By Kennedy Black\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Bluebonnets, steaks cooked medium and feeling a bit too close to the sun: Fort Worth is for nature, Fort Worth is for lovers, and Fort Worth loves who loves her. I\u2019ve bounced around the city throughout my life, experiencing every little bit about what makes her special. From the southside to the westside, through curated farmers markets or garage sales in small neighborhoods, there is always something in this city that appeals to my interests.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fort Worth is an embracing hug that assures you that you are home, even if you are not. The sense of welcome identifies with me the most. Even among strangers, there is a familiar presence. Whether it\u2019s the community walking hand-in-hand during a Juneteenth parade, or groups coming together to dance during a live performance at Sundance Square, the city makes everyone feel like they belong.\u00a0<\/p>\n But while I am boasting about spending the majority of my life in Panther City, for now I have landed in Arlington, Fort Worth\u2019s close relative under the Tarrant County umbrella. A short drive away, Arlington boasts an immense amount of international food options, with authentic eats not even five minutes away from my home.\u00a0<\/p>\n I seemingly have the world at my fingertips one plate at a time. A bistec torta when I need a pick-me-up, level five spicy pho when I\u2019m sick and can\u2019t get out of bed, or fried fish when I\u2019m feeling my roots as a true Southern girl. Cultural impact matters, representation matters and this city does a great job at showing that.<\/p>\n Good eats, aside, my quietly tucked away neighborhood in southeast Arlington offers an island of calm in a bustling city. Year after year, the trees that decorate our yards make for a perfect view of fall foliage, almost as if botanical gardens line our streets. I am continuously reminded that beauty is everywhere, especially when I step onto my front porch.<\/p>\n A blend of these neighboring cities in my day-to-day life are perfect for a mid-20s girl dipping her toes in the big city water. I am spoiled with plentiful options to indulge myself. I can easily access my favorite kinds of shopping, vintage and thrifting, estate sales, or parks filled with trails where I can get lost in my thoughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nothing is more perfect to me than having the freedom of being able to do what I want, when I want.\u00a0<\/p>\n The growing popularity of our area is a no-brainer to me: The expansion of the film industry among cultivated events and experiences keeps the city buzzing with energy. A rich history and culture bolstered by an openness to change allows the city to become a welcoming home for anyone who looks to make it one. I can tell anyone where I\u2019m from with pride because cities like these convince me that I am the luckiest girl in Texas.<\/p>\n Kennedy Black is a student at Texas Wesleyan University and writes about her appreciation for food and culture in the two Tarrant cities she frequents: Arlington and Fort Worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n \nSoutheast Arlington<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n Total population<\/strong>: \u00a0120, 426 Age<\/strong> Education<\/strong><\/p>\n No degree: 12% Race<\/strong> Click on the link to view the schools\u2019 Texas Education Agency ratings:<\/p>\n Arlington Collegiate High School<\/a><\/p>\n Ashworth Elementary School<\/a><\/p>\n Bebensee Elementary School<\/a><\/p>\n Beckham Elementary School<\/a><\/p>\n Bryant Elementary School<\/a><\/p>\n Glenn Harmon Elementary School\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n James Bowie High School<\/a><\/p>\n Ousley Junior High School<\/a><\/p>\n Seguin High School<\/a><\/p>\n
Female: 49% | Male: 51%<\/p>\n
0-9: 14%
10-19: 18%
20-29: 12%
30-39: 15%
40-49: 13%
50-59: 13%
60-69: 11%
70-79: 4%
80 and older: 1%<\/p>\n
High school: 27%
Some college: 26%
Bachelor\u2019s degree: 25%
Post-graduate: 10%<\/p>\n
White: 21% | Hispanic: 24% | Black: 41% | Other: 0% | Two or more: 3%<\/p>\n