Bird's Fort, Texas

Bird's Fort was a community north of present-day Arlington, Texas (USA).[1][2] In 1841, when John Neely Bryan established Dallas, he invited the settlers at Bird's Fort to come live in his proposed city.[3]

Bird's Fort, Texas
Fort – Garrison
Bird's Fort
Location within Texas
Coordinates: 32°47′56″N 97°5′0″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyTarrant
Built1841
Founded byMajor Jonathan Bird, Fourth Brigade of Texas Militia
Elevation
485 ft (148 m)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)

History

The site was named for Major Jonathan Bird, who established a fort there in September 1841 along the Trinity River, for protection of the settlements along the Texas frontier.[4][5] The garrison was constructed after the battle of Village Creek which occurred on May 24, 1841.[6] Bird's Fort was occupied until March 1842 when the garrison was abandoned due to the threat of a Comanche attack.[7]

The military installation was the site of the 1843 treaty negotiations between tribal Indians and Anglo settlements in the Red River counties.[8]

On August 6, 1843, the ill-fated Snively Expedition was disbanded at Fort Bird.[9]

Bird's Fort was recognized as a Texas historic site in 1936.[1]

County development

Birdville, Texas, (in present-day Haltom City) was the first settlement in Tarrant County and was named after Bird's Fort.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Site of Bird's Fort – Arlington ~ Marker Number: 4731". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. 1936.
  2. "Site of Bird's Fort – Arlington ~ Marker Numer: 4732". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. 1980.
  3. Harper, Cecil, Jr. "Bryan, John Neely". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2006-04-20.
  4. Cutrer, Thomas W.: Fort Bird – TSHA Handbook of Texas
  5. Fort Tour Systems, Inc. – Bird’s Fort
  6. Frazier, Donald S.: Battle of Village Creek – TSHA Handbook of Texas
  7. "The Comanche War" [Native American Relations in Texas], Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas: Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  8. "Treaty Negotiations" [Native American Relations in Texas], Texas State Library and Archives, Austin, Texas: Texas State Library and Archives Commission
  9. Carroll, H. Bailey: Snively Expedition – TSHA Handbook of Texas
  10. Hart, Brian: Birdville, Texas – Handbook of Texas


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