "The South Stops here." Anymore than St. Louis "Gateway to the West" meant one was leaving the Midwest. LOL Point is, the "West" was not thought of as a single coherent cultural region per se (and it still isn't today), but simply a largely unsettled half of the country different in many ways from the "East."

>>In fact, most of those early cattle barons were former Confederate soldiers, and what the nickname really was intended to impart was that Ft. Worth was a Boom Town entryway to a new part of the larger South itself, one of new opportunities and all...the "Western South" if you will (to use that term again!) as distinguished from the "Old South" of cotton plantation country. Again, most of those early Ft. Worth newcomers, the overwhelming majority of whom were migrants from the southeast looking to get a new start, brought with them their basic culture and folkways and, being in a former sister Confederate States, never thought of themselves as being out of the South per se. In fact, some records, and ads and such in early newspapers will often have references to something like "The Dixie Cattle Company" or whatever! LOL -- TexasReb 20:49, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Funkytown and Gangs in East Fort Worth.

Only young (under 30) people call Fort Worth Funkytown and only because they want it to be like other cities known for their music (and not just hip hop). If you've every hung around Austin, you know why it's call Funkytown. If this page is truly about history and not part of Fort Worth Weekly's "vote for the best", someone change the page to mention the real historic nicknate, Panther City. And "Murder Worth", "Little Chicago" - goes along with the person saying there were 100s of bodies when the entire city murder count wasn't 100. And what's this about gang population elevating in the mid 80s and disappearing in the 90s in EAST Fort Worth. Maybe citywide there was a gang population increase but not JUST in EAST Fort Worth (which includes more than Stop Six and Poly). Someone change the history page to facts - delete all the nonsense obviously written by a wannabe gangster pining over their childhood.WendyVann 18:29, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Major face-lift

This article needs a huge makeover. Our primary goal, as of now, is to get the article to good article status. I have created a to-do list at the top of the talk page. Some items on the list may seem alarming, such as removing the "Districts" section and transferring valuable information to a new subsection (see to-do list for details). Please do not delete any items on the to-do list; rather, after completing the task, strike through the completed item. You may add to the list as you please, but please make sure your new items are reasonable. See Wikipedia:To-do list for guidelines and more details. For ideas and/or helpful information, you may refer to these Wikipedia articles about American cities:

Remember: GOOD ARTICLE. To see what criteria must be met to achieve good article status, see Wikipedia:What is a good article?. We all need to contribute to make this article one of Wikipedia's best. Thanks! --Stallions2010 23:43, 9 July 2007 (UTC)