Page 175 - Haltom City FY19 Annual Budget

foundation excavated. The first annual jury list drawn up at Birdville's temporary
courthouse in 1855 by District Clerk William Quayle showed 280 men qualified to serve.

The permanent courthouse was never completed because in November, 1856, in a highly
contested special election, Fort Worth won the county seat by a margin of three to thirteen
votes (the official count varies). Jubilant Fort Worth citizens took the county records,
equipment, and furniture back to Fort Worth
for deposit in their own temporary
courthouse. All early Tarrant County
records were later lost in a courthouse fire
on March 29, 1876.

Birdville, until 1856, had the Monday county
court sessions and the associated
commercial benefits. It also had two
newspapers, the Birdville Western Express,
with John J. Courtney as its editor; and The
Birdville Union, with Colonel A. G. Walker
as its editor. Walker killed Courtney in a
shoot-out stemming from disagreements
concerning the elections and states' rights
regarding slavery.

Haltom City's population was reported at 107 in 1930 and at 40 with seven businesses in
1936, just four years after the business district moved south to the new location. In 1950,
the population rose to 3,000 within an incorporated area of four square miles, and in 1960
to 23,000, the result of continuing growth and annexations.

Haltom City continued to grow through the 1960’s and the City’s population reached
28,000 by 1970. Growth during the 1970’s was more modest as developments to the
east around the Dallas-Fort Worth airport drew residential and commercial development.

Haltom City was rediscovered as a place to live in the 1980’s. Despite the recession of
the early 1980’s and the real estate bust of the late 1980’s Haltom City grew from 29,000
in 1980 to nearly 33,000 in 1990. The north end of town, north of Loop 820 became a
focal point of real development in the 1990’s and the population in the City climbed to
39,000 in 2000.

Today the City is home to an estimated 42,740 residents and some 3,468 businesses.
Estimates by demographic experts are that the City is 88% developed and should achieve
build-out prior to 2030. The population at build out is estimated to reach 44,000.

The composition of the population has changed markedly over the years. For much of its
early history Haltom City was primarily white. Since the more recent growth spurt of the
past 25 years the demographics have changed. The 2010 Census indicates Hispanics
make up 39% of the population and Asians another 8%. African-Americans comprised
4% of the population and whites 47%.

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