What was the original name of Grand Prairie?
The city of Grand Prairie was first established as Dechman by Alexander McRae Dechman in 1863. He based the name of the town on Big Prairie, Ohio. Prior to then, he resided in Young County near Fort Belknap. The 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules shows an A McR Dechman as having 4 slaves, ages 50, 25, 37 and 10.
Is Grand Prairie Texas a big city?
It is part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It has a population of 175,396 according to the 2010 census, making it the fifteenth most populous city in the state. The city of Grand Prairie was first established as Dechman by Alexander McRae Dechman in 1863.
What is the history of the Grand Prairie interurban?
The North Texas Traction Company, better known as the Interurban, began service to Grand Prairie. Grand Prairie incorporated in 1902 with S. R. Lively as mayor.
What was Grand Prairie TX known for in the 1920s?
The railroad shipped cotton, grain, and livestock. The Little Motor Kar Company manufactured the "Texmobile" until it went out of business in 1920. In the 1920s the city streets were paved, and Highway 80 was macadamized. The Airdrome, Grand Prairie's first movie theater, opened.
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How old is Grand Prairie Texas?
Grand Prairie was originally settled by settlers who came for the Republic of Texas land grants offered by investors in the mid-19th century. The city was established first as Dechman by Alexander Dechman in 1863.
Who founded Grand Prairie Texas?
Alexander DechmanThe city of Grand Prairie was founded as Dechman, after the original founder, Alexander Dechman, who paid $200 in Confederate money for the land in 1863. The land he originally bought lies within what is now downtown Grand Prairie.
What is Grand Prairie TX known for?
Offering fantastic shopping, exciting outdoor activities, and world-class entertainment, Grand Prairie is a one-of-a-kind Texas town that's well worth a visit. The land that makes up Grand Prairie was originally known as “Dechman” for settler Alexander Macrae Dechman.
Why is it called Grand Prairie?
The city of Grande Prairie is located 456 km northwest of Edmonton and takes its name from the large prairie that lies to the east, north and west of it. The city is the business and transportation centre of Alberta's Peace River region.
Is Grand Prairie TX A good place to live?
Grand Prairie is in Dallas County and is one of the best places to live in Texas. Living in Grand Prairie offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Grand Prairie there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in Grand Prairie and residents tend to be liberal.
How did Camp Wisdom Road get its name?
Camp Wisdom Road is one of southern Dallas County's major arteries, stretching nearly 17 miles from southeast Oak Cliff to Grand Prairie. During the 1920s, the road was dubbed Camp Wisdom because it led into a Boy Scout camp of the same name, said Robert "Bob" Reitz, curator of the camp's Harbin Scout Museum.
Is Grand Prairie small?
Grand Prairie Is A Small Town That's Not So Small With over 175,000 residents, Grand Prairie is only small on a Texas scale - and in comparison to its larger neighbors, Dallas and Fort Worth.
Where should I live in Grand Prairie?
The 10 Best Grand Prairie Neighborhoods to Live in For 2021Highland Park. Home to 9,100 people, Highland Park is one of the top desirable neighborhoods to live in within this area. ... University Park. ... Coppell. ... Southlake. ... Highland. ... Colleyville. ... Keller. ... Trophy Club.More items...
Which military post is located in the Grand Prairie region?
Description. Hensley Field is a military base and former Naval Air Station located in Grand Prairie, Texas that was established in 1928. Originally created as an Army Aviation Center, the base became home to all military service's aviators.
Is Grande Prairie booming?
The Alberta government recorded Grande Prairie's population at 69,355 in 2020, up from 64,891 in 2017. At an annual growth rate of 1.6 per cent, the Swan City would reach 100,000 residents by the year 2046.
What is the main industry in Grande Prairie?
Grande Prairie's economy is driven by three main industries: agriculture, forestry and, most crucially, oil and gas. The region is strategically located on two of the largest oil and gas plays in North America, the Montney and Duvernay basins.
Are there mountains in Grande Prairie?
There are 5 named mountains in County of Grande Prairie. The highest and the most prominent mountain is Saskatoon Hill.
Who named Grand Prairie?
Father Grouard, a Roman Catholic Priest, was the first to refer to the area as La Grande Prairie. In the 18th century, the prairie was occupied by bands of the Dane-zaa (Beaver) peoples, who began, in the early 19th century, trading with the North West Company at Dunvegan.
Is Grand Prairie A Tarrant County or Dallas County?
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas County, Tarrant County, and Ellis County, Texas, in the United States.
