Fort Worth, is the mighty state of Texas, is nicknamed Cowtown. The city revels in its role as the gateway to the West. The mythic qualities of the American West - great unfilled spaces and even grander dreams - are still palpable here.

Fort Worth began as a frontier army town in the Republic of Texas in the mid-19th century, assigned with protecting settlers from Native American attacks. The fort then became a bustling town when it became a stop along the legendary Chisholm Trail, the dusty path where millions of cattle were driven North to market. Fort Worth became the center of the cattle drives, and later, the ranching industry. The hey day of the cattle drives was the wild era of "Hell's Half Acre," an area of town filled with gambling parlors, saloons, and dance halls.

Fort Worth had become a wealthy city, a cow town to be reckoned with. The rise of the oil business in West Texas bolstered Fort Worth's commercial prospects, and oil fortunes replaced the cattle-ranching riches. Today, the city remains economically prosperous.

Easygoing Fort Worth has lived in the shadow of Dallas, its brash cousin to the east. Yet one gets the feeling that others' perceptions of their city as second-class don't matter much to Fort Worth natives. The city exudes a quiet confidence, reserve, and sense of comfort that are often missing in Big D, making it an attractive place to settle for many people.