Dallas
County Job magnet still has its pull, and living downtown
is hot
More
people are making their homes among the bright lights of
downtown Dallas, and as many as 16,000 could be living there
by 2030.
Joseph Victor Stefanchik/Special Contributor
What historians say:
Cherokee warriors arrived from Arkansas in 1819 or 1820,
but withdrew after a three-year battle with prairie tribes.
By 1840, white explorers had begun to arrive. The first
to remain was John Neely Bryan, who established a settlement
in November 1841. Dallas County was officially formed by
order of the state Legislature from portions of Nacogdoches
and Robertson counties and was probably named for George
Mifflin Dallas, vice president of the United States under
James K. Polk. In 1850, the county had two churches and
10 one-teacher public schools, with a total of 170 students.
The largest crop was corn. By 1860, wheat was a major Dallas
County crop. In 1861, residents of the county voted overwhelmingly
for secession from the Union. In spite of the exodus of
soldiers, the county's population rose during the Civil
War, and the postwar era was prosperous. Between 1880 and
1920, Dallas County remained primarily rural and agricultural,
although manufacturing was growing. By 1885, the county
had five railroads. The county became more urban by 1920,
and its population increased rapidly starting in 1950.
What county officials say: "Dallas
County is growing at a rate of 5 to 6 percent," says
County Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield. "A lot of new
businesses are moving in, and we're competing well with
neighboring counties." That doesn't mean there aren't
challenges especially budgetary ones "but
that's nothing we can't deal with," he says. Mr. Mayfield
says he takes pride in the county's low tax rate, its excellent
bond rating and the social projects it's undertaking in
the areas of early childhood development and treatment of
the mentally disabled.
What demographers
say: "Dallas County is going to be at or near
build-out by 2030, and several of the towns Addison,
Farmers Branch, Irving will reach build-out before
that," says Rocky Gardiner, manager of research for
the North Central Texas Council of Governments. "The
good news is that the majority of growth in the city of
Dallas is in the southern half, along the I-20 corridor."
Also, more residents are moving to downtown. In 2000, there
were 1,600 downtown residents, and by 2030, there could
be 16,000, he says. "Dallas is the only county in our
10-county area that will add more jobs than people in our
30-year forecast. It's sustaining itself as a job magnet."
The challenges the county faces will come from redevelopment
and retraining people to use mass transit.
What Realtors say:
"Dallas is a big county, so we have contradictory numbers,"
says Michael Campbell, president of the Greater Dallas Association
of Realtors. "The first quarter for 2003 has been stronger
than the first quarter for 2002. The market has remained
solid. Prices have eroded less than 5 percent from last
year, although the days on market are a little longer. Inside
[Loop] 635 remains strong. Outside 635, it is my understanding
that prices are taking more of a hit. ... We think the interest
rates will stay in a favorable range, which we like to see.
We expect a strong 2003."
County trivia: The
nation's first convenience store, 7-Eleven, opened in Dallas
at Edgefield Avenue and 12th Street on July 11, 1927. Highland
Park Village, which opened in Highland Park in 1931, was
the nation's first large-scale shopping center.
Claudia
Brown, 87, weeds her garden in Irving.
Nathan Hinsinger/DMN
Capt.
Jack Bragg shows Deputy Chief June Kim-Edwards a photo
he just shot of her at the dedication of the Jack
Evans Police Headquarters in June.
Juan Garcia/DMN
DALLAS
HISTORICAL SOCIETY The main entry gate to the Texas
State Fair, photographed in 1898.
Mark M Hancock/DMN
Josh Naylor(right) of Dallas listens to instructions
before June's Tri-America Triathlon series in Irving.
Denton
County Sitting pretty with lots of land and nearby jobs
What historians say:
Whites' settlement of Denton County began after William
Peters of Louisville, Ky., got a land grant from the Texas
Congress in 1841. The area was part of what became known
as the Peters colony. The county was created out of Fannin
County in 1846 and was named for John B. Denton, a pioneer
Methodist minister who died in an Indian fight in 1841.
The county grew slowly until after the Civil War. Railroads
entered the area in the 1880s and had a great economic impact.
The county's growth and cultural life were influenced by
the location in Denton of two large state-supported universities:
the University of North Texas, established in 1890 as Texas
Normal College, and Texas Woman's University, which started
in 1903 as Girls Industrial College.
