who was dallas texas named after

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How did Dallas County get its name?

Dallas County is generally believed to have been named for George Mifflin Dallas since Polk County, named for President Polk, was created on March 30, 1846, the same day that Dallas County was created.

What is the origin of the Dallas Cowboys name?

The origin of the name is uncertain. The official historical marker states it was named after Vice President George M. Dallas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, this is disputed. Other potential theories for the origin include his brother, Commodore Alexander James Dallas, as well as brothers Walter R. Dallas or James R. Dallas.

How did downtown Dallas get its name?

In 1844 J. P. Dumas surveyed and laid out a 0.5 square miles (1.3 km 2) section of blocks and streets near present downtown. The origin of the name is uncertain. The official historical marker states it was named after Vice President George M. Dallas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Why is Dallas named after George Mifflin Dallas?

The establishment was named Dallas, and though it has been largely assumed that it was named after George Mifflin Dallas, who became vice president the following March, there are problems with this theory. George M. Dallas lived in Philadelphia and never traveled very far west of the city, and Bryan had never traveled very far east of Memphis.

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Who came up with the name Dallas?

George Mifflin Dallas had no documented interest in Texas until he made a casual reference favoring Texas statehood in an 1844 letter to a senator from Mississippi—again, after the town of Dallas, Texas, was named.

What is the real meaning of Dallas?

What is the meaning of the name Dallas? The name Dallas is primarily a gender-neutral name of Scottish origin that means From The Meadow Dwelling. City in Texas.

What was Dallas before it was a city?

It was the world's leading inland cotton market, and it still led the world in manufacture of saddlery and cotton gin machinery. During the early 20th century, Dallas transformed from an agricultural center to a center of banking, insurance, fashion retailing and other businesses.

Why was Dallas founded?

The cities of Dallas and nearby Fort Worth were initially developed due to the construction of major railroad lines through the area allowing access to cotton, cattle and later oil in North and East Texas.

What Dallas is famous for?

What Is Dallas Known For?Dallas Cowboys. How about them Cowboys? ... Dallas's unique history. ... Dallas is home to the largest art district. ... Largest urban park. ... Texas Barbeque. ... Frozen margaritas. ... Agriculture. ... Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.More items...•

What does Dallas mean in Greek?

ΝτάλλαςDallas {proper noun} Ντάλλας {pr.

What's the oldest city in Texas?

Considered to be the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches was founded in 1779 by Don Antonio Gil Y'Barbo. This quaint little town is booming with history and stories from years past beginning with the Caddo Indians, who lived in the area before the Spanish, through the present day.

Why is Dallas called the Big D?

There was a musical in 1956 that popularized Big D with a song that Bing Crosby sang: "Big D, little A, double L-A-S," the tune used to go. The beloved Dallas Morning News writer Paul Crume called his column "Big D" starting in the early 1950s. The name stuck.

What is the oldest building in Dallas Texas?

The Wilson Building is an historic 8-story building in the Main Street district of downtown Dallas, Texas. The building was completed in 1904 and patterned after the Palais Garnier in Paris, France....Wilson Building (Dallas)Significant datesDesignated CPAugust 11, 200616 more rows

What was Dallas before Dallas?

Through the determination of one man, the settlement called Dallas became a reality in the Three Forks area of the Trinity River, in the 1840s. John Neely Bryan originally stumbled across Three Forks in 1839, on a mission to establish a trading post for Indians and settlers.

Where was Dallas from in Forrest Gump?

Phoenix nativeDallas was a Phoenix native who was a U.S. soldier who fought in the Vietnam War under Lieutenant Dan Taylor, During an ambush, many platoon mates are killed, but Forrest Gump carries a wounded Dallas and other soldiers out of the jungle.

Who were the first people to settle in Dallas?

The city was founded by John Neely Bryan, who settled on the east bank of the Trinity near a natural ford in November 1841. Bryan had picked the best spot for a trading post to serve the population migrating into the region.

Where did the word Dallas come from?

Named after Joseph Dallas, who settled near Dallas in 1843. Named after "Dallas", the modern version of the Scottish Gaelic word "Dalais" which means 'valley of water' Named after the Scottish village of Dallas, in Moray, after which a number of places worldwide are named.

What is unique about Dallas?

