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The railroad enabled Fort Worth to build the largest cattle stockyards in the West.  The city owed much of its late 19th-century economic growth to the cattle industry and especially to the 'Big Five' meat packers - led by Swift and Armour - who controlled the Fort Worth Stockyards Co. after 1902. Beginning in the 1920s, legalistic efforts to break the monopoly of the Big Five gradually accomplished that goal, but by the 1950s, the major packers faced a declining business and subsequently trimmed their operations. Recent efforts to renovate the stockyards and restore the Exchange Building have proven successful as numerous small businesses have opened in the area.  The local butchers struck during the nationwide strike by the Amalgamated Butcher Workman Union against the 'Big Five' meat packers of Chicago during 1921-22. The strike failed, devastating the union; skilled workers were able to go back to their jobs, though many unskilled laborers could not.  

The railroad enabled Fort Worth to build the largest cattle stockyards in the West.  The city owed much of its late 19th-century economic growth to the cattle industry and especially to the 'Big Five' meat packers - led by Swift and Armour - who controlled the Fort Worth Stockyards Co. after 1902. Beginning in the 1920s, legalistic efforts to break the monopoly of the Big Five gradually accomplished that goal, but by the 1950s, the major packers faced a declining business and subsequently trimmed their operations. Recent efforts to renovate the stockyards and restore the Exchange Building have proven successful as numerous small businesses have opened in the area.  The local butchers struck during the nationwide strike by the Amalgamated Butcher Workman Union against the 'Big Five' meat packers of Chicago during 1921-22. The strike failed, devastating the union; skilled workers were able to go back to their jobs, though many unskilled laborers could not.  

As a transportation hub, the city had a notorious red light district.  The prostitutes worked in parlor houses, dance halls, or independent shacks, did not make much more money than a local domestic servant, were subject to arrest in periodic crackdowns, suffered from disease, and frequently committed suicide.<ref> Richard F.  Selcer, "Fort Worth and the Fraternity of Strange Women," ''Southwestern Historical Quarterly'' 1992 96(1): 54-86, </ref>  

As a transportation hub, the city had a notorious red light district.  The prostitutes worked in parlor houses, dance halls, or independent shacks, did not make much more money than a local domestic servant, were subject to arrest in periodic crackdowns, suffered from disease, and frequently committed suicide.<ref>Richard F.  Selcer, "Fort Worth and the Fraternity of Strange Women," ''Southwestern Historical Quarterly'' 1992 96(1): 54-86,</ref>  

The Stockyards District is now a National Historic District attracting many tourists.[[File:Ft-w-stockyards.jpg|thumb|550px|left]]

The Stockyards District is now a National Historic District attracting many tourists.[[File:Ft-w-stockyards.jpg|thumb|550px|left]]

The Dallas-Fort Worth airport is one of the world's largest airports, and the hub of American Airlines.<ref> Darwin Payne and Kathy Fitzpatrick, ''From Prairie to Planes: How Dallas and Fort Worth Overcame Politics and Personalities to Build One of the World's Biggest and Busiest Airports'' (1999). 317 pp.</ref>

The Dallas-Fort Worth airport is one of the world's largest airports, and the hub of American Airlines.<ref>Darwin Payne and Kathy Fitzpatrick, ''From Prairie to Planes: How Dallas and Fort Worth Overcame Politics and Personalities to Build One of the World's Biggest and Busiest Airports'' (1999). 317 pp.</ref>

General Dynamics built huge airplane plants in World War II; they now form part of [[Lockheed Martin]]. Bell Helicopter (part of Textron) is another major presence.

General Dynamics built huge airplane plants in World War II; they now form part of [[Lockheed Martin]]. Bell Helicopter (part of Textron) is another major presence.

The city and surrounding Tarrant County are both Republican.  Most of the city is in the 12 Congressional District, which has reelected moderate Republican Kay Granger since 1996; she was mayor, 1991-96.  The fast growing western and northern suburbs are in CD 16, represented since 2002 by Republican Michael Burgess. He replaced Republican Majority Leader [[Dick Armey]] (b. 1940), who held this district from 1985-2002

The city and surrounding Tarrant County are both Republican.  Most of the city is in the 12 Congressional District, which has reelected moderate Republican Kay Granger since 1996; she was mayor, 1991-96.  The fast growing western and northern suburbs are in CD 16, represented since 2002 by Republican Michael Burgess. He replaced Republican Majority Leader [[Dick Armey]] (b. 1940), who held this district from 1985-2002

Democrat [[Jim Wright]] (b. 1922) represented the city from 1954-1989; he was the powerful House Majority Leader (1967-87) and Speaker of the House 1987-89 until he was forced to quit because of an ethics scandal.

Democrat [[Jim Wright]] (b. 1922) represented the city from 1954-1989; he was the powerful House Majority Leader (1967–87) and Speaker of the House 1987-89 until he was forced to quit because of an ethics scandal.

==Conservatives==

==Conservatives==

Ida Darden published the conservative weekly newspaper ''Southern Conservative'' from 1950 to 1961. Her early political views were influenced by Texas senator Joe Bailey, who opposed women's suffrage, taxes, labor unions, prohibition, and Woodrow Wilson. The ''Southern Conservative'' championed anti-Communist politicians such as Senator Joe McCarthy and excoriated civil rights, minorities, unions, the UN, and the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party. Funded by a few wealthy Texas businessmen, the newspaper struggled financially and ended in 1961, when Darden left to care for her terminally ill only child.<ref> George N. Green,  "Ida Darden and the ''Southern Conservative''", ''Gulf South Historical Review'' 2001 16(2): 6-33</ref>

Ida Darden published the conservative weekly newspaper ''Southern Conservative'' from 1950 to 1961. Her early political views were influenced by Texas senator Joe Bailey, who opposed women's suffrage, taxes, labor unions, prohibition, and Woodrow Wilson. The ''Southern Conservative'' championed anti-Communist politicians such as Senator Joe McCarthy and excoriated civil rights, minorities, unions, the UN, and the liberal wing of the Texas Democratic Party. Funded by a few wealthy Texas businessmen, the newspaper struggled financially and ended in 1961, when Darden left to care for her terminally ill only child.<ref>George N. Green,  "Ida Darden and the ''Southern Conservative''", ''Gulf South Historical Review'' 2001 16(2): 6-33</ref>

==Culture==

==Culture==

Founded in 1961, the Amon Carter Museum houses the nation's finest collection of paintings, sculpture, and photography of Western subjects. Based on the late Amon G. Carter's collection of original works by [[Charles M. Russell]] (1865-1926) and [[Frederic Remington]] (1861-1909). The museum also has a theater, bookstore, and research library that stress history as well as art.<ref>Patricia Junker et al., ''An American Collection: Works from the Amon Carter Museum'' (2001). 288 pp.</ref>

Founded in 1961, the Amon Carter Museum houses the nation's finest collection of paintings, sculpture, and photography of Western subjects. Based on the late Amon G. Carter's collection of original works by [[Charles M. Russell]] (1865-1926) and [[Frederic Remington]] (1861-1909). The museum also has a theater, bookstore, and research library that stress history as well as art.<ref>Patricia Junker et al., ''An American Collection: Works from the Amon Carter Museum'' (2001). 288 pp.</ref>

* Sherrod, Katie, ed. ''Grace and Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women'' (2007). 308 pp.

* Sherrod, Katie, ed. ''Grace and Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women'' (2007). 308 pp.

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====References====

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[[Category:Texas Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:Texas Cities and Towns]]

[[Category:Western United States]]

[[Category:Western United States]]

[[Category:Urban History]]

[[Category:Urban History]]