Name change left to White Settlement voters City may shed history to become West Settlement 08:23 AM CDT on Friday, October 14, 2005 Democrats: The Party of rest 1089Jim Alder Hmmm. 40 year old traffic accident. Reminds me of you slimey right wing f***s talking about Ted Kennedy's accident. Noble Republicans do it... By STELLA M. CH=C1VEZ The Dallas Morning News White Settlement Mayor James O. Ouzts says the city's name has turned off potential new residents and businesses. Now, with the city falling on hard economic times, voters will decide whether to change White Settlement to West Settlement, a name more inviting to outsiders. "One of the first things they say is 'What's up with the name?' " Mr. Ouzts said. "They have a negative perception, and you have to try to overcome that. You expend a tremendous amount of energy trying to explain the name." He said the possibility of a name change - which has been turned down by residents before - came up again last year when City Council members and economic development officials met to discuss the city's economic state. Retailers like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club will leave the city next year. Home Depot recently left. The name change was one of several suggestions made - such as tightening building codes - to make the city more attractive to new businesses and future residents. Council member Dewayn Cash said that a committee decided the issue should be left to the voters on Nov. 8 as Proposition 1 in a city charter election. "There's a lot of people who did not want the name change and a lot of people who did want the name change," he said, adding that many people misunderstand what the name means. "Our name has nothing to do with racism," he said. "It's really heritage." According to the city's Web site, the name dates back to the early days of the Republic of Texas. At the time, many white pioneers moved to the area near American Indian settlements. In 1849, the War Department built a small fort, called Fort Worth, at the confluence of the Clear and West Forks of the Trinity River. "This led to the development of two settlements, one occupied by white settlers and another encompbutting a grouping of seven villages occupied by Native Americans. Thus, the name White Settlement was coined," the Web site adds. West Settlement was chosen for a replacement because the city is on the west side of Fort Worth, and it's a nickname people sometimes use, Mr. Cash said. Online at: 5dnmetwhitesettlement.1d1b090e.html
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