History of Dallas in Timeline
Dallas, Texas, is the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the largest metro area in Texas and fourth-largest in the U.S., with 7.5 million residents. As of the 2020 census, Dallas itself has a population of 1,304,379, making it the ninth-most populous city in the U.S. and third-largest in Texas. Situated in North Texas, Dallas anchors the biggest metropolitan area in the Southern U.S. and is also the largest inland metropolitan area in the U.S. without a navigable link to the sea.
1900: Dallas Cotton Market
By 1900, Dallas was the largest inland cotton market in the world and a leader in cotton gin machinery manufacturing.
1901: First Branch of Dallas Public Library
In 1901, the Dallas Public Library system built its first branch thanks to a grant from Andrew Carnegie.
1903: Oak Cliff Annexation
In 1903, the separate city of Oak Cliff, founded in the mid-1800s, was annexed by Dallas.
July 4, 1906: Lake Cliff Park opens
On July 4, 1906, Lake Cliff Park opened and was called "the Southwest's Greatest Playground".
1907: Dallas Firefighter's Museum Built
In 1907, the Dallas Firefighter's Museum was built along Parry Avenue near Fair Park.
1909: Praetorian Building Constructed
In 1909, the 15-story Praetorian Building was built in Dallas. It was one of the first skyscrapers west of the Mississippi River and the tallest building in Texas for a period, signifying Dallas's growing prominence.
1910: Allen Brooks Lynching
In 1910, a white mob lynched Allen Brooks, a black man accused of rape, at the intersection of Main and Akard in Downtown Dallas.
1913: Turtle Creek Parkway park built
In 1913, Turtle Creek Parkway park was built.
1914: Dallas Selected as Federal Reserve Seat
In 1914, Dallas was selected as the seat of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District.
1921: Mexican President Visits Dallas
In 1921, Mexican President Álvaro Obregón visited Downtown Dallas's Mexican Park in Little Mexico.
1921: WRR-AM licensed
In 1921, WRR-AM, Dallas' original sister station, was licensed and is the oldest commercially operated radio station in Texas.
1925: Texas Cotton Production
By 1925, Texas produced more than 1/3 of the nation's cotton crop, with 31% of Texas cotton produced within a 100-mile radius of Dallas.
1930: Demographics in 1930
In 1930, Dallas's population was predominantly White, with non-Hispanic Whites making up 82.8% of the population.
1931: Highland Park Village Opens
Highland Park Village, the second shopping center ever built in the United States, opened in 1931.
1935: Dallas purchases land to develop Reverchon Park
In 1935, Dallas purchased land to develop Reverchon Park.
1936: Fair Park built for Texas Centennial Exposition
In 1936, Fair Park was built for the Texas Centennial Exposition world's fair.
1953: Exhibition game at Reverchon Park
In 1953, the baseball diamond at Reverchon Park was host to an exhibition game for the New York Giants and the Cleveland Indians.
1959: Lake Cliff Park pool demolished
In 1959, the pool at Lake Cliff Park was demolished after a polio scare.
1960: Cowboys join the league
In 1960, the Dallas Cowboys joined the league as an expansion team.
November 22, 1963: John F. Kennedy Assassination
On November 22, 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Downtown Dallas' Dealey Plaza.
1963: Kennedy Assassination
According to the Warren Commission Report, in 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed President John F. Kennedy from the Texas School Book Depository.
1968: Dallas Tornado established
From 1968, the Dallas Tornado played in the North American Soccer League
1969: Anita N. Martínez becomes first Latin American councilwoman
In 1969, Anita N. Martínez became the first Latin American to sit as a councilwoman in Dallas's city council.
1971: Frozen Margarita Machine
In 1971, restaurateur Mariano Martinez invented the Frozen margarita machine.
1972: Texas Rangers relocate from Washington D.C.
In 1972, the Texas Rangers franchise relocated from Washington D.C.
1980: Mavericks join the league
In 1980, the Dallas Mavericks joined the league as an expansion team.
1980: Record High Temperature
On June 26 and 27, 1980, Dallas experienced its all-time record high temperature of 113 °F (45 °C) during the Heat Wave of 1980.
1981: Dallas Tornado finished
To 1981, the Dallas Tornado played in the North American Soccer League.
1984: Original Dallas Sidekicks operate
From 1984, the original Dallas Sidekicks operated.
December 8, 1991: Belo purchases Dallas Times Herald
On December 8, 1991, Belo purchased the Dallas Times Herald.
1993: Dallas Stars move to North Texas
In 1993, the Dallas Stars moved to North Texas from Minnesota.
