Arlington, Texas has benefited from a number of factors: prime location, temperate climate, and a “can-do” attitude shared by the generations of people who pioneered and settled the area.
From its earliest days to the present, Arlington has also benefited from forward thinking and dynamic leadership. The Hall of Mayors gives you a glimpse of some of the mayors who stepped forth to take their place in Arlington's history.
The mayors who first served this western town, situated between Fort Worth and Dallas, were:
- *Carver D. King 1876 to 1881
- *M.J. Brinson 1881 to 1884
- George W. Finger 4/15/1884 to 3/10/1885
- *E.E. Rankin 3/10/1885 to 4/10/1885
- Robert George 4/10/1885 to 3/9/1886
- George W. Finger 3/9/1886 to 12/10/1889
In the 1890s, 415 people were added to the population, bringing the total to 1,079. Mineral water was discovered at Center and Main, and the community was well established. Cotton and grain became major exports and established a base for community growth.
- *M.J. Brinson 12/10/1889 to 7/14/1891
- Willis Timmerman 7/14/1891 to 5/10/1892
- Nicholas K. Grove 5/10/1892 to 9/12/1893
- Willis Timmerman 9/12/1893 to 1/10/1899
- *Carver D. King 1/10/1899 to 3/8/1900
Arlington's first bank and public school opened and the Interurban trolley was introduced and served to connect the City with Dallas and Fort Worth. Our city's population grew to 1,794.
- *W.C. Weeks 3/8/1900 to 4/10/1902
- *Thomas B. Collins 4/10/1902 to 4/14/1904
- *T.G. Bailey 4/14/1904 to 4/12/1906
- *W.C. Weeks 4/12/1906 to 2/11/1909
- *James Park Fielder Sr. 2/11/1909 to 4/8/1909
- *Dr. William Harold Davis 4/8/1909 to 4/10/1910
World War I broke out in 1910, and although construction slowed because building materials were scarce, growth continued. Commerce centered on the old mineral well. Our population grew to 3,031 during the 1910s.
- *Alton C. Barnes 4/10/1910 to 4/11/1912
- *Dr. Rufus H. Greer 4/11/1912 to 4/11/1914
- *P.F. McKee 4/11/1914 to 4/9/1915
- *Dr. Rufus H. Greer 4/9/1915 to 5/19/1916
- *Dr. Rufus H. Greer (Ref. News) 5/19/1916 to 10/1/1919
The City annexed 1,289 acres in the 1920s, and with the Roaring Twenties, our population tripled.
- *William H. Rose 10/1/1919 to 5/16/1923
- *William Green Hiett 5/19/1923 to 4/7/1925
- *Hugh M. Moore 4/7/1925 to 5/3/1926
- *Elmer L. Taylor 5/3/1926 to 4/19/1927
- *William Green Hiett 4/19/1927 to 4/21/1931
Arlington's first hospital opened its doors near Center and Border Streets. Sadly, the Interurban, Arlington's first public transportation, ceased operation in 1934. During the 1940s, Arlington's population grew to 7,692.
- *John H. Pilant 4/21/1931 to 4/4/1933
- *W.L. Barrett 4/4/1933 to 4/2/1935
- *Wylie F. Altman 4/2/1935 to 4/1/1947
- *B.C. Barnes 4/1/1937 to 4/3/1951
1950 was a banner decade. Our population grew to 44,775. General Motors moved to town and historic Lake Arlington filled in an incredible seven days. The Dallas-Fort Worth Toll Road, which is now IH-30, opened in 1957.
- *Tom J. Vandergriff 4/3/1951 to 1/11/1977
The 60s saw the introduction of professional baseball to our community. Turnpike Stadium opened in 1965 with the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs hosting America's favorite pastime. Six Flags Over Texas opened, as did the Forum Mall. The Texas Rangers opened the 1970s in an expanded Arlington Stadium. DFW Airport opened, and growth in our city escalated. The next twenty years would see our population break the 300,000 barrier. The Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994 and hosted the 66th Annual Major League All-Star Game in 1995.
- *S.J. Stovall 1/18/1977 to 4/12/1983
- *Harold Patterson 4/12/1983 to 4/4/1987
- *Richard Greene 4/4/1987 to 5/6/1997
- *Elzie Odom 5/6/1997 to 5/3/2003
- *Dr. Robert Cluck 5/3/2003 to 5/19/2015
- *W. Jeff Williams 5/20/2015 to present
* Indicates portrait has been installed in Hall of Mayors.
Of note: The Hall of Mayors currently displays a continuous photographic history of mayors since 1889.
Click on each mayor to learn more.