By Doug Wilhelm
My wife, Susan, and I moved to Fort Worth in January 2016. This move was a relocation within my company and an exciting opportunity we decided to pursue, although it meant leaving our longtime home in southern New Jersey, located just across the river from Philadelphia. It was a place where we met, got married and raised two sons over almost three decades.
In our house hunting quest, we knew we wanted to live somewhere close to the city center so we could easily take advantage of all Fort Worth had to offer. We narrowed our search to the Monticello neighborhood and, 10 years on, we couldn’t be happier with our decision.
Monticello is a unique neighborhood where original 1930s‑era homes of all sizes blend with modern construction, creating a charming juxtaposition of old and new.
Within our block live retirees, working professionals, young families with children and students from nearby UNT Health Fort Worth. Pet walkers and joggers are a constant presence on the sidewalks, creating a sense of community connectedness. We sometimes refer to the neighborhood as our respite from the bustle that surrounds us.
Within walking distance of our home are Fort Worth’s three world-class museums, the Will Rogers Memorial Center, Dickies Arena, several excellent restaurants and a coffee shop that just opened right around the corner.
Other attractions are a short drive away, including Casa Mañana Theatre, Camp Bowie Boulevard’s shops and restaurants, Sundance Square and, of course, the Stockyards — where we always take visiting family and friends for a true Texas experience! All are accessible without having to utilize a major highway.
Golf is a passion of ours, and we play frequently at Rockwood Park and Hawks Creek Golf Club, which are both just minutes away.
We’ve been fortunate to have met some dear friends through Monticello neighborhood social groups. Friends who have enriched our lives by inviting us to church and to join community organizations. Friends with whom we enjoy finding new restaurants to try in our ever-changing corner of Fort Worth.
Now retired, Susan and I plan to stay in Monticello. On walks, we marvel at the picturesque views of the city that reveal themselves through the trees, especially when a fiery sunset lights up the skyline. We often remark how fortunate we are to have found such a wonderful place to live in our adopted hometown.
Doug Wilhelm is a documenter with the Fort Worth Report and is a retired defense industry executive.
Monticello
Total population: 2,132
Female: 57% | Male: 43%
Age
0-9: 12%
10-19: 0%
20-29: 25%
30-39: 19%
40-49: 8%
50-59: 10%
60-69: 16%
70-79: 8%
80 and older: 2%
Education
No degree: 2%
High school: 7%
Some college: 13%
Bachelor’s degree: 43%
Post-graduate: 36%
Race
White: 76% | Black: 2% | Hispanic: 9% | Asian: 12% | Two or more: 0%
Click on the link to view the schools’ Texas Education Agency ratings:
Source: Census Reporter
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