Where the West Begins
From Fort Worth's frontier origins as a military outpost to the rise of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, North Texas's story is one of resilience, connectivity, and steady growth across a whole region.
1849Fort Worth was established as a U.S. Army outpost on the banks of the Trinity River, named after General William Jenkins Worth, a hero of the Mexican-American War. The fort was part of a line of frontier defenses protecting settlers moving westward. Though the military abandoned the post in 1853, settlers remained, laying the foundation for what would become the anchor city of North Texas.
1866-1890Millions of cattle were driven through Fort Worth along the famous Chisholm Trail, earning the city its legendary 'Cowtown' nickname. Cowboys rested and resupplied in Fort Worth before the long drive north to Kansas railheads, transforming the frontier town into a booming commercial center and setting North Texas on a path of steady growth.
1876The Texas and Pacific Railway reached Fort Worth, while rail lines converging on Dallas cemented that city's role as a commercial hub to the east. Together, the two rail centers marked the end of the long cattle drives and set off decades of growth that would eventually knit Fort Worth, Dallas, and the towns between them into a single economic region.
1893The Fort Worth Stock Yards were officially incorporated, becoming one of the largest livestock markets in the nation. At its peak, the Stockyards processed millions of cattle, hogs, and sheep annually. The complex included packing plants, the famous Livestock Exchange building, and the iconic brick streets that still exist today.
1917Fort Worth became home to military aviation training with the establishment of training facilities during World War I. This laid the groundwork for the region's aerospace industry and eventually Lockheed Martin's major presence, an early chapter in North Texas becoming a national center for aviation and defense manufacturing.
1974-TodayThe opening of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 reshaped the region, spurring growth in the towns surrounding it, including Grapevine, Southlake, Westlake, and Roanoke, and cementing North Texas as a global logistics gateway. Since then, the Alliance corridor has grown into one of the country's premier inland ports, and the mid-cities between Fort Worth and Dallas have matured into thriving commercial and residential communities. Today, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, with Fort Worth as its western anchor.
Start Your Journey
Whether you're looking to lease, buy, sell, or invest in commercial real estate across Fort Worth, Southlake, Keller, Colleyville, Grapevine, Roanoke, Westlake, Lewisville, Flower Mound, or anywhere in the DFW Metroplex, we're here to help. Let's discuss your goals and create a strategy tailored to your needs.
Call Direct
(817) 559-1235
Email Us
Daniel.weber@svn.com
Visit Office
3000 Race St, Suite 100
Fort Worth, TX 76111
Own a building? A Broker Opinion of Value tells you what it would likely trade for today. Facing a renewal? A lease comp review tells you whether the landlord's number is in line with the market. Both are free, and both start with a short call.