Dallas

Dallas is a big city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is in the northern part of the state and is the ninth-most populous city in the whole country, with about 1.3 million people living there according to the 2020 census.

Dallas works together with the nearby city of Fort Worth to form the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, which is the fourth-most populous area in the United States and has over 8.5 million people.

The city grew because of major railroad lines that helped move cotton, cattle, and later oil. Today, Dallas is an important place for transportation, with many highways and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world. The city is also a strong center for finance, technology, and many other industries. Many big companies have offices in Dallas, and there are also lots of colleges and universities nearby. People from many different backgrounds live in the city, making it a colorful and lively place.

History

Main article: History of Dallas

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Dallas.

Indigenous tribes such as the Caddo, Tawakoni, Wichita, Kickapoo, and Comanche lived in North Texas. Spanish colonists claimed Texas in the 1700s as part of New Spain. Later, France also claimed the area but did not settle much there. Over time, the area was governed by France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States, and finally the United States.

In 1839, John Neely Bryan chose a spot near the Trinity River to start a settlement called Dallas. The city was officially founded in 1856. With the arrival of railroads, Dallas grew into a busy trading center. By the early 1900s, it became an important industrial city. During World War II, Dallas made many military vehicles and airplanes.

Geography

Dallas is located in the Southern United States, in North Texas. It is the main city in Dallas County, with some parts in nearby counties like Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall. The city has many neighborhoods and areas.

Dallas has many tall buildings, including some that are very high. The city's oldest buildings are from the late 1800s and early 1900s, but many famous buildings are from later styles. Popular areas in Dallas include Downtown, Oak Lawn, Uptown, and others.

The land in Dallas is mostly flat, with some higher areas near the Trinity River. The river runs through the city and helps with flood control. There are also several lakes around Dallas, such as White Rock Lake and Bachman Lake, which people use for fun activities.

Dallas has hot summers and mild winters. The city can have severe weather, including thunderstorms and tornadoes, especially in the spring. The weather can change quickly, with warm days followed by cooler temperatures.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Dallas

Dallas is the ninth-most-populous city in the United States and third in Texas after the cities of Houston and San Antonio. Its area holds a lot of people, and it is the biggest in the Southern U.S. and Texas. At the 2020 United States census the city of Dallas had 1,304,379 residents. There were 524,498 households at the 2020 estimates.

Dallas has many different kinds of people. It has people from many backgrounds and countries.

Race and ethnicity

Dallas used to have mostly White people, but now it has many different groups. In 2010, about half the people were White, almost a quarter were Black or African American, and many were of Hispanic or Latino American origin.

The Dallas area is a home for many Mexican Americans and other Hispanic and Latino American immigrants. It is also a home for many Black and African Americans. There are also people from places like Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

There are also people who speak Russian, and many Asian Americans including those of Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Japanese, and other heritages.

Religion

The most common religion in Dallas is Christianity. There are many different Christian groups, including Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian.

Dallas also has many Catholic Church members. There are also Jewish people, a large Muslim community, and Buddhist communities. There are temples and centers for many of these groups.

Economy

See also: List of companies in Dallas, Texas Stock Exchange, and List of shopping malls in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex

Dallas began as a small town where people farmed and traded. In 1873, trains were built through the city, which helped it grow. Cotton became very important, and by 1900, Dallas was the biggest place to buy and sell cotton in the world. It also made machines to clean cotton.

In the early 1900s, Dallas became a busy place for business across the Southern United States. In 1914, it became an important spot for money and banking. Oil was found nearby in the 1930s, which helped Dallas become a center for oil trading. After World War II, many companies moved there, especially ones that made communication tools and other important machines.

Today, Dallas is known for many big companies, especially in technology and telecommunications. It’s often called the heart of “Silicon Prairie” because so many technology and phone companies are there. Big names like Texas Instruments and AT&T have offices in Dallas.

Dallas has many big companies. As of 2022, the Dallas–Fort Worth area had 23 Fortune 500 companies. Some of these include AT&T, Energy Transfer Equity, CBRE, Tenet Healthcare, and Southwest Airlines. Other nearby cities like Irving, Plano, and Fort Worth also have important companies.

Dallas is also famous for its shopping. It has more shopping centers than any other city in the United States. Two big malls, the Dallas Galleria and NorthPark Center, are popular with both locals and visitors.

Dallas is a top place for business travel in the United States. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center is one of the biggest in the country. Tourism is also important, with Dallas welcoming many visitors each year and providing many jobs.

Arts and culture

The Arts District in the northern part of Downtown Dallas has many art spaces close together. Important places include the Dallas Museum of Art, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center home to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Wind Symphony, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, also in Downtown Dallas, shows natural history and science exhibits. It was designed by architect Thom Mayne and has six floors and stands about 14 stories tall.

Venues in the AT&T Dallas Center for the Performing Arts include Moody Performance Hall, the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, and the Winspear Opera House.

