White Settlement, Texas

White Settlement is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a northwestern suburb of Fort Worth. The population was estimated to be 18,084 in 2021.

History
Even before the beginnings of a nearby military outpost, Fort Worth, 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 Anglo-Americans and 65 black slaves. 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 American Indians 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 Lockheed Martin 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. 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 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 city has a total area of 13.1 km2, 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 is also the winter home of several groups of Irish Travellers.

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.

The Texas Civil War Museum is located in White Settlement.

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 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 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.