As a community, Benbrook is one of the oldest in Tarrant County. But as an incorporated City, it is one of the youngest.
In 1980, the City had a total population of 13,579 people. In 1981, an election to merge the City with the Benbrook Water & Sewer Authority failed. The City experienced a tremendous building boom between 1974 and 1985, with a 90 percent increase in the number of single family houses built and a 40-fold increase in the number of multifamily dwelling units built. A bond election in 1985 approved funds for a police station, streets and drainage improvements. However, building activity had slowed considerably in the last half of the 1980s. The Benbrook Area Chamber of Commerce was created in 1986.
By 1990, the City's population had reached 19,564 and the number of businesses had grown to over 400. However, the large majority of workers in Benbrook worked elsewhere. In 1991, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission recommended the closure of Carswell Air Force Base and realignment as a Naval Reserve Center. The Air Force Base officially closed in December 1993. In March 1993, Lockheed Corporation purchased the General Dynamics Aircraft Plant. In September 1997, voters approved a $8 million bond issue for streets, drainage, and an indoor community recreation center. Also in 1997, the community constructed the Castle Park Playground using volunteer labor and donated materials.