DALWORTHINGTON GARDENS, TEXAS

Tarrant County, Central Texas North

32°41'48"N 97°9'21"W (32.696633, -97.155705)
Between I-30 to the North and I-20 to the South
12 Miles SE of Fort Worth the county seat
Surrounded by the city of Arlington
Population: 2,387 Est. (2018)
2,259 (2010) 2,186 (2000) 1,758 (1990)

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The proverbial "long row to hoe."
1930s photo courtesy Library of Congress

History in a Pecan Shell

The rather cumbersome name is an amalgam of the cities of DAllas, Fort WORTH, and ArlINGTON, Texas.

The story of Dalworthington begins in the Great Depression when the National Industrial Recovery Act authorized construction of an experimental housing tract incorporating agriculture into the lives of residents. Sort of a suburb with communal gardens and a friendly homeowner's association (if that can be imagined).

The Department of the Interior oversaw the project which was to blend city life with country life. People working in Fort Worth (or in theory, the other towns) could work in town and have a garden and ' or small animals as a food supplement. Originally five such projects were planned, but this is the only one to succeed.

Nearly 600 acres of land were purchased in 1934 and broken down into 79 smaller tracts, the smallest plot being three acres and the largest 32 acres. A park and community center occupied another 43 acres.

The property was a large grid of three roads leading north and south and three others running east and west. Times being what they were, there were no plans to pave the roads until things got better. Applicants applied for a Federal loan and put 10% down. The mortgage payment were roughly $25 per month which included utilities and what is now known as a "maintenance fee."

The "town" was nearly completed in May of 1935 and in early 1937 every tract was occupied for signed for. The project was a success and after the Depression and WWII ended, residents decided to incorporate.

In 1950 the population of Dalworthington Gardens was just 267. Since the acreage was fixed, growth was slow and by 1970 there were 757 Dalworthingtons.

Due to its proximity to the metroplex, the city became more desirable as time passed and the original homes were replaced by more modern designs. Original homes have been restored and the local historic commission has placed markers which identify them as part of the original plan.

Dalworthington Gardens Texas 1930s town scene

Dalworthington Gardens in the 1930s
Photo courtesy Library of Congress

DalworthingtonGardensTexas/Dalworthington Gardens Texas woman by mailbox

Before ZIP codes and before junk mail.

DalworthingtonGardensTexas/DalworthingtonGardens Texas family and homej, 1930s photo

Waiting for the shade trees to grow.

Woman canning in kitchen, DalworthingtonGardensTexas/Dalworthington Gardens Texas 1930s photo

Woman canning in a modern kitchen with a thin refrigerator.
All photos courtesy Library of Congress

Dalworthington Gardens, Texas Area Towns:
Arlington
Fort Worth, Texas the county seat
See Tarrant County | Central Texas North

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