It makes sense that Dallas/Fort Worth would be an incredible seat of diversity of all kinds; after all, it started that way. The Dallas/Fort Worth area was originally home to the indigenous Caddo Nation before being colonized by the Spanish and later also the French. It became the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas after Mexico achieved independence from Spain, and was briefly its own nation, the Republic of Texas, after declaring its independence from Mexico and before becoming part of the US. Today, all of these historical presences remain in Dallas/Fort Worth in one way or another, as well as many more that have come to Dallas/Fort Worth by way of its many transportation inroads.
Dallas/Fort Worth’s Diverse Communities
Dallas is home to a melting pot of people from all over the world, from immigrants from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, new influxes of residents from Russia and Eastern European nations, a vibrant Latino community and many more ethnic and cultural communities living in harmony. The city prospers as a multilingual, multitudinous community, with signage, newspapers, churches, schools and events that celebrate the city’s diversity.
Fort Worth has been called Pantherville and Cowtown but it’s residents are still proud of its sometimes, rough-and-ready Western past. Fort Worth has taken a contemporary turn into the present as an energetic, progressive cultural center. Sundance Square is named after the legendary Sundance Kid who painted the town in the late 1800’s with Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch.
Religious Communities Coexisting Together
One aspect of life in Dallas/Fort Worth in which the metro area’s diverse communities can really be seen is in its religious and faith-based life. Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical and Presbyterian churches are all prominent, and prison ministry is also very active in Dallas. The Catholic Church also has a significant presence in Dallas, with the city of Dallas and Dallas County having more Catholic than Protestant residents, whereas the suburbs of Dallas including Fort Worth have more Protestant residents. Dallas’s Jewish population is the largest of any city in Texas, and the Jewish community has a strong history in the city, with the first Jewish cemetery dating back to 1854. The Church of Latter-Day Saints has a sizable community in Dallas as well, with the first Temple being built in 1983. The LDS Church now has seventeen stakes throughout Dallas/ForthWorth and its suburbs. Dallas is also home to many Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhists who are active in worship and community service throughout the area. Whatever your faith is, Fort Worth’s Downtown area is filled with several worship locations for you and your entire family. Methodist, First Christian, Baptist, Catholic and Assembly of God are just a few of the many prominent churches located there. The Dallas/Fort Worth area is also welcoming to the atheist and agnostic community, with a Winter SolstiCelebration for people who aren’t religious but would like to celebrate in community with others. Thanks-Giving Square promotes a space for giving thanks irrespective of specific religious faith, with a chapel, meditation garden and an interfaith Festival of Faiths in December.
A diverse city is a healthy and strong one, with people from a range of backgrounds, histories, cultures and approaches working together to create a place to live that’s safe, dynamic and economically strong.