The world's first convenience store, 7-Eleven, opened in 1927 in Dallas. The corporation is still headquartered here today. The Dallas Zoo, which opened in 1888, is the oldest zoo in Texas and one of the ten oldest zoos in the U.S.

Why is Dallas called the Big D?

There was a musical in 1956 that popularized Big D with a song that Bing Crosby sang: "Big D, little A, double L-A-S," the tune used to go. The beloved Dallas Morning News writer Paul Crume called his column "Big D" starting in the early 1950s. The name stuck.

How popular is the name Dallas?

For the past three decades (1989 to 2018), the name “Dallas” was recorded 39,509 times in the SSA database.

Where is John Neely Bryan's cabin?

A replica of John Neely Bryan's cabin sits in Founders Plaza on Elm Street. in downtown Dallas. (Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) There's no evidence that Bryan knew George Dallas, who had no real connection to Texas, and the name of the city predates the county by a few years (Dallas and Polk counties were created the same day in 1846), the city says.

Who was the first person to say Dallas was named after his friend?

Frank M. Cockrell , a pioneer who knew Bryan, recalled him saying "the town was named for my friend Dallas," the city's site says. But which friend? Cockrell guessed that it was George Mifflin Dallas, the U.S. vice president during the James Polk administration.

Who is Dallas County named for?

Cockrell guessed that it was George Mifflin Dallas, the U.S. vice president during the James Polk administration. But that Dallas is the man Dallas County is thought to be named for.

Who is the capital of Texas named after?

Concerns are being raised about the fact that Texas' capital is named for a man — Stephen F. Austin —who supported slavery. An early plat map showing Dallas around 1850. The city was named by founder John Neely Bryan, but where the name "Dallas" came from is a bit of a mystery. (City of Dallas Municipal Archives)

Who was the founder of Dallas?

Dallas founder John Neely Bryan, a trader and lawyer among other things, first visited Dallas in 1839 and returned a couple of years later to settle on the east bank of the Trinity River.

Who is Joseph Dallas?

Dallas. Another guess is Joseph Dallas, an Arkansas man who lived in a county adjacent to one Bryan lived in. That one seems like a bit of a stretch. "Bottom line is no one really knows," Slate said. "There's quite a bit of speculation but none of it is borne out by any actual provable facts.

Who is George Dallas' brother?

Other possible contenders: George Dallas' brother Commodore Alexander James Dallas, a naval commander stationed in the Gulf of Mexico. Then there's Walter R. Dallas, who fought at San Jacinto, or even his brother, Texas Ranger James. L.

What were the challenges of the reconstruction period?

The Reconstruction period brought many challenges for Dallas and some benefits for the state. On 19 June 1865 ( Juneteenth ), Texan slaves were emancipated, as announcement of the end of the war was delayed. Many African Americans migrated to Dallas after the war for work, because the city was thriving compared to other Southern cities. They also wanted to leave rural areas to escape the supervision of whites and establish their own communities. Freedmen's towns were scattered throughout Dallas. In attempts to maintain white supremacy, white insurgent veterans established a Ku Klux Klan chapter in 1868. By 1871, Dallas legally became a city. In 1869 the Reconstruction legislature established a funding mechanism to support public education for the first time, and authorized school districts to be set up across the state.

How many people were unemployed in Dallas during the New Deal?

By then, more than 18,000 people in the city were unemployed. Before the New Deal policy began, the city had a work-for-food program that helped many. After a long campaign in the years leading up to 1936, the state of Texas chose Dallas as the site of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition.

What happened in Dallas in 1860?

In July 1860, a fire broke out in the square, destroying most of the buildings in the business district of Dallas. Out of fear, many white residents assumed that slaves were behind it, and two abolitionists were run out of town. They lynched three African-American slaves, and officials ordered all other slaves in Dallas to be whipped, as part of event that is known as the "Texas Troubles". On the eve of the Civil War in 1861, Dallas County voted 741–237 in favor of secession. On 8 June of that year, a state of war was declared, and citizens were very supportive of the effort. The town was a long way from any battles, and suffered no damage from the war.

What is the history of Dallas?

Main article: History of Dallas (through 1838) Flag of New Spain, the viceroyalty of Spain in which Dallas was included. The Caddo inhabited the Dallas area before it was settled by Europeans, along with the rest of Texas, as a part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain in the 16th century. The area was also claimed by the French, but in 1819 ...

What was the Industrial Period?

