Question: Why is Fort Worth sometimes called Panther City?
Answer: The name dates back to 1875, when a Dallas attorney who previously lived in Fort Worth commented that the city was so quiet he saw a panther asleep on a downtown street. While the remark was intended as an insult, residents embraced the panther as a symbol of strength and resilience. The Fort Worth Cats were a successful minor league baseball team for much of the 20th century, and a panther is displayed on the badge of the city’s police department. Since 2002, a sculpture of a sleeping panther has welcomed visitors to downtown Fort Worth near the county courthouse.
