WHITE SETTLEMENT, Texas (AP) — In the 1840s, a village of white pioneers sprang up amid several American Indian encampments. Its name, White Settlement, seemed fitting at the time.

Today, some city leaders argue the name is misleading and politically incorrect, hindering economic development in this 15,000-resident suburb of Fort Worth.
The proposal has angered many residents who believe the change is unnecessary and would cost too much. Signs have popped up in store windows urging folks to “Be Proud! Don’t Let Them Discard the Heritage of White Settlement.
In recent years the city’s sales tax revenues have taken a hit with the departure of several big businesses — including Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores — and some argue the town’s name has prevented new businesses from coming to town to fill the gaps.

“It raises a red flag,” said Grant Jackson, a White Settlement Chamber of Commerce vice president. “Texas has kind of a redneck image, cowboys and everything rough and tough, so a politically incorrect-sounding name is more apt to take wings when it’s part of Texas.”
The city is about 86 percent white, according to 2000 U.S. Census figures. Residents on both sides of the name-change issue say it hasn’t had a reputation for racism.

But some black newcomers say they have felt shunned. New Orleans residents Adrienne Hansberry, her boyfriend, Clarence Goods, and a dozen of their relatives recently were brought to the area after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

“When I heard that we’d be going to White Settlement, I was like, ’I don’t think I want to move there,’ “ Hansberry said. “We are decent citizens, but we haven’t been treated like that.”

Goods said their apartment neighbors — most of them white but also some Hispanics — have been moving out in droves, some in the middle of the night. The couple also said they know of other hurricane refugees of various races who have felt unwelcome in several communities.

If the name change is approved, the city would spend about $25,000 initially to revise the name on police cars, uniforms and legal documents, Mayor James Ouzts said.
In one of the area's most contentious elections Tuesday, voters shot down a proposal to change the city's name to West Settlement. City officials worried that the current name – dating back to when the area was a white settlement surrounded by American Indian villages – could put off some businesses.

"There was such a rabid response from Mr. Price and others, some people who support it decided to let it alone in terms of promoting it," he said. "They'd just as soon not publicly debate those who are against it."

Ouzts said he received hate mail, e-mails, phone calls and verbal threats, both local and long distance, over his support of the name change. Mayor Pro Tem Steve Thompson said he believes his house was egged several times because of his stance on the name change.

Price acknowledges that the election has been heated, but denies that he or other name-change opponents have threatened city leaders.

"That's why you have an election -- so you can vote yes or no," he said. "You don't go out and attack a person or property."

But Ouzts and Price are on the same side on one issue. Both declined offers to appear on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

"I told the lady I considered this a local matter," Ouzts said. "The citizens would make their decision, and I'd live with that. I wasn't interested in debating Mr. Price."

Price agreed.

"I told them I'm not going to let you folks come in and make a joke out of our town," he said. "Our town is serious about this issue, and we don't want to be laughed at."