The Industrial Period saw Dallas grow from a center of farming and ranching into a major, self-sustaining industrial city. The industrial growth in Dallas formed partially out of problems hurting Dallas area farmers: After buying supplies on credit during the year, farmers owed merchants the majority of their crop. Costs to ship to the coast were very high, and the price of cotton was dropping.

How deep was the Trinity River in 1908?

In 1908, the Trinity River flooded, reaching a depth of 52.6 feet (16.03 m) and a width of 1.5 miles (2.4 km). Five people died, 4,000 were left homeless, and property damages were estimated at US$ 2.5 million at the time of the flood.

When did Dallas become a city?

In 1890, Dallas annexed the city of East Dallas, which was larger geographically than Dallas. The annexation made Dallas the most populous city in Texas. In 1893, following the national financial panic, numerous industries and five Dallas banks failed.

What is East Dallas known for?

East Dallas is home to Deep Ellum, a trendy arts area close to Downtown, the homey Lakewood neighborhood (and adjacent areas, including Lakewood Heights, Wilshire Heights, Lower Greenville, Junius Heights, and Hollywood Heights/Santa Monica ), historic Vickery Place and Bryan Place, and the architecturally significant neighborhoods of Swiss Avenue and Munger Place. Its historic district has one of the largest collections of Frank Lloyd Wright -inspired prairie-style homes in the United States. In the northeast quadrant of the city is Lake Highlands, one of Dallas's most unified middle-class neighborhoods.

How big is the Dallas Zoo?

The city is also home to Texas's first and largest zoo, the 106-acre (0.43 km 2) Dallas Zoo, which opened at its current location in 1888.

What is Central Dallas?

Central Dallas is anchored by Downtown, the center of the city, along with Oak Lawn and Uptown, areas characterized by dense retail, restaurants, and nightlife. Downtown Dallas has a variety of named districts, including the West End Historic District, the Arts District, the Main Street District, Farmers Market District, the City Center Business District, the Convention Center District, and the Reunion District. "Hot spots" in this area include Uptown, Victory Park, Harwood, Oak Lawn, Dallas Design District, Trinity Groves, Turtle Creek, Cityplace, Knox/Henderson, Greenville, and West Village .

How many preserves are there in Dallas County?

Dallas hosts three of the twenty-one preserves of the extensive 3,200 acres (13 km 2) Dallas County Preserve System. The Joppa Preserve, the McCommas Bluff Preserve, and the Cedar Ridge Preserve are within the Dallas city limits. The Cedar Ridge Preserve was known as the Dallas Nature Center, but the Audubon Dallas group now manages the 633-acre (2.56 km 2) natural habitat park on behalf of the city of Dallas and Dallas County. The preserve sits at an elevation of 755 feet (230 m) above sea level and offers a variety of outdoor activities, including 10 miles (16 km) of hiking trails and picnic areas.

What are some examples of skyscrapers in Dallas?

Although some of Dallas's architecture dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of the notable architecture in the city is from the modernist and postmodernist eras. Iconic examples of modernist architecture include Reunion Tower, the JFK Memorial, I. M. Pei 's Dallas City Hall and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Good examples of postmodernist skyscrapers are Fountain Place, Bank of America Plaza, Renaissance Tower, JPMorgan Chase Tower, and Comerica Bank Tower. Downtown Dallas also has residential offerings in downtown, some of which are signature skyline buildings.

How many stakes does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has twenty-three stakes throughout Dallas and surrounding suburbs. The organization built the Dallas Texas Temple, the first temple in Texas, in the city in 1984. Jehovah's Witnesses also have a large number of members throughout the Dallas metropolitan division.

What are some examples of modernist architecture in Dallas?

Although some of Dallas's architecture dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of the notable architecture in the city is from the modernist and postmodernist eras. Iconic examples of modernist architecture include Reunion Tower, the JFK Memorial, I. M. Pei 's Dallas City Hall and the Morto n H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Good examples of postmodernist skyscrapers are Fountain Place, Bank of America Plaza, Renaissance Tower, JPMorgan Chase Tower, and Comerica Bank Tower. Downtown Dallas also has residential offerings in downtown, some of which are signature skyline buildings.

What is the longest stretch of wealthy zip code in Dallas?

North of the trinity river that runs through Dallas is the longest stretch of ‘wealthy’ zip codes in the United States. All of these neighborhoods would be considered good in comparison. My personal favorite neighborhood is Kesler Park, which is south of the river- but used to be the be the best in town. It is re-gentrifying quickly.