1996: DART Light Rail System Launched
In 1996, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) began operating the first light rail system in Texas.
1997: FC Dallas win Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
In 1997, FC Dallas won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
1998: Dallas Magpies founded
In 1998, the Dallas Magpies, an Australian rules football team, were founded.
1998: Stars win Stanley Cup
In 1998, the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup.
1999: Dallas Stars Stanley Cup
In 1999, the Dallas Stars (NHL) won the Stanley Cup.
1999: Winter of 1999-2000
The winter of 1999-2000 in Dallas had the fewest freezing nights with 14.
2000: Winter of 1999-2000
The winter of 1999-2000 in Dallas had the fewest freezing nights with 14.
2002: City budget for 2002-2003 fiscal year
In the 2002-2003 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $1.7 billion.
2003: Income Comparison
According to the 2003-2007 survey, the male full-time workers had a median income of $32,265 versus $32,402 for female full-time workers.
2003: DISD student data
As of 2003 DISD has the majority of K–12 students in the city of Dallas, and a proportionately larger number of students who are not non-Hispanic white.
2003: Statement from Royce Hanson
In 2003 Royce Hanson, author of Civic Culture and Urban Change: Governing Dallas, stated that the Plano, Richardson, and Wilmer-Hutchins school districts were the "most significant" of the public school students with students in Dallas who were not in Dallas ISD.
2003: HBC acquired by Univision
In 2003, Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation (HBC) was acquired by Univision and became Univision Radio Inc.
2003: City budget for 2003-2004 fiscal year
In the 2003-2004 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $1.9 billion.
2004: 2004 Presidential Election and Lupe Valdez elected Dallas County Sheriff
In the 2004 U.S. presidential election, 57% of Dallas voters voted for John Kerry over George W. Bush. Also in 2004, Lupe Valdez was elected Dallas County Sheriff.
2004: City budget for 2004-2005 fiscal year
In the 2004-2005 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $2.0 billion.
2004: Original Dallas Sidekicks finished
To 2004, the original Dallas Sidekicks operated.
September 2005: Mark Cuban Land Purchase
In September 2005, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban purchased land along Lamar Street near Cedars Station.
2005: City budget for 2005-2006 fiscal year
In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $2.2 billion.
2005: Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science was designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects.
2005: Wilmer-Hutchins ISD Shut Down
The Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District was shut down for the 2005–2006 year.
2006: WHISD consolidated into Dallas ISD
Following the close, the Texas Education Agency consolidated WHISD into Dallas ISD in 2006.
2006: Good-Latimer Tunnel Demolished
In late 2006, the Good-Latimer tunnel was torn down to accommodate the construction of a light rail line through the site.
2006: City budget for 2005-2006 fiscal year
In the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $2.2 billion.
2007: Comerica Relocates
In 2007, Comerica relocated its national headquarters to Downtown Dallas from Detroit.
2007: Median House Price
Per 2007's survey, the median price for a house in Dallas was $129,600.
2008: AT&T Relocates to Dallas
In 2008, AT&T relocated its headquarters to Downtown Dallas.
2008: Trinity River Audubon Center opens
In 2008, the Trinity River Audubon Center opened as a gateway to the Great Trinity Forest.
2008: 2008 election favored Barack Obama
Results in the 2008 election favored Barack Obama, with the 44th President receiving 57% of Dallas County voters.
August 2009: Regional Transportation Council Trolley Project
In August 2009, the Regional Transportation Council agreed to seek $96 million in federal stimulus dollars for a trolley project in Dallas and Fort Worth.
2009: Commuting Statistics
In 2009, 78.5% of Dallas commuters drove to work alone.
2009: Allen Americans founded
In 2009, the Allen Americans were founded in the Central Hockey League (CHL).
2009: Cowboys relocate to new stadium
In 2009, the Dallas Cowboys relocated to their new 80,000-seat stadium in Arlington.
2009: Meadows Museum Partnership
In 2009, the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University joined up with Madrid's Prado Museum for a three-year partnership.
2009: Cotton Bowl Classic moves to AT&T Stadium
In 2009, the college Cotton Bowl Classic football game was played at the Cotton Bowl through its game, but has moved to AT&T Stadium.
February 11, 2010: Record Snowfall
On February 11, 2010, Dallas experienced a record snowfall of 11.2 inches (28 cm).
February 2010: TIGER Grant Awarded for Dallas Streetcar Project
In February 2010, Dallas was awarded a $23 million TIGER grant towards the $58 million Dallas Streetcar Project.
