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There is evidence that Native Americans passed through the area that is now Dallas thousands of years before any European settlers, according to Michael V. According to Hazel, traces of conical structures typical of Caddo farm sites have been found in parts of southwest Dallas. Prehistoric tools and spear points have been discovered near downtown. However, there is no evidence that proves these indigenous people settled in Dallas for long periods of time, but rather passed through the area during hunting expeditions.
Bryan, a Tennessee native, moved around the South until he heard about the uninhabited land in the region called the Three Forks of the Trinity, which we now know as North Texas. In , he went to see the area for himself before persuading other families to settle along the east bank of the Trinity River, according to Hazel.
How Dallas got its name remains a mystery, but there are several stories that claim Bryan once said it was named after one of his friends. However, that friend remains unknown. Bryan, who died in at the State Lunatic Asylum , left no clear explanation for why he chose the name. Some believed the friend was George Mifflin Dallas, the U. Then there's Walter R.
And a last stretch adds Joseph Dallas, an Arkansas man who lived in a county adjacent to one Bryan lived in, to the list of contenders. No matter who or what the town was named for, it had a name and inhabitants. But it also had its share of troubles. Dallas Times Herald and The News' former reporter Sam Hanna Acheson wrote in his book Dallas Yesterday that the town also had instances of horse and property theft in its early days.
Dallas also flooded in , and The town lacked levees or dikes, so the floods caused great destruction to the city and left many homeless. Despite the hardships, the pioneers stayed in the area and eventually incorporated the town in The establishment of a rail transportation system saved Dallas from becoming yet another ghost town.
The push for a railroad system in Dallas led to the construction of Union Station in At its peak, more than trains per day and , passengers per month traveled through the terminal. By , Dallas had already grown to a population of about 3, By , the population was a hefty 92, Art, education and sports have deep roots in Dallas and can be traced back to its early years.
Popular music had been heartily welcomed in the s and s, and Dallas was home to performances from many great jazz and blues musicians. If Dallas seems like a surprise to some, it should be known that its liveliness, innovation and artistic celebration has been around for a long time. Recently, the Dallas metro area was one of two areas, the Houston metro being the other, that added more people than any other metro in the country between and Now, the population of the metro is over seven million.
So, what is it about Dallas that gives this place a magnetic pull? Dallas is known for its thriving economy, is home to some of the wealthiest people in the country and loves the liberty to do business. Also in this mecca of opportunity, expect to find:. Although Dallas ranks as two percent higher than the national average for cost of living, consider how it stands up next to other major metros. For example, in New York City expect a percent higher cost of living, or consider Miami, which is 14 percent higher.
Other Texan towns may be well below the national average for cost of living, but you might not find the job opportunities that Dallas offers.
However, contrary to popular belief, you can live and work in Dallas without a car. Cars can be a real pain, and they cost a lot. Your car needs a catalytic converter or a brand new tire rod — and you might find yourself wondering if a tire rod is even real.
Although the majority of Dallas residents use cars to get around, walkability and bike-ability are certainly ideas in motion as we speak. In the meantime, there are plenty of efficient and convenient public transportation options leaving you the freedom to ditch your jalopy and enjoy car-free living.
DART runs daily from 5 a. Also, there is an abundance of bike trails throughout the Dallas metro making it possible to get around by bike. Over miles of bike and hike trails exist within the city of Dallas. Dallas is also becoming a more pedestrian-friendly city with vibrant, walkable neighborhoods like Uptown and Oak Lawn.
Although you really would never need to go too far from Dallas, we understand wanderlust. This diverse, modern city has so much to offer for everyone no matter what they enjoy or have an interest in. Whether you live and breathe sports, have an inclination for the arts or could literally shop til you drop, Dallas will not disappoint. Some ways to pass the time and live it up in the Big D include:. With so many amenities, places to eat and great company, you can live life to the fullest with without breaking the bank.
Are you beginning to see why people are flocking to Dallas by the dozens? We have a few more items on the list. However, if you are from the north and want to cry every time winter peeks its head around the corner, a move to Dallas might be a smart one. Yes, it gets hot in the summer in Dallas, but this does not mean you will need to hide in air conditioning for several months out of the year. If you think about it, a lot of states experience brutally hot days, and we are confident you have developed the skills to survive such weather.
Plus, a usually snowless winter makes a heatwave worth it to many. Dallas winters are mild, rainfall frequently occurs more at night and most thunderstorms hit in the spring. Said plainly, snow is a rare occurrence. There are tons of private, public and community educational institutions in the Dallas area, such as the University of Texas and Southern Methodist University. SMU ranked 61 on the U. News Best Colleges list and offers renowned graduate business and law programs as well as interesting undergrad programs, like trips to study anthropology in the New Mexican mountains.
Are you interested in learning an artistic skill for fun? There are a lot of non-credit courses open to the community in Dallas, too. For example, at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, you can participate in one of several inspiring workshops from creative writing to leatherworking. Or you can learn how to fuse glass or make chandelier earrings at the Craft Guild. Does the thought of returning to any school make you cringe?
You can still benefit from living in an educational-rich area. Wherever there are college students, there is usually tons of cultural events, affordable entertainment options and non-classroom opportunities available to the public. Are you curious about other amazing Texan cities? Do you have the itch to be hip in Austin, rock out in Houston or take a stroll along the river in San Antonio? All you have to do is relocate to Dallas and explore from your home base. You can get to any of the above places in less than a five-hour drive.
If you want to check out smaller cities, you have a wide selection of those as a Dallas resident, too.
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