Which military post is located in the Grand Prairie region?
Description. Hensley Field is a military base and former Naval Air Station located in Grand Prairie, Texas that was established in 1928. Originally created as an Army Aviation Center, the base became home to all military service's aviators.
What is Grand Prairie Texas close to?
Irving, TX. Arlington, TX. Euless, TX.
When did Grand Prairie annex?
In 1953, the mayor and city council of Grand Prairie attempted to annex nearly 70 square miles (180 km 2) of then-unincorporated and largely undeveloped land in southern Dallas and Tarrant counties.
What railroad was the Grand Prairie?
Later that same year, after the Postal Service had adopted the "Deckman" name, confusion resulted from the T&P Railroad designation "Grand Prairie". This name was based on maps drawn from around 1850 through 1858 that labeled the area between Dallas and Fort Worth "the grand prairie of Texas".
How much money did Grand Prairie City Hall have in 2007?
According to the city's 2007–2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $275.5 million in revenues, $236.4 million in expenditures, $1,003.2 million in total assets, $424.9 million in total liabilities, and $305.9 million in cash and investments.
When did the Texas Eagle stop in Grand Prairie?
In the era of private operation of passenger trains prior to the onset of the Amtrak era in 1971 , Texas and Pacific Railway trains such as the Texas Eagle and the Louisiana Eagle made stops in Grand Prairie, on trips between Fort Worth and Dallas.
Is Grand Prairie a playhouse?
It is now a playhouse and venue for concerts. The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) bestowed its highest national award, the Gold Medal Award, to the Grand Prairie, Texas Parks and Recreation Department at the 2008 NRPA's Congress and Exposition in Baltimore.
Is Arlington ISD in Grand Prairie?
The Arlington ISD has the second highest portion of Grand Prairie's K-12 student population. Six Arlington ISD elementary schools are within the city limits of Grand Prairie. Grand Prairie residents in the Arlington ISD are located generally west of the Dallas-Tarrant County boundary and north of the intersection of Camp Wisdom and Lake Ridge in southwest Grand Prairie. One of the Arlington high schools, James Bowie High, has more Grand Prairie residents than Arlington residents that are students at the school.
Why did Grand Prairie annex Dallas?
In 1948 Grand Prairie began annexing land around it in order to keep Dallas from taking it. To facilitate annexation Grand Prairie voted in a new home-rule city charter with a city manager.
What cities were annexed in Grand Prairie?
Over the years communities near Grand Prairie had been annexed, including Dalworth Park in 1943 and, by the 1980s, Burbank Gardens, Florence Hill, Freetown, Idlewild-Mountain Creek, and Shady Grove.
Why was Deckman, Iowa named Grand Prairie?
The community was supposedly so named because a woman stepped off the train and said, "What a grand prairie!".
How many people were employed at the Grand Prairie Air Plant?
At its peak production the airplane plant employed 38,500 workers. Between 1940 and the end of the war the population of Grand Prairie grew from 1,595 to 18,000. On August 14, 1945, there was a complete shutdown of the airplane plant, and the remaining 15,000 employees lost their jobs.
What newspapers were published in Grand Prairie, Texas?
These included the Grand Prairie Enterprise, the Texan, and the Graphic. The North Texas Traction Company, better known as the Interurban, began service to Grand Prairie.
Why was Grand Prairie a training school?
Because it was too small for jets, it was bought by the city and turned into an industrial park. The population of Grand Prairie had increased from 1,263 in 1925 to 1,595 by World War II.
How many employees did the Grand Prairie plant have in 1941?
By 1941 the plant had 5,000 employees. This led to a severe housing shortage in Grand Prairie and the formation of the Grand Prairie Housing Authority. The city rushed to provide services and expanded utilities, built new schools, increased fire protection, and implemented city mail service.
What is Grande Prairie named for?
Grande Prairie was named for the large prairie which lies to the north, east, and west of it. In the 18th century, the prairie was occupied by bands of the Dane-zaa (Beaver) peoples, who began trading with the North West Company at Dunvegan in the early 19th century. The earliest recorded reference to the prairie was by trader Samuel Black in 1824. In 1880, a Hudson's Bay Company post called La Grande Prairie was established by George Kennedy 13 mi (21 km) north of the present city, at what is now the Town of Sexsmith. In the late 19th century, the prairie was settled by Cree and Iroquois from around Jasper and Lac Ste. Anne. When 17 townships were surveyed for homesteading in 1909, a land rush soon followed, with many settlers arriving over the Edson Trail. In 1910, the Grande Prairie Townsite was sub-divided. By 1912, it included a bank, hotel, post office, and land office, making it a district metropolis. In 1916, it became the terminus of the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway from Edmonton.