What is Preston Hollow?

In the city of Dallas, Preston Hollow is the most prestigious neighborhood. Highland Park, a township wholly within Dallas is also

What is El Paso named after?

El Paso was originally the name of the Mexican City across the river. What we know today as El Paso was originally named Franklin. When the Mexican city renamed itself in honor of the revolutionary hero Benito Juarez, Franklin adopted the name El Paso for itself.

What is the meaning of the word "4,5"?

4,5 are a name of a town in Scotland or an old Scottish word about a valley with water

Where did the name Dallas come from?

I learned that the name Dallas was from a Walter Dallas who built a cabin on the Trinity River at California Crossing. He would aid folks traveling further west and earned a living in the ferry and supply type of business. His brother also settled there, thus creating the name, ‘Hey were can I cross the river?” “Just head over to Dallas and he will get you across” something to that effect. This was an anecdotal story I learned at the State Fair, in the Hall of State museum, from the tour lady back in mid 60’s.

Where are the Cowboys training facilities?

North of Dallas is Frisco which is where the Cowboys just built their training facility And they offer tours at multiple times throughout the day To get an inside look at the history of the team.

Which suburbs are nicer in DFW?

In dfw, South Lake and Plano are considered the nicer suburbs.

Why is the East Dallas neighborhood called Ola?

Originally known as Ola in the late 1800s, the area was later renamed Reinhardt in honor of the president of the railroad. At the time, it was home to 37 residents.

What is Dallas defined by?

To outsiders, Dallas is defined by its residents — or, perhaps more accurately, the stereotypical facsimiles thereof .

What is Greenville Avenue called?

Prior to the mid-’20s, Greenville Avenue was called Richardson Road. The term “lower,” naturally, refers to to the fact that this neighborhood is centered around the road’s southernmost tip, and specifically the area south of Mockingbird Lane. Preston Hollow.

Why is Greenville Avenue named Greenville Avenue?

Like a number of other streets in town, Greenville Avenue was named as such because, well, it was the only major road at the time that led to the city of Greenville. Before the completion of the North Central Expressway in 1950, it was also the primary route to places like Richardson and Plano.

What was the neighborhood in Dallas in the 1920s?

By the 1920s, the neighborhood was predominantly home to Dallas’ wealthy Jewish community, which built Victorian homes there. By the ’60s, though, most of those residents had relocated to the north side of Downtown, and the homes were demolished to make way for I-30. Highland Park.

What is the name of the lake in Dallas?

Forest Hills/Little Forest Hills. Developed about a decade after White Rock Lake was initially built — and named after the tall trees that were so prevalent in the area at the time — Forest Hills became a popular location for Dallas’ wealthier residents to build second and/or vacation homes.

What happened to La Reunion in 1860?

By 1860, what was left of La Reunion was annexed by Dallas. State-Thomas. Following Emancipation in 1862, this neighborhood was the heart of the North Dallas’ Freedman’s Town settlement for freed slaves.

Who was the first person to settle in Dallas?

In 1839, John Neely Bryan visited the site that would one day become Dallas. Because of its close proximity to the Trinity River and the Preston Trail, he decided to build a permanent settlement there two years later. Initially, Bryan served in nearly every civic role for the young community, which had since begun attracting residents from nearby Bird’s Fort and the Peters Colony. Among the titles he held: postmaster, shop owner, and judge. He held court in his meager log cabin.

Was Hines a meat packer?

For the record: Hines was a meat packer. We’re sure there’s some sort of dirty pun to be had in there somewhere.

Who was the architect of Oak Cliff?

Other times, roads were named after people like the furniture czar John F. Zang, who is credited with much of the development around Oak Cliff, or Thomas Marsalis, who was responsible for purchasing and re-naming the Hord’s Ridge community Oak Cliff in the first place.

Who named Swiss Avenue?

Swiss Avenue was named by Swiss pioneer Henri Boll. Other street names came from famous businessmen like William Christopher Columbus Akard, who, as one of Dallas’ first merchants, also has streets named after his three sons (William, Cole and Porter).

Is it a process to name a street?

These days, naming a street is an arduous process than involves the City Plan Commission. But, in Bryan’s day, it was a much simpler procedure.

