Dalworthington Gardens, Texas
History
The community was established in 1934 as a subsistence homestead project during the Great Depression under the authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act as part of the Subsistence Homesteads Division. The purpose of the homestead program was to help families attain a better standard of living through a combination of part-time industrial employment and subsistence agriculture. Dalworthington Gardens was one of five such projects located in Texas. Its inclusion in the group was at the suggestion of Eleanor Roosevelt, who happened upon the area while visiting the Fort Worth family of the woman to whom the son of her and President Roosevelt, Elliot, had become engaged. Of the five sites selected for this program, Dalworthington "colony" as it was originally called, is the only one still in existence today. Since it has been in constant operation from its inception, it maintains its original zoning regulations, which allow subsistence farming and livestock on any lots over one-half acre that remain owned and occupied from the time the zoning was first put into effect. Thus, one can see small, older frame homes with livestock on their lot, near and even adjacent to large modern homes with values in excess of $1 million. The community's name is a portmanteau of the names of the three anchor cities of the metroplex: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington.
Geography
Dalworthington Gardens is located at 32°41′48″N 97°9′21″W / 32.69667°N 97.15583°W (32.696633, –97.155705).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km), or 1.95%, is covered by water.
The town's northern border adjoins Pantego; both towns are completely surrounded by the city of Arlington.
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 267 | — | |
| 1960 | 430 | 61.0% | |
| 1970 | 757 | 76.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,100 | 45.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,758 | 59.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,186 | 24.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,259 | 3.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,293 | 1.5% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,273 | −0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,625 | 70.87% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 201 | 8.77% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 5 | 0.22% |
| Asian (NH) | 135 | 5.89% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.13% |
| Some other race (NH) | 8 | 0.35% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 87 | 3.79% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 229 | 9.99% |
| Total | 2,293 |
As of the 2020 United States census, 2,293 people, 789 households, and 657 families resided in the city. Its population was 2,259 at the 2010 census.
Politics
Dalworthington Gardens is a largely Republican jurisdiction in modern times, having supported the GOP in the last six presidential elections, and the last seven Texas gubernatorial elections.
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 32.96% 467 | 67.04% 950 | 0.00% 0 |
| 2016 | 26.32% 348 | 68.91% 911 | 4.77% 63 |
| 2012 | 22.48% 305 | 75.76% 1,028 | 1.77% 24 |
| 2008 | 25.09% 352 | 73.98% 1,038 | 0.93% 13 |
| 2004 | 21.58% 311 | 77.10% 1,111 | 1.32% 19 |
| 2000 | 22.66% 261 | 73.96% 852 | 3.39% 39 |
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 31.61% 378 | 67.39% 806 | 1.00% 12 |
| 2018 | 23.52% 294 | 75.28% 941 | 1.20% 15 |
| 2014 | 24.46% 236 | 74.61% 720 | 0.93% 9 |
| 2010 | 22.05% 204 | 74.16% 686 | 3.78% 35 |
| 2006 | 19.83% 190 | 51.36% 492 | 28.81% 276 |
| 2002 | 24.34% 223 | 74.34% 681 | 5.32% 12 |
| 1998 | 17.69% 133 | 81.38% 612 | 0.93% 7 |
Education
Public education
Dalworthington Gardens lies within the Arlington Independent School District. Dalworthington Gardens is served by Key Elementary School, Gunn Junior High School, Martin High School, and Arlington High School.
In Texas, school district boundaries do not always follow city and county boundaries because all aspects of the school district government apparatus, including school district boundaries, are independent from the city and county government. In the case of Dalworthington Gardens, no independent school district was ever established. The proximity of the already established Arlington ISD led to the entirety of Dalworthington Gardens being served by the AISD since the middle of the 20th century.
Colleges and universities
No colleges or universities are located in this community, but the town lies in proximity to the University of Texas at Arlington. The community is also served by the Tarrant County College district of junior colleges, which has campuses located in some surrounding cities.