Deep Ellum, east of Downtown, became famous in the 1920s and 1930s for jazz and blues music. Today, it is full of artists, bars, pubs, and concert spots.

Dallas has an Office of Cultural Affairs that supports local artists, theaters, public art projects, and a city-owned classical radio station.

Libraries

The city has the Dallas Public Library system. It was started by the Dallas Federation of Women's Clubs. Today, it has 30 branches. One of the largest is the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Downtown.

Places of interest

Dallas has many fun places to visit. Some well-known spots include the Adolphus Hotel, American Airlines Center, the Arts District, the AT&T Performing Arts Center, the Bishop Arts District, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas Baptist University, the Dallas Chamber Symphony, the Dallas Hilton (the world’s first modern Hilton), the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education & Tolerance, the Dallas Municipal Building, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas World Aquarium, the Dallas Zoo, Fair Park, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Frontiers of Flight Museum, Galleria Dallas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Highland Park Village, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, the Meadows Museum, the Neiman Marcus Building, NorthPark Center, Pioneer Plaza, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Reunion Tower, Ronald Kirk Bridge, the Southern Methodist University, Southfork Ranch, the Texas School Book Depository, the Texas Theatre, Thanks-Giving Square, the Trinity River Audubon Center, Two Bit Circus, White Rock Lake, and the House of Blues.

Cuisine

Dallas is well-known for its barbecue, real Mexican food, and Tex-Mex cooking. A Dallas restaurant owner invented the frozen margarita machine in 1971.

Events

The State Fair of Texas happens every year at Fair Park since 1886. The Red River Shootout football game between the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Oklahoma also takes place in Dallas. Other events include Cinco de Mayo celebrations, a Saint Patrick's Day parade, Juneteenth festivities, Taste of Dallas, the Deep Ellum Arts Festival, the Greek Food Festival of Dallas, Halloween events, and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Sports

Downtown Dallas has two big sports teams: the Dallas Mavericks (basketball) and the Dallas Stars (hockey). Nearby Arlington has the Dallas Cowboys (football), Texas Rangers (baseball), and Dallas Wings (women’s basketball). FC Dallas (soccer) plays in Frisco. Dallas also has many other sports teams, including minor league hockey, football, indoor soccer, rugby, and Australian rules football.

Parks and recreation

Dallas has many beautiful parks and places to play. The city has 406 parks spread over 21,000 acres. These parks have 17 lakes, including White Rock and Bachman lakes. There are also 61.6 miles of trails for biking and jogging, such as the Katy Trail. The city has many places for people to play sports, swim, and have fun, with lots of playgrounds, courts, and fields.

One of the most famous parks is Fair Park. It was built in 1936 and has many old and beautiful buildings. Fair Park is where the State Fair of Texas happens every year. It is the biggest state fair in the United States.

Another popular spot is Klyde Warren Park. It is built above a road and connects different parts of the city. It has places to play games, walk, and even a children’s area. There are also food trucks and many events like yoga and Zumba.

The Dallas Zoo opened in 1888. It is the first and largest zoo in Texas and covers 106 acres.

Government

Main article: Government of Dallas

See also: Mayor of Dallas

Dallas has a special kind of government called council-manager. This means there is a mayor and a group of people called council members who help make decisions. There is also a city manager who helps run the city’s everyday activities.

In recent years, Dallas has had some interesting political changes. Even though most people in Dallas usually support one political party, the city’s mayor recently decided to support another party. This shows how politics in Dallas can change over time.

Education

Main article: Education in Dallas

Dallas has many schools! There are public schools, private schools, colleges, and libraries in the city. The Dallas–Fort Worth area is also home to six Nobel Laureates.

Colleges and universities

Further information: List of colleges and universities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex

The Dallas area has many colleges and universities. The following describes some of the universities and their location to the city:

The Texas Legislature defines all areas in Dallas County and in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District as being in the service area of Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College District or DCCCD). Areas in Collin County are assigned to Collin College.

Colleges and universities within Dallas city limits

• UT Southwestern Medical Center ("UTSW") is a well-known medical center north of downtown Dallas in the Southwestern Medical District. It is part of the University of Texas System.
• Texas Woman's University has a nursing school in Dallas at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
• Paul Quinn College is a private college in southeast Dallas. It moved to Dallas in 1990 and is the only historically black college in Dallas.
• The University of North Texas at Dallas is along Houston School Road. It became the first public university within Dallas city limits in 2009.
• Dallas Baptist University is a private university in southwest Dallas. It moved to Dallas in 1965 and has over 5,600 students.
• Dallas Theological Seminary is one of the leading seminaries. It has over 2,000 students and many graduates.
• Criswell College is near Dallas Theological Seminary. It was started by First Baptist Church of Dallas in the early 1970s.
• Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College District) has seven campuses throughout the area.

