In the early history of Fort Worth Texas one area of Downtown Fort Worth was known as Hell's Half Acre. This location was one of the most notorious high crime Red Light District. Hell's Half Acre started during the city's heyday as a stop for cowboys taking cattle to Kansas in the early 1870s. As the Half Acre became more popular the area covered more than two acres and the level of crime and violence also grew. It wasn't until a Baptist Preacher named J. Frank Norris in 1911 began to link certain businessmen with property in the Acre and he announced their names from the pulpit at the First Baptist Church in Fort Worth. As the battle against Hell's Half Acres heated up in 1912, Norris's church was burned to the ground.  Norris continued the attacks on the Acre but accomplished little until 1917 and Camp Bowie was located on the outskirts of Fort Worth to train troops for World War One. A new city administration and the Federal Government joined forces with Norris and martial law was brought to bear against prostitutes and barkeepers of the Acre.

Some of the more famous people to frequent Hell's Half Acre were Sam Bass, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The area when Hell's Half Acre is now in the Business District of Downtown Fort Worth near the Tarrant County Convention Center.