December 6, 2010: Orange Line Extension
On December 6, 2010, the first stage of the Orange Line opened, extending its west end from Bachman to Belt Line Station in Irving.
2010: Demographics in 2010
According to the 2010 U.S. census, 50.7% of the population was White (28.8% non-Hispanic White), 24.8% was Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.9% Asian, and 2.6% from two or more races; 42.4% of the total population was of Hispanic or Latino American origin.
2010: Influx of African American Residents
Between 2010 and 2020, the Dallas area had the second-most new Black and African American residents only behind the Atlanta area.
2010: Household Statistics
In 2010 there were 458,057 households in Dallas.
2010: Texas Rangers win American League pennant
In 2010, the Texas Rangers won the American League pennant.
2011: Dallas Mavericks NBA Championship
In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks (NBA) won the NBA Championship.
2011: Texas Rangers win American League pennant
In 2011, the Texas Rangers won the American League pennant.
2011: New Year's Eve Celebration Record
New Year's Eve 2011 set a new record of 32,000 people in attendance at the celebration in AT&T Plaza.
November 6, 2012: Russian-Speaking Population
As of November 6, 2012, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex had an estimated 70,000 Russian-speakers.
2012: Allen Americans win CHL championship
In 2012, the Allen Americans won the CHL championship.
2012: Dallas Sidekicks (2012) established
In 2012, the Dallas Sidekicks (2012), an American professional indoor soccer team, were established in Allen, Texas.
2012: Iranian Americans in Plano-Richardson
In 2012, the Plano-Richardson area had an estimated 30,000 Iranian Americans.
2012: 2012 election favored Barack Obama
Results in the 2012 election favored Barack Obama, with the 44th President receiving 57% of Dallas County voters.
December 2013: Dallas County Foreign-Born Residents
According to U.S. Census Bureau data released in December 2013, 23 percent of Dallas County residents were foreign-born.
2013: Parks and Recreation Data
As of 2013, Dallas had many parks and recreation areas.
2013: Allen Americans win CHL championship
In 2013, the Allen Americans won the CHL championship.
August 2014: Orange Line Final Phase
In August 2014, the second and final phase of the Orange Line opened, providing DFW Airport with rail service.
September 2014: USS Dallas Decommissioning
After her decommissioning in September 2014, the USS Dallas submarine was planned to become a museum ship near the Trinity River.
2014: Christianity in Dallas
According to a 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, Christianity was the most prevalently practiced religion in Dallas and the wider metropolitan area (78%).
2014: Evangelical Protestantism
According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2014, evangelical Protestantism constituted the largest form of Protestantism in the Dallas area.
2014: Allen Americans win ECHL championship
In 2014, the Allen Americans won the ECHL championship.
2014: Dallas area hosts NCAA Final Four
In 2014, the Dallas area hosted the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament at AT&T Stadium.
2014: Oil Price Drop
Starting in mid-2014, a sudden drop in the price of oil did not significantly affect Dallas due to its diversified economy.
2015: Households Without a Car
In 2015, 10.2 percent of Dallas households lacked a car.
2015: Dallas Economy Strengthening
In 2015, Dallas's growth continued unabated due to national headquarters relocations and expansions of regional offices.
2015: Allen Americans win ECHL championship
In 2015, the Allen Americans won the ECHL championship.
2015: American Community Survey Commuting Statistics
In 2015, the American Community Survey estimated that 75.4% of Dallas commuters drove to work alone.
2015: Dallas Real Estate Boom
Since 2015, Dallas and the greater metro area have been leading the nation in apartment construction and net leasing, with rents reaching all-time highs, and single family home sales and home price appreciation leading the nation.
July 7, 2016: Dallas Police Shooting
On July 7, 2016, a gunman opened fire at a Black Lives Matter protest in Downtown Dallas, killing five police officers and injuring nine others. Two bystanders were also injured in the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since 9/11.
October 2016: Jacobs Engineering Relocates
In October 2016, Jacobs Engineering relocated from Pasadena, California to Downtown Dallas.
2016: Households Without a Car
In 2016, 9.1 percent of Dallas households lacked a car, decreasing from the previous year. The national average was 8.7 percent.
2016: FC Dallas win Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and Supporters' Shield
In 2016, FC Dallas won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the Supporters' Shield.
2016: FC Dallas Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
In 2016, MLS team FC Dallas won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
2016: Plano Chinese American population
In 2016, Plano, a northern suburb of Dallas, had the 6th largest Chinese American population among large-sized cities in the United States.
2016: Dallas Wings relocate to The Metroplex
In 2016, the Dallas Wings relocated to The Metroplex from Tulsa.