Colleges and universities within Dallas County

• Southern Methodist University is a private university in University Park. It was founded in 1911 by the Southern Methodist Church.
• The University of Texas at Dallas is part of the University of Texas System. It is in the city of Richardson, about 15 miles north of Downtown Dallas.
• The University of Dallas is in the suburb of Irving.
• Located in Downtown Dallas, El Centro College is the main college of the Dallas County Community College District. It opened in 1966 and now has over 10,000 students.

University Research Center

• Texas A&M-Dallas Research and Extension Center

Other area colleges and universities

• The University of Texas at Arlington
• The University of North Texas in Denton
• Texas Woman's University in Denton
• Tarleton State University in Fort Worth
• University of Phoenix in Dallas, Irving, Plano, Arlington, Hurst, and Cedar Hill
• Dallas Christian College in Farmers Branch
• Arlington Baptist College
• Collin College in Collin County
• Remington College in Garland
• Remington College in Fort Worth
• Texas Christian University
• Texas Wesleyan University
• University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
• Austin College in Sherman
• East Texas A&M University in Commerce
• Southwestern Assemblies of God University in nearby Waxahachie
• Navarro College in Corsicana
• Tarrant County College in Tarrant County

Primary and secondary schools

Most areas in Dallas are within the Dallas Independent School District, the 12th-largest school district in the United States and second largest in Texas.

Some parts of Dallas are in other school districts in Dallas County, including Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Coppell, Duncanville, Garland, Highland Park, Irving, Mesquite, and Richardson. Parts of Dallas in Collin County are in Plano ISD, and parts in Denton County are in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD.

Many students from Dallas attend private schools in Dallas and nearby areas, including:

• Alcuin School
• Bishop Dunne Catholic School
• Bishop Lynch High School
• Greenhill School in nearby Addison
• Episcopal School of Dallas
• First Baptist Academy of Dallas
• The Hockaday School
• Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas
• June Shelton School
• Lakehill Preparatory School
• The Lamplighter School
• Parish Episcopal School in nearby Farmers Branch
• St. Mark's School of Texas
• Trinity Christian Academy in nearby Addison
• Ursuline Academy of Dallas
• The Winston School

Media

Dallas has many local newspapers, magazines, television stations, and radio stations. The area is one of the biggest media markets in the United States. The main daily newspaper is The Dallas Morning News, which started in 1885.

There are other newspapers, like Al Día, which is in Spanish, and several weeklies and community papers. Magazines such as D Magazine cover life and entertainment in the area.

The area has many television stations linked to major networks, such as KDFW 4 (Fox) and KXAS 5 (NBC). Over 101 radio stations can be tuned in around Dallas, including WRR 101.1 FM, which plays classical music.

See also: Newspapers of Dallas, Texas; List of radio stations in Texas; List of television stations in Texas § Dallas/Fort Worth; List of movies set in Dallas, Texas; and List of television shows set in Dallas

Infrastructure

Public safety

The Dallas Police Department helps keep Dallas safe. Their main office is in the Cedars neighborhood in the southern part of the city.

Emergency medical services and fire protection are provided by the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department. They have a museum called the Dallas Firefighter's Museum, built in 1907. There is also an old fire station from 1892 that is still standing.

Health care

Dallas has many hospitals and important medical research centers. One big research center is the Dallas Medical District, which includes UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital, among others.

The city also has a hospital for veterans and several other hospitals in different parts of Dallas.

Utilities

Dallas gets its water from several reservoirs and has waste treatment plants. Different companies provide electricity, such as Stream Energy, Cirro Energy, and Oncor Electric Delivery.

The city offers weekly garbage pickup and recycling. Telephone, internet, and cable TV services are provided by companies like AT&T, Spectrum, and Verizon FiOS.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Dallas

In Dallas, most people drive cars to get around. But the city is trying to give people other ways to travel, like light rail, biking paths, wide sidewalks, a trolley, and buses.

Dallas has many big roads called interstates that help people move around the city and to nearby places. There are also smaller roads and freeways that connect different parts of the city.

Dallas has two big airports: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field. DFW Airport is very large and busy. Love Field is where Southwest Airlines is based.

Dallas has a public transport system called DART. It includes light rail, buses, and special lanes for cars with many passengers. The light rail has many stations and lines that connect different parts of the city, making it easier for people to travel without cars.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Dallas

Dallas has been home to many famous people. These individuals helped shape the city's culture and history.

International relations

Dallas works with cities around the world to build strong friendships. These partnerships help bring people together and support culture and business.

Sister cities

Dallas has sister cities including:

• Brno, Czech Republic
• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
• Dijon, France
• Kolkata, India
• Monterrey, Mexico
• Riga, Latvia
• Saratov, Russia (ties suspended in 2022)
• Sendai, Japan
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Tianjin, China
• Valencia, Spain

Friendship cities

Dallas also has friendly relations with:

• Dalian, China
• Nanjing, China
• Qingdao, China