Why don't you eat where you slept last night Zuzu Bollin?

Zuzu Bollin was lost, found, and now he’s lost again. The bluesman, who grew up in Frisco next door to a juke joint, recorded two 78s in the 1950s, including the jump blues classic “Why Don’t You Eat Where You Slept Last Night” (featuring future Ray Charles sideman David “Fathead” Newman on sax). But the rise of rock and roll slowed his career and the merger of the black musicians’ union with the all-white Local 147 all but killed it. He spent the ’60s, ’70s, and most of the ’80s broke and in obscurity, until Chuck Nevitt, founder of the Dallas Blues Society, found him and released Zuzu Bollin: Texas Bluesman, in 1989. Bollin was able to tour Europe and play Holland’s big-deal Blues Estafette before he died of cancer in 1990. His name has faded away again since then, overshadowed by T-Bone Walker and Blind Lemon Jefferson. But he deserves mention in their company.

What happened to the Dallas founding family?

In 1856, the son of one of Dallas ’ founding families was caught cheating while gambling and was shot by his victim. Left without any recourse to enforce law and order, Dallas’ founders figured it was time to draw up the city’s articles of incorporation. In subsequent years, Dallas maintained its reputation for hardened justice. In the 1870s, Mayor Ben Long attempted to clean up Boggy Bayou, one of the town’s red-light districts, which was located between Commerce Street and the present-day convention center. The mayor and his lawmen found themselves drawn into a three-day gunfight, as obstinate gamblers barricaded themselves into a gaming house and challenged the mayor to take them out by force. By the 1930s, sheriffs like R.A. “Smoot” Schmid (pictured) virtually ran the city. Smoot palled around with the likes of gambler Benny Binion and earned fame for his role in gunning down Bonnie and Clyde.

How old was Belle Swink when she died?

Belle Swink lived to the ripe old age of 103. During her lifetime, she saw Dallas’ streetcar system expand into a sophisticated public transit network that included hundreds of miles of rail and stretched from the Hampton Hills neighborhood in Oak Cliff to the Lakewood Country Club in East Dallas; from Mockingbird Lane in Highland Park to the Great Trinity Forest in South Dallas. By the time Swink died, in 1956, however, the streetcar that once bore her name was junked by city leaders in favor of the automobile and an encroaching interstate highway system.

What was the name of the red light district in Dallas?

In subsequent years, Dallas maintained its reputation for hardened justice. In the 1870s, Mayor Ben Long attempted to clean up Boggy Bayou, one of the town’s red-light districts, which was located between Commerce Street and the present-day convention center.

How many gamblers were there in Dallas?

At the time, it was estimated that Dallas was home to more than 100 professional gamblers. After being arrested for gambling in 1875, Doc moved on with his friend Wyatt Earp, eventually landing in Tombstone, Arizona. Streetcars on Elm Street in the 1920s. Dallas Public Library.

Why did Ray Charles move to Dallas?

When asked why he moved to Dallas in 1955, Ray Charles said he wanted to settle down with his new family and live in a central location that accommodated his heavy touring schedule. But Dallas in the mid-1950s was also a hotbed of R&B music. It was in South Dallas, while living in a small bungalow on Eugene Street, that Charles began to hone his sound, playing venues like the Empire Room and the Powell Hotel, which anchored the African-American entertainment scene in a harshly segregated city.

How did Frogtown get its name?

The name likely came from the frogs that could be heard croaking from a stream that fed the Trinity River. The women operated out of small two-room “cribs,” standing in open doorways to attract customers. Many of these buildings were owned by leading citizens of Dallas, including Dr. W.W. Samuell, for whom a park, road, and high school were named.

Overview

Settlement (1839–1855)

John Neely Bryan, looking for a good trading post to serve Native Americans and settlers, first surveyed the Dallas area in 1839, perhaps drawn by the intersection of Caddo trails at one of the few natural fords for hundreds of miles along the wide Trinity floodplain. Bryan also knew that the planned Preston Trail was to run near the ford — the north–south route and the ford at Bryan's Bluff became more important when the United States annexed Texas in 1845.

Territorial period (1500s–1838)

Early years (1856–1873)

Industrial period (1874–1929)

Oil period (1930–1945)

Mid century (1946–1974)

Real estate boom (1975–1985)

Overview

History

Geography

Demographics

Economy

Arts and culture

Sports

Parks and recreation