Page 186 - CityofHaltomFY24Budget

City Of Haltom City Annual Budget, Fy2024 Supplemental Information City Of Haltom City Annual Budget, Fy2024 Supplemental Information

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

1853, when the troops were sent to Fort Belknap.
Birdville in 1849 had an estimated fifty people in
town surrounded by scattered farms and ranches.
Haltom City, whose municipal boundaries include Street-Denton Highway; Loop 452-Grapevine Roads radiated out to Johnson Station, Dunneville
the first Tarrant County seat of Birdville, is located Highway 26; and Northeast Loop 820. The historic (now Grapevine), Dallas and new settlements
near the geographic center of the county. Haltom name of Birdville is carried on in the names of two springing up on the prairie around Fort Worth.
City's land area extends three to six miles northeast churches, a cemetery, two roads, an independent
of downtown Fort Worth. It is surrounded on the school district, and in the memories of its residents. In an effort to obtain self-government, some
northwest, west, and south by Fort Worth city limits; one hundred area residents petitioned the State
on the east by Richland Hills and North Richland Legislature for a new county and elected temporary
Hills; and on the northeast by Watauga. It is bisected county officials. On December 20, 1849, the Texas
by Big and Little Fossil Creeks and borders the Legislature created the new county, and called it
Trinity River flood plain on the south. The city is Tarrant in honor of General E. H. Tarrant. Tarrant
situated in an area which was once rolling grassland. County consisted of parts of Navarro County and
Peter's Colony. Birdville area resident Ed Terrell
Established from a ranching and farming offered his log cabin for an election polling site to
community, Haltom Village was founded in 1932 choose the new county seat and to elect officers who The permanent courthouse was never completed
and named to honor G. W. Haltom (1872-1944), would succeed the temporary persons appointed because in November, 1856, in a highly contested
a Fort Worth jeweler whose family ranch the preceding December, 1849. The election, on special election, Fort Worth won the county seat
holdings comprised much of the new area. August 5, 1850, was won by Birdville. Tarrant by a margin of three to thirteen votes (the official
Gradual growth was due in part to Haltom's County in 1850 had a population of 599 whites count varies). Jubilant Fort Worth citizens took
Meadow Oaks Corporation and the bisection and 65 slaves, and covered 877 square miles. the county records, equipment, and furniture back
of the village by major new highways affording to Fort Worth for deposit in their own temporary
easier access to Fort Worth, northeastern courthouse. All early Tarrant County records were
Tarrant County and Dallas. Also in 1932, the later lost in a courthouse fire on March 29, 1876.
routing of State Highways 10 (E. Belknap
Street) and 121 one-quarter mile south of the First encroachment into the Birdville vicinity occurred Birdville, until 1856, had the Monday county court
old Birdville business district presented local as early as the spring of 1840, when Captain Jonathan sessions and the associated commercial benefits.
business leaders with a momentous decision Bird and 20 three-month service Texas Rangers from It also had two newspapers, the Birdville Western
regarding the future of their businesses and Lamar and Red River Counties were sent into the Express, with John J. Courtney as its editor; and
property investments. Most businesses chose to frontier by General Sam Houston. Their mission was The Birdville Union, with Colonel A. G. Walker as
relocate, in order to take advantage of greater to establish a fort, make the area safe for settlement, its editor. Walker killed Courtney in a shoot-out
convenience and accessibility for customers, and guard the area from Indian attacks to the north stemming from disagreements concerning the
increased traffic flow, and a chance to build anew. and west. Bird's Fort was situated about twelve miles elections and states' rights regarding slavery.
southeast of Birdville and six miles north of Arlington
Haltom City was originally incorporated on August on the north bank of the Trinity where Calloway's Haltom City's population was reported at 107 in
22, 1944. On July 3, 1950 Haltom City and the Lake is located. In 1841, General Edward H. Tarrant 1930 and at 40 with seven businesses in 1936,
City of Oak Knoll consolidated under the name of led a successful militia force against an Indian just four years after the business district moved
Haltom City. Since 1950 the City has gradually encampment at present-day Arlington in the Battle of south to the new location. In 1950, the population
expanded, annexing Garden of Eden, Meadow Village Creek. Such action served notice to hostile rose to 3,000 within an incorporated area of
Oaks, East Ridge and, in 1955, unincorporated tribes along the frontier that a peace treaty was four-square miles, and in 1960 to 23,000, the
portions of Birdville. Haltom City elected Home advisable. General Houston, Indian Commissioners result of continuing growth and annexations.
Rule Charter with a city manager, mayor and and several early settlers and trappers signed and
council form of government on October 10, 1955. witnessed a treaty at Bird's Fort on September 29, The First Tarrant County Courthouse was a
1843, with the chiefs of nine tribes. Soon after this, the wood-frame structure located in the vicinity of the
The City purchased the complete water systems fort was abandoned. Settlements gravitated around present-day W.G. Thomas Coliseum. An eighty-acre
(3,975 customer accounts) serving the entire City on a few homesteads,water sources and trading posts. tract, bounded by Walker, Carson and Broadway
August 21, 1952 and has provided water and sewer On June 6, 1849, Camp Worth was established by Streets, was donated by George Akers and William
services since that time. Today the city is traversed General Ripley A. Arnold and his troops nine miles Norris in August, 1851, for the erection of county
by five major roads: State Highway 121-Airport west of Birdville on a bluff overlooking the confluence buildings. A plat of the new town drawn the same year
Freeway; State Highway 183-Northeast 28th of the West Fork and the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. depicts 12 city blocks, including a public square. Bonds
Street-Midway Road; U. S. Highway 377-E Belknap Named to honor Brigadier General William Jennings valued at $17,000 were issued to insure completion
Worth, the new outpost offered welcome protection to of the construction work by W. S. Suggs and others.
fledgling settlements around Birdville and Denton until Bricks were collected and a 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.