11 Fort Worth Nicknames You Should Know

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Fort Worth is a vibrant city with a rich history and culture. One of the greatest ways to get an introduction to everything the city has to offer is by learning about the monikers it's collected over the years.

Panther City and Metroplex are perhaps two of the most common names associated with the city, but there are many more that range from historic to humorous in nature.

So, whether you're planning a trip to Texas or are interested in learning a little more about this corner of the state, keep reading. Here are 11 Fort Worth nicknames you should know.

11 Nicknames for Fort Worth

Cowtown

Cowtown is a Fort Worth nickname that can be traced back to the 19th century. It's a commonly known Texas fact that the city was an important territory in the cattle market.

Each year, millions of cows were bought and sold at the city's markets. Many others were transported from Fort Worth, across the state, and further west. Though the cattle market is still alive today, this nickname is mainly used on souvenir items instead of in everyday conversation.

Cultural Capital of the Southwest

In recent years, Fort Worth has earned the nickname of the Cultural Capital of the Southwest. This title has arisen in response to the numerous museums, concerts, and cultural events hosted in the city. In fact, the local Kimbell Art Museum houses the only Michelangelo painting in the US!

However, Fort Worth's culture isn't just defined by its art. Outdoor activities are also a big part of the local way of life. Marion Sansom Park and Eagle Mountain Park are just two places in the city's town limits that allow you to hike and take in nature.

This particular nickname is primarily used in articles discussing current and upcoming events on the Fort Worth social calendar. It's also used on the official Fort Worth tourism website.

Panther City

Fort Worth might be a busy city today, but that hasn't always been the case. In the 19th century, the area struggled to build its economy. This situation was made even worse when railroad companies that promised to lay tracks around Fort Worth no longer had the funds to do so.

In fact, according to legend, Fort Worth's growth slowed down so much that a panther was found sleeping peacefully in the Downtown area since it was so quiet. When this story first began to spread, it inspired locals to prove naysayers wrong. They embraced the Panther City title and worked to make Fort Worth a thriving metropolis.

Soon, business people like Amon Carter were again attracted to the Fort Worth area. Today, this nickname is used in publications, historical texts, and tourist information. The nickname is also commemorated by the multiple panther statues found around the city, which have become beloved Fort Worth landmarks. Pantherville is sometimes also used as a nickname for similar reasons.

Funky Town

The origin of the Funky Town nickname for Fort Worth isn't common knowledge, but it has fascinating origins. According to local publications like the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the origin of this moniker can be traced back to the 1980s and 1990s.

At that time, the city had a thriving music scene. When the song "Funkytown" was released in 1979, people began calling this part of Texas Funky Fort Worth, and eventually Funky Town. Today, the nickname is typically found on souvenir items but also in articles and promotional material for music events.

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Metroplex

The Fort Worth slogan Metroplex showcases the city's relation to the nearby city of Dallas. These two cities are located so close together that they've virtually combined to create a single massive metropolitan area, referred to as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (or DFW Metroplex).

This particular Texas nickname was first created when the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport opened in the 1970s. Since then, it's been used on administrative and informational material of all types to refer to both cities.

Fort Crunk

Fort Crunk is one of Fort Worth's newer nicknames. It likely began to circulate between 1990 and the early 2000s. This is when hip-hop music started to grow in popularity in the area, even inspiring the creation of a subgenre called Southern rap.

As one of the most popular cities for artists in this genre, Fort Worth began to be known as Fort Crunk. This nickname is mostly used regarding the music scene instead of in everyday conversation.

Where the West Begins

Due to Fort Worth's vicinity to bodies of water like the Trinity River, the city was an attractive spot for settlers heading west in the mid-19th century. The line that separated the settled US and the West in 1849 could be found in Texas. Fort Worth was considered one of the first major cities to pop up in the vast and largely unknown territory.

It's likely that the nickname Where the West Begins started circulating around this time. Since then, Fort Worth has fully embraced this title, with western-themed establishments like Billy Bob's Texas opening around the city. The nickname is also used in texts about local history and culture, as well as on souvenir items.

Queen City of the Prairie

Although one of the most famous landmarks in Texas is the Fort Worth Stockyard, there was a time when no cows were found in the area. Before the livestock industry came to this part of the state, Fort Worth was surrounded by prairie land.

The abundance of grassy stretches and wildflowers that surrounded the area helped inspire the nickname Queen City of the Prairie (or the Queen of the Prairies). This nickname isn't used often today, but it can still be found in publications about local history.

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Wall Street of the West

In the early years of the 1900s, Fort Worth had a booming economy. Since so much money was changing hands within the city, it soon became known as the Wall Street of the West.

Notably, this economic prosperity came from the cattle industry, thanks to the Fort Worth Stockyards, which hosted one of the largest livestock markets in the country. This nickname is no longer used in day-to-day conversation but can be found in historical texts and articles.

The Big Juicy

The Big Juicy is one of Fort Worth's lesser-known nicknames, but it's one of the most interesting. The moniker was coined as a result of a 2018 billboard that popped up in the city depicting a man holding a French bulldog while sitting on the hood of a car. Next to the image were the words "Fort Worth Famous Big Juicy."

At first, people were confused as to what the billboard could be advertising. However, it turns out it wasn't an advertisement. It was, instead, meant to be a testament to the love that one man had for his dog. While Big Juicy was the dog's name on the board, it soon spread to be associated with the city as a whole. However, it's mostly just used in conversations among locals.

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Paris of the Plains

Paris of the Plains may make the list of funny Fort Worth nicknames, but it actually has historical roots. In the late 19th century, traffic through the city began to increase thanks to the growing cattle market. As a result, numerous saloons, bars, and music establishments opened to entertain the people passing through the area.

Since the raucous environment that came as a result of these businesses was most often associated with France's capital, Fort Worth became known as the Paris of the Plains. However, this nickname hasn't been used in many years, so it's only found in historical texts.

In Summary

Clearly, Fort Worth is a place with a fascinating history. From the saloons that earned it the name Paris of the Plains to the story behind the moniker the Big Juicy, learning about the city's names can help you get to know the area a little better. So, which of these nicknames do you think you'll start using?

This article was edited by Alli Sewell.

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