Tanglewood in Fort Worth Is a Throwback to Calmer Times

By Rick Mauch
Candy’s Dirt Contributor

Tanglewood takes passers-through back in time to a day when kids played outside and yards were well-groomed. This Fort Worth neighborhood near a branch of the Trinity River is relaxed, much like the calming waters nearby, with its streets following the river line.

So pristine is the neighborhood it could serve as a setting in an old Hollywood movie.

The neighborhood’s many trees are one of its most attractive features, highlighted by the shade and green space of Overton Park with its popular bike and walking path. Original development restrictions required single-family homes to be built around existing large trees.

Additional stipulations required single-family homes to be brick or stone and have at least a two-car garage attached to the house. Many homes follow ranch-style architecture.

Tanglewood’s proximity to several transportation corridors, including Chisholm Trail Parkway, also make it desirable. Likewise, highway travel on Interstate 30 and Texas 183 is nearby.

A friendly neighborhood, Tanglewood is known for front yards that are places for social gatherings. Children can be found playing on the sidewalks. Empty-nesters and families with fun-loving children live comfortably side-by-side with something for everyone in a neighborhood that is known for its holiday activities, most notably its Fourth of July parade and Halloween celebrations.

Demographic Data

• Population: Almost 2,200.
• Gender breakdown: 55 percent female, 45 percent males.
• Median age: 38.
• Families: 20 percent of this neighborhood is occupied by families with children, 35 percent single-female families, 20 percent single-male families, and 45 percent couples. The average household size in Tanglewood is 2.1, and the average family size is 2.99.
• Median income: Around $82,000 for a household, around $58,000 for an individual.
• Education: About 98 percent of Tanglewood residents have a high school diploma, 9 percent have completed some college without a degree, 3 percent have an associate degree, 42 percent have a bachelor’s degree, and 34 percent have a master’s and/or doctorate.
• Home types and median price: The neighborhood has various home choices, including single-family and condominiums with a median price of around $970,000.
• Median rent: Just over $1,300 per month.

Source: Zerodown.com

Commute Times by Car

• Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, 30 minutes.
• Love Field Airport, 40 minutes.
• Downtown Dallas, 40 minutes.
• Downtown Fort Worth, 10 minutes.

Source: Compass.com

Boundaries

• East to West Simondale Drive to South Hulen Street.
• North to South Hartwood Drive plus Mockingbird Lane to Bellaire Drive South.
• Nearby neighborhoods are Overton Woods, Colonial Hills, Park Hill, River Hills, and Stonegate.

Schools

• Tanglewood is served by some highly honored schools, including:
• Tanglewood Elementary: One of the highest-rated public schools in the state, rated 10 out of 10 stars by Great Schools.
• Texas Academy of Biomedical, likewise, received a 10 out of 10 rating from Great Schools.
• The neighborhood is also served by highly regarded schools such as Stripling Middle School, McLean Middle School, and Paschal High School, and, of course, TCU is nearby for a quality college education.

Recreation

• Overton Park: the linear north-south oriented park of nearly 50 acres that was built in 1959, spans a creek that feeds into the Clear Fork of the Trinity. It connects to Foster Park at its southern end. The north end has tennis courts, and almost 2 miles of multi-use trails along its length, ideal for bicycling and walking.
• Colonial Country Club: home to one of pro golf’s more popular stops each year.
• Worth Hills Golf Course is also popular with the residents.

Culture and Entertainment

• Texas Christian University athletics on the TCU campus.
• Fort Worth Zoo: ranked as the No. 2 zoo in America by USA Today.
• The museum district is a short drive away.
• Shopping/dining: The area has an abundance of small boutiques, and mom-and-pop eateries, alongside major chain restaurants, and grocery stores such as Whole Foods. Also, the popular Hulen Mall and The Shops at Clear Fork are nearby.

History

• Tanglewood is an affluent and close-knit community, with mostly newer homes built after the mid-1950s. When the area was originally developed from farm and ranch land, it was with the stipulation that homes must be constructed of brick or stone, and that no cows, horses, or other livestock would be allowed on the property after development. Today, the neighborhood vibe is low-key and relaxed, with the river forming part of its boundary and creek and parkland bisecting developed homesites.

Crime

• Tanglewood is one of the safest of all Fort Worth neighborhoods, another reason it is highly sought after by families. The crime rate in the area overall is 36 percent below the rest of Fort Worth (according to movoto.com) and among the 7 percent of safest communities in the entire state of Texas.