When was Grande Prairie a metropolis?
In 1910, the Grande Prairie Townsite was sub-divided. By 1912, it included a bank, hotel, post office, and land office, making it a district metropolis. In 1916, it became the terminus of the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway from Edmonton.
How many disc golf courses are there in Grande Prairie?
Grande Prairie has three 18-hole disc golf courses. Thrill Hill in the Swanavon neighbourhood, South Bear Creek, and Coop Community Course at Evergreen Park. Downhill skiing is popular in Grande Prairie, which has a local ski hill called Nitehawk and is located south of the city on the south bank of the Wapiti River.
What are the major cultural venues in Grande Prairie?
Cultural venues include Revolution Place (a concert hall and hockey rink — the local AJHL team, the Grande Prairie Storm, plays there), the Grande Prairie Museum, the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, 214 place, the tallest commercial building in the city, and Second Street Theatre.
How long is the Grande Prairie rifle range?
In addition, the club is currently developing a long (1,000 m (3 ,300 ft)) rifle range suitable for high power rifles, north of the city. Grande Prairie also has a new and modern 450,000 sq ft (42,000 m 2) health and fitness facility known as the Eastlink Centre.
How many days of sunshine does Grande Prairie have?
Chinooks may occur in and bring winter thaws to the Grande Prairie area. Grande Prairie has 314 days with measureable sunshine per year on average, and just above 2,200 hours of bright sunshine or about 46.1% of possible sunshine, ranging from a low of 31.2% in November to a high of 59.1% in July.
Why is Grande Prairie a trumpeter swan?
The city adopted the trumpeter swan as an official symbol due to its proximity to the migration route and summer nesting grounds of this bird.
2022 Officers
GPHO Officers for the year 2022 were elected at the November 18, 2021 General Meeting. The following officers begin serving their term on January 1, 2022:
Directors
The Board would appreciate hearing from any of our members willing to serve on a committee during the coming year. Your participation in GPHO is valuable to us. Please email [email protected].
Overview
History
The city of Grand Prairie was first established as Dechman by Alexander McRae Dechman in 1863. He based the name of the town on Big Prairie, Ohio. Prior to then, he resided in Young County near Fort Belknap. The 1860 U.S. Federal Census—Slave Schedules shows an A McR Dechman as having 4 slaves, ages 50, 25, 37 and 10. Dechman learned that he could trade his oxen and wagons for land in Dallas County. In 1863, Dechman bought 239.5 acres (96.9 ha) of land on th…
Geography
Grand Prairie is located along the border between Tarrant and Dallas counties, with a small portion extending south into Ellis County. The city is bordered by Dallas to the east, Cedar Hill and Midlothian to the southeast, Mansfield to the southwest, Arlington to the west, Fort Worth to the northwest, and Irving to the north.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 81.1 square miles (210…
Government
According to the city's 2007–2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's various funds had $275.5 million in revenues, $236.4 million in expenditures, $1,003.2 million in total assets, $424.9 million in total liabilities, and $305.9 million in cash and investments.
The Parkland Health & Hospital System (Dallas County Hospital District) operat…
Economy
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:
Airbus Helicopters, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Airbus Helicopters, has its headquarters in Grand Prairie.
In 1978 American Airlines announced that it would move its headquarters from New York City to t…
Attractions
• In 1997 Lone Star Park opened, where each Memorial Day the Thoroughbred Meeting is held, with seven stakes races worth just over $1 million.
• In 2000 GPX Skate Park was opened next to Lone Star Park, which hosted the 2001 and 2002 X Games trials. They closed in 2005 and were later re-opened in June 2006 by the Grand Prairie Parks and Recreation committee.
Education
Most of Grand Prairie's K–12 student population attends schools in the Grand Prairie Independent School District, which serves areas of Grand Prairie in Dallas County. The Mansfield Independent School District serves areas of Grand Prairie in Tarrant County and operates six elementary schools within the Grand Prairie city limits. Other portions of Grand Prairie reside within the Arlington, Cedar Hill, Irving, Mansfield, and Midlothian school districts.
Infrastructure
Interstate highways 20 and 30 run east–west through the northern and southern parts of the city. Texas State Highways Spur 303 (named Pioneer Parkway) and 180 (Main Street) also run east–west in the northern and central portions of the city.
SH 360 runs for almost three miles in the northwestern portion of city; most of …