Sundance Square in Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Fort Worth

"Where the West Begins"

Photographed by QuesterMark, October 26, 2025

1. Fort Worth Texas Historical Marker

Refurbished in October 2025 by Chris Woolsey @chrisrestorestx on social media. Thanks Chris!

Inscription. Founded June 6, 1849, as frontier post of Co. F, 2nd Dragoons, 8th Dept., U.S. Army. The commander, Maj. Ripley Arnold, named camp for his former superior officer, Maj. Gen. William Jenkins Worth. In 4 years of operations, the post had but one serious Indian encounter. A town grew up alongside the fort, as center for supply stores and stagecoach routes.

In 1856 Fort Worth became county seat of Tarrant County. A boom started after 1867 when millions of longhorns were driven through town en route to Red River Crossing and Chisholm Trail. Herds forded the Trinity below Courthouse Bluff, one block north of this site. Cowboys got supplies for the long uptrail drive and caroused in taverns and dance halls.

After railroad arrived in 1876, increased cattle traffic won city the nickname of "Cowtown".

By 1900, Fort Worth was one of world's largest cattle markets. Population tripled between 1900 and 1910. Growth continued, based on varied multimillion dollar industries of meat packing, flour milling, grain storage, oil, aircraft plants and military bases. Fort Worth also has developed as a center of culture, with universities, museums, art galleries, theatres and a botanic garden.

Erected 1969 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 2026.)

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is June 6, 1883.

Location. 32° 45.445′ N, 97° 20.066′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is in Sundance Square. It is at the intersection of West Belknap Street (State Highway 347 Spur) and North Houston Street (Business U.S. 287), on the right when traveling west on West Belknap Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 W Belknap St, Fort Worth TX 76102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of the First Masonic Hall in Fort Worth (here, next to this marker); The Site of Camp Worth (here, next to this marker); Tarrant County Criminal Courts Building (a few steps from this marker); Steel's Tavern Oaks (within shouting distance of this marker); Leonard Brothers Department Store (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fort Worth Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); First School (within shouting distance of this marker); 1784 Tarrant County 1815 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.

Also see . . . Fort Worth, TX - The Handbook of Texas Online

Fort Worth Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

2. Fort Worth Marker

. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) (Submitted on August 16, 2018, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)

Tarrant County Criminal Courts Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

3. Tarrant County Criminal Courts Building

Tarrant County Criminal Courts Building & Fort Worth Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

4. Tarrant County Criminal Courts Building & Fort Worth Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 2,218 times since then and 133 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 26, 2025, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 17, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.