The community was established in 1934 as a subsistence homestead project during the Great Depression under the authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act as part of the Subsistence Homesteads Division. The purpose of the homestead program was to help families attain a better standard of living through a combination of part-time industrial employment and subsistence agriculture. Dalworthington Gardens was one of five such projects located in Texas. Its inclusion in group was at the suggestion of Eleanor Roosevelt, who happened upon the area while visiting the Fort Worth family of the woman to whom her and President Roosevelt's son Elliot had become engaged. Of the five sites selected for this program, Dalworthington "colony" as it was originally called, is the only one still in existence today. Since it has been in constant operation from its inception, it maintains its original zoning regulations, which allow subsistence farming and livestock on any lots over one half acre that remain owned and occupied from the time the zoning was first put into effect. Thus, one can see small, older frame homes with livestock on their lot, near and even adjacent to large modern homes with values in excess of one million dollars. The community's name is a portmanteau of the names of the three anchor cities of the Metroplex: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington.
Geography
Dalworthington Gardens is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and, or 1.95%, is water. The town's northern border adjoins Pantego; both towns are completely surrounded by the city of Arlington.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,186 people, 747 households, and 622 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,193.8 people per square mile. There were 765 housing units at an average density of 417.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 89.52% White, 6.08% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 1.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.80% of the population. There were 747 households, out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.5% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.6% were non-families. 13.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.21. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $75,528, and the median income for a family was $95,686. Males had a median income of $62,500 versus $30,978 for females. The per capita income for the city was $41,458. About 0.8% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Public education
Dalworthington Gardens lies within the Arlington Independent School District. Dalworthington Gardens is served by Key Elementary School, Gunn Junior High School, Martin High School, and Arlington High School. In Texas, school district boundaries do not always follow city and county boundaries because all aspects of the school district government apparatus, including school district boundaries, are separated from the city and county government. In the case of Dalworthington Gardens, no Independent School District was ever established. The proximity of the already established Arlington ISD led to the entirety of Dalworthington Gardens being served by the AISD since the middle of the 20th century.
Colleges and universities
There are no colleges or universities are present in this community, however the town lies in proximity to the University of Texas at Arlington. The community is also served by the Tarrant County College district of junior colleges which has campuses located in the surrounding cities.
