Dallas Overview

Dallas is a city big on culture, spirit, and the soul of the Wild West. It is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Texas, with a population of about 1.3 million people, and is also one of the fastest growing metro areas in the United States. The city is known for its vibrant arts and culinary scenes, featuring some of the best steak houses in the country, as well as the famous Arts District which houses many popular galleries and studios. A variety of professional sports teams also call the Dallas area home (perhaps most notably the NBA Dallas Mavericks, NFL Dallas Cowboys, MLB Texas Rangers, and NHL Dallas Stars), giving the city a decidedly sports-crazy reputation. Oh, and don’t forget the shopping! Dallas is home to more shopping centers per capita than any other city in the United States, and many people visiting the city make time in their itineraries to wander the city’s great malls and boutiques.

Dallas History

Dallas was initially the home of the Caddo Native American tribe, until the 18th century, when the area was claimed by Spain, placing it within the large Spanish territory. In 1821, Mexico claimed independence from Spain, so the Dallas area was then annexed as a Mexican state. Texas broke from Mexican rule in 1836 to become the independent Republic of Texas, and a permanent settlement on what is now Dallas territory was officially settled in 1841. The city’s artistic roots originated in 1855, when a group of artists from a nearby utopian community moved to the city and founded the city’s original arts culture, which still exists today. Dallas was originally founded as a major ranching and farming community, but switched to industrial pursuits in the late 1800s, becoming a major exporting port for cotton, grain, and saddle equipment. Today the city is a hotspot for the telecom, banking, and oil industries, and is home to 12 Fortune 500 companies, including AT&T, American Airlines, and ENSCO Offshore Drilling, among others.