Fort Worth Flood, 1949

On May 17, 1949, the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Fort Worth broke through its levees and spilled floodwaters into the city's commercial, industrial and residential districts. An estimated 11 inches of rain had fallen overnight on the Clear Fork's watershed southwest of the city. As seen here, Fort Worth residents used boats to navigate the intersection of Seventh Street, Camp Bowie Boulevard, Bailey Avenue, and University Drive -- almost a mile north and west of the Clear Fork. The 1949 flood has been termed the worst in Fort Worth history, surpassing landmark floods of 1908 and 1922. Ten people were killed and property damage exceeded $11 million.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, Special Collections, The University of Texas at Arlington