How Fort Worth became Known as Panther City – Arcane Facts About Texas

Panther City Fountain in Fort Worth.(Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer)

Fort Worth, Texas is a city with a rich history and a colorful past. While it is most commonly known as “Cowtown” due to its long history with the cattle industry, it was once known by another nickname: Panther City. This moniker originated in the late 1800s during a time of economic hardship for Fort Worth.

In 1873, the Texas and Pacific Railroad faced financial difficulties and ceased construction on a line that was set to connect Dallas to Fort Worth. This caused significant hardship for the young city, and by 1875, the population had dwindled to only 1,000 residents.

It was during this time that a Dallas lawyer, Robert Cowart, visited Fort Worth and witnessed a panther lying in the middle of the street near the courthouse. Cowart wrote to the editor of the Dallas Herald about his experience, claiming that Fort Worth was so uneventful that nobody noticed a large predator napping in the middle of downtown. According to the column, the next morning, people took turns pointing out “whar the panter had laid down.”

Rather than accepting the insult from the Dallas paper, Fort Worth’s citizens embraced the nickname and the panther became a symbol of pride. New businesses, from saloons to dry goods stores, opened with the panther name, and Fort Worth even named its first fire engine “Panther.” In 1912, the Fort Worth Police Department added a panther to its badge, and Fort Worth High School adopted the Panthers as its mascot. When minor league baseball came to town, the team was named the Cats.

Fort Worth newspaper publisher B.B. Paddock even purchased two panther cubs, placed them in a circus wagon, and paraded them through downtown Dallas to show off the mighty mascots. Panther City or Pantherville quickly spread as a proud nickname for Fort Worth.

Although the rivalry between Fort Worth and Dallas has lessened somewhat over the years, barbs are still occasionally exchanged between the two cities. But whenever Fort Worth feels slighted, the panther works its way back into the conversation. According to Roark, the nickname Panther City is a badge of honor proudly worn by Fort Worth citizens.

Today, Fort Worth is still known as Cowtown, but the nickname Panther City lives on through various corporations, buildings, and other local references. The story of how Fort Worth turned a mocking insult into a beloved nickname is just one example of the city’s resilience and spirit.