By Mesia Davis
I’ve lived in the John T. White community of east Fort Worth since 1996. I relocated from the nearby Woodhaven neighborhood when a builder started constructing homes off Sandy Lane.
Although I wasn’t old enough to drive at the time, the ride from Loop 820 heading east on John T. White Road was still fields of dreams, with a corner store, three apartment complexes, a cemetery and a few residences. I remember seeing a baby fox cross the field of what is now Leadership Academy at John T. White Elementary School.
Now, there are three communities and a retail store along that stretch of road. It is a blessing to have lived long enough to say, “I remember when. …”
Before the Interstate 30/Interstate 820 Loop was completed in 1991, we would illegally cross the grass to reach the John T. White exit! That patch of real estate now boasts a convenience store where local police officers meet up and gas up, as well as a sprawling U-Haul hub.
Remember when the Walmart Supercenter moved from Mandy Lane to Anderson Boulevard? I do!
Seeing this growth has been really cool, and I appreciate how it continues to come along steadily, yet not too fast.
Why do I love our community? Because it is still full of nature and has the best access to travel throughout northeast Tarrant County. It is a solid representation of the diversity of Fort Worth.
On any given day, you might see a Nextdoor update that the cattle have gotten out of our neighbor’s fence because, of course, there are ranches along the Trinity River. And you’ll see replies of people wanting to know how they can help wrangle them back home.
The hills offer views to downtown Fort Worth, North Richland Hills, Hurst and even Arlington.
We have immediate access to Loop 820 and Interstate 30, with a short drive to reach Highway 121 or Highway 183. The roads keep us in the loop, yet out of the worst of traffic.
I see residents of all ages and in all stages of life, with varying education and income levels, as well as religious and political beliefs. Within those differences are a community of people who work together to help their neighbors or a stranger passing through.
I look forward to what is next in John T. White.
Mesia Davis is a real estate agent in North Texas.
John T. White
Total population: 5,904
Female: 52% | Male: 48%
Age
0-9: 10%
10-19: 14%
20-29: 14%
30-39: 14%
40-49: 13%
50-59: 19%
60-69: 8%
70-79: 7%
80 and older: 1%
Education
No degree: 7%
High school: 26%
Some college: 33%
Bachelor’s degree: 23%
Post-graduate: 11%
Race
White: 16% | Black: 58% | Hispanic: 18% | Asian: 7% | Two or more: 1%
Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:
Note: Census data is for one census tract, not the neighborhood.
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