2016: 2016 Presidential Election
In the 2016 presidential election, approximately 66% of Dallas voters voted for Hillary Clinton, with 28% of city voters voting for Donald Trump.
2017: AT&T Ranking
In 2017, AT&T was the ninth largest company in the nation by revenue.
2017: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders population
In 2017, the population of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders was at 606, while at 2019, it was at 312.
2017: City budget for 2017-2018 fiscal year
In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $3.3 billion.
2018: Housing Rates
In 2018, the owner-occupied housing rate in Dallas was 40.2% and the renter-occupied housing rate was 59.8%.
2018: City budget for 2017-2018 fiscal year
In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the city's total budget was $3.3 billion.
2018: Dallas Foreign-Born Population
The 2018 census estimates determined that the city of Dallas's foreign-born population consisted of 25.4% naturalized citizens and 74.6% non-citizens.
January 2019: VisitDallas Audit Released
In January 2019, an audit released cast doubts on VisitDallas' effectiveness in promoting tourism and attracting conventions.
November 2019: Fair Park Revitalization Master Plan presented
In November 2019, consultants presented to the public a master plan to revitalize Fair Park.
2019: Demographics
At the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 estimates, 29.1% of Dallas's population were non-Hispanic White, 24.3% Black and African American, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 3.7% Asian, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race made up 41.2%.
2020: Christianity in Dallas
According to the Public Religion Research Institute's 2020 study, Christianity was the most prevalently practiced religion in Dallas and the wider metropolitan area (77%).
2020: Population in 2020
At the 2020 United States census the city of Dallas had 1,304,379 residents, an increase of 106,563 since the 2010 United States census.
2020: Influx of African American Residents
Between 2010 and 2020, the Dallas area had the second-most new Black and African American residents only behind the Atlanta area.
2020: Largest Ethnic Group
By 2020, Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race constituted the largest ethnic group in Dallas.
2020: Median House Price
By 2020, the median price for a house was valued at $252,300.
2020: CBRE headquarters moved to Dallas
CBRE moved its headquarters from Los Angeles to Dallas in 2020.
2020: Household Statistics
In 2020 there were 524,498 households in Dallas.
2020: Dallas Murder Rate Increase
In 2020, Dallas recorded 251 murders which was a 20-year high, and gang presence grew significantly.
2020: Dallas Jackals announced as new franchise
In 2020, Major League Rugby announced the Dallas Jackals as a new franchise.
2020: Dallas Population
In 2020, the census recorded Dallas' population at 1,304,379, making it the ninth-most populous city in the U.S.
2020: Presidential Election
In the 2020 presidential election, over 69% of Dallas voters supported Joe Biden.
February 2021: Cold-Sensitive Plants Died Off
During the February 2021 North American winter storm, cold-sensitive plants in Dallas, like Washingtonia palms, died off.
February 2021: North American Winter Storm
In February 2021, Dallas experienced a severe North American winter storm.
February 16, 2021: Low Temperature During Winter Storm
On February 16, 2021, during the February 2021 North American winter storm, the temperature at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport reached −2 °F (−19 °C).
2021: McKesson Ranking
In 2021, McKesson was listed at number seven overall on the Fortune 500 list.
July 1, 2022: Dallas population loss
As of July 1, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Dallas in first years since the 2020 census lost 4,835 people, leaving the city with a population of 1,299,544.
2022: Dallas Murder Rate Decreased
By 2022, the Dallas murder rate decreased to 214.
2022: Fortune 500 Companies in DFW
In 2022, Dallas had 11 Fortune 500 companies, and the DFW region as a whole had 23, representing the second-largest concentration in Texas and fourth-largest in the United States.
2022: Homeless Count
The 2022 Point-In-Time Homeless Count found there were 4,410 homeless people in Dallas.
2023: Eric Johnson switches parties
In 2023, Dallas has been the largest city in the United States with a Republican mayor after Eric Johnson switched parties after winning re-election.
2023: Dallas Murder Rate Increased
In 2023, the Dallas murder rate increased to 246.
2023: Texas Rangers World Series
In 2023, the Texas Rangers (MLB) won the World Series.
2023: Texas Rangers win American League pennant and World Series
In 2023, the Texas Rangers won the American League pennant and the World Series.
2024: Donald Trump gains voter share
In the 2024 United States presidential election, Donald Trump, achieved 34.1% of the vote in the city of Dallas.
2026: Dallas to host FIFA World Cup matches
In 2026, Dallas is set to host the most matches during the FIFA World Cup.
