White Settlement is a city in Tarrant County,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, United States, and a northwestern suburb of

Fort Worth Fort Worth is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, covering nearly into Denton County, Texas, Denton, Johnson County, Texas, Johnson, Parker County, Texas, Parker, and Wise County, Te ...

. The population was estimated to be 18,084 in 2021. The city is bordered by

Lockheed Martin The Lockheed Martin Corporation is an American Arms industry, defense and aerospace manufacturer with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta on March 15, 1995. It is headquartered in North ...

and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. White Settlement Public Library is home to Browser who gained international attention in 2016 when local politicians sought to oust him from the library over the objections of local residents.

History

Even before the beginnings of a nearby military outpost, Fort Worth, white settlers took up refuge along a creek, later named Farmers Branch Creek. Before the end of 1841, settlers began arriving from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1850 the area's first census showed the population consisted of 599 white Americans and 65 Black enslaved people. By the mid-1850s, many more settlers arrived bringing with them more slaves. The oldest street in White Settlement is White Settlement Road. This original trail led from the fort to the "white settlement" about eight miles west into Native American territory. As the Native Americans were forced from the area, and the settlement moved westward, the road followed. This was the only public road in White Settlement's early history. While early life was not easy for the settlers with frequent clashes with indigenous populations, White Settlement became a trading outpost. As the migrating settlers carved out homesteads among the various indigenous tribes, outsiders and Native Americans referred to the area as "the white settlement." In February 1942, Consolidated Aircraft Company began construction on the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber at Air Force Plant #4. Liberator Village, as it became known, consisted of housing units across the city to house aircraft workers. In modern times, the city of White Settlement is the gateway to national defense, bordered by

and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. As federal properties, the White Settlement Police Department has concurrent jurisdiction for calls for service and patrols at the military base and aircraft plant. Two members of the city's West Freeway Church of Christ were killed by a gunman on December 29, 2019, during a morning service. The shooter was in turn shot dead by a church security guard. Most recent White Settlement Mayor Ronald White died in office on January 17, 2023. Mayor White was the 19th Mayor of White Settlement. Mayor Pro Tem Amber Muñoz took over as the 20th Mayor of White Settlement, becoming the first female Mayor in White Settlement. On May 6, 2023, citizens of White Settlement elected Faron Young in a special election to fill the office for the remainder of White's term.

Name

The city got its name as it was a lone settlement of

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

colonists amid several Native American villages in the Fort Worth area in the Texas Republic territory in the 1840s. On October 14, 2005, city leaders, citing hurdles in attracting businesses, announced a plan to have local voters decide on a possible name change for the town from White Settlement to West Settlement. In the November 8 election, the name change was overwhelmingly rejected by a vote of 2,388 to 219.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,290 households, and 4,010 families residing in the city.

Culture

The city boasts amenities including a city-owned water park, Splash Days, that operates during the summer months. White Settlement Public Library is home to Browser who gained international attention in 2016 when local politicians sought to oust him from the library over the objections of local residents. White Settlement is also the winter home of several groups of

Irish Travellers Irish Travellers (, meaning ''the walking people''), also known as Mincéirs ( Shelta: ''Mincéirí'') or Pavees, are a traditionally peripatetic indigenous ethno-cultural group originating in Ireland.''Questioning Gypsy identity: ethnic na ...

. The Texas Civil War Museum was located in White Settlement.

Religion

The majority of White Settlement residents identify as Protestant Christians; however, there is also a Mormon church as well as a Buddhist temple within the city limits.

Government and infrastructure

The city of White Settlement operates as a city manager form of government overseen by a Mayor and City Council. The suburb of Fort Worth boasts a full-time police and fire department to represent public safety. The police department is overseen by Chief of Police Christopher Cook, previously the chief spokesperson and deputy police chief for the City of Arlington, Texas. The police department provides dispatch services to the cities of Westworth Village and Sansom Park. The department also provides detention services for the cities of Westover Hills, Westworth Village, Sansom Park, White Settlement Independent School District, the United States Marshal's Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 2022, the Fort Worth Police Department and Tarrant County Justice of the Precinct 4 Judge Christopher Gregory entered into an Inter-local Agreement with the White Settlement Police Department to establish and authorize concurrent enforcement jurisdiction. The Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and Air Force Plant #4 has territory in White Settlement. The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...

operates the White Settlement Post Office. The city is under the jurisdiction of Tarrant County and operates as a Council-Manager government type.

Education

The City of White Settlement is served by the White Settlement Independent School District. In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the

Texas Education Agency The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the branch of the government of Texas responsible for public education in Texas in the United States.

. The White Settlement Public Library is located in the Municipal Complex. Less than 16% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher as opposed to 34% of all Texans.

Notes

References

External links

*
White Settlement Area Chamber of Commerce website

White Settlement Public Library

{{authority control * Cities in Tarrant County, Texas Cities in Texas Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex Irish-American history and culture in Texas Irish Travellers in the United States Sundown towns in Texas Anti-Indigenous racism in Texas