Benbrook, Texas

Benbrook is a city located in the southwestern corner of Tarrant County, Texas, in Texas's 12th congressional district, and a suburb of Fort Worth. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 21,234, reflecting an increase of 1,026 from the 20,208 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 644 from the 19,564 counted in the 1990 Census.

Geography

Benbrook is a suburb of Fort Worth located at 32°41′5″N 97°27′24″W / 32.68472°N 97.45667°W / 32.68472; -97.45667 (32.684658, -97.456692).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²); 11.5 square miles (29.8 km²) of it is land and 0.69 square miles (1.8 km²) of it is water. The total area is 5.63 percent water, and the primary body of water is Benbrook Lake, formed in 1952 after the construction of Benbrook Dam by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which began in May 1947.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,208 people, 8,599 households, and 5,778 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,764.5 people per square mile (681.4/km²). There were 8,914 housing units at an average density of 778.3 per square mile (300.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.30 percent White, 4.42 percent African American, 0.50 percent Native American, 2.14 percent Asian, 0.04 percent Pacific Islander, 2.71 percent from other races, and 1.87 percent from two or more races. 6.96 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Benbrook Lake

Benbrook Lake (also known as Benbrook Reservoir) is a reservoir on the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Tarrant County, Texas, USA. The lake is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of the center of Fort Worth, where the Clear Fork and the West Fork of the Trinity River join. The lake is impounded by the Benbrook Dam. The lake and dam are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District.

History

Significant flooding on the Trinity River during May 1908, April 1922 and September 1936, was a primary cause for the development of Corps of Engineers flood control projects in North Texas.

Benbrook Dam and Lake were built by the Galveston District of the Corps of Engineers. During the decade of active civil works construction following World War II, the U.S. Congress provided for the construction of Benbrook Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lavon Lake and Ray Roberts Lake as well as modifications to the existing Garza Dam for the construction of Lewisville Lake. The River & Harbors Act of 1945 authorized these projects for the purposes of both flood control and navigation. These lakes and others, along with an extensive floodway system of levees, are operated in a coordinated manner to minimize flooding along the Trinity River floodplain corridor in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.