What county officials
say: Noting that Denton County was recently named
one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, Frank
Phillips, director of administration for the county judge's
office, says: "We attribute that to the diverse economy
in the metroplex and the abundance of every price range
of housing throughout the county. With that comes the challenges
of making sure our transportation infrastructure can support
additional traffic and that our county services can adequately
serve all of our residents. Denton County continues to proactively
pursue these issues."
What demographers
say: "It's Denton's turn," says Rocky
Gardiner, manager of research for the North Central Texas
Council of Governments. During the 1990s, the growth pattern
was along State Highway 121 from Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport to McKinney, but now there is a shift from D/FW
to Alliance Airport along State Highway 114, he says. "That
area is becoming a job corridor, and although the majority
of that is in Tarrant County, the growth from that corridor
will be felt in Denton County because of the availability
of open land. The city of Denton has some great plans set
in place for growth, and it even will have its own transportation
system before long. And Little Elm has been the fastest-growing
city, based on percentage growth, for the last three years."
What Realtors say:
Kaki Lybbert, president of the Denton/Wise County
Board of Realtors, says: "The bulk of the [home] buying
is at the lower end, under $250,000, and investment properties.
The high end is as slow as I've ever seen it. Denton County
is a booming place, all parts of it, but particularly the
south. There are just more houses, more people, more opportunities
in the south part of the county, and it's more ideal for
people who commute."
County trivia:
Denton was once designated as the place from which the president
of the United States would direct the country in case of
enemy attack. During the nuclear attack scares of the 1950s,
a large underground shelter was built on 20 acres donated
by residents of Denton to the Federal Civil Defense Administration.
The site is now the regional center for the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
DENTON
COUNTY COURTHOUSE-ON-THE-SQUARE MUSEUM
Workmen apply copper roofing material to the top of the
new Lewisville City Hall in March.
Jim Mahoney/DMN
More county trivia:
Denton County's two largest private employers are in Plano
and Fort Worth. Frito-Lay in Plano ranks No. 1, while American
Airlines' maintenance facility at Alliance Airport in Fort
Worth is No. 2.
Drew Hensell, 12, of Lewisville tries
to beat the heat at the Sun Valley Pool in Lewisville.
Jeremy
Fortney skateboards at Denton'sVertical Reality
Skate Park.
Jim Mahoney/DMN
John F. Rhodes/DMN
Nathan Hunsinger/DMN
Katherine Breunig
prepares her horse for a ride in Flower Mound.
The Denton Fire Department in front
of the county courthouse, probably circa 1900
Collin County The push farther north should
continue the boom
What historians say: Caddo Indians inhabited
the Collin County area until the mid-1850s. An offer of
land grants attracted settlers in the early 1840s. The county
was created from Fannin County in 1846 and named for Collin
McKinney, one of its first settlers and a signer of the
Texas Declaration of Independence. In 1861, Collin County
voted against secession, 948-405, but once Texas joined
the one federacy, more than 1,500 county residents enlisted
in the South's defense.
What county officials
say: "Even with the economic downturn, we
are still increasing both in population and businesses,"
says Joe Jaynes, county commissioner for Precinct 3. "However,
that means more roads, services and jail space, which are
all expensive." Also, because of the state's budget
difficulties, he says, "we can expect to see more expenses
pushed down to counties, plus more unfunded mandates. Thus
far, we are keeping ahead of these economic realities through
growth. However, reality is beginning to set in."
Plano West
seniors Patricia Antinori and Marcelo Preissler wait
in line for their prom photograph at The Infomart in Dallas
in April.
Melanie Burford/DMN
Jerry Hoagland, commissioner
for Precinct 2, says: "It's scary to think
that, in 20 years, Collin County could be as large as Dallas
County is today. That assumes that Collin County maintains
its current growth rate."
What demographers
say: "Collin County has been a growth magnet
in the region for the last 10 years or longer," says
Rocky Gardiner, manager of research for the North Central
Texas Council of Governments. Plano will be built out by
2010, and it will face the challenge of redevelopment. The
towns north of Plano Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Fairview,
Celina, Anna will see Plano-like growth, which all
comes from vacant land and affordability."
Joseph
Victor Stefanchik/DMN
Randy
Branscome, owner of Sugar Babe's Donut Shop in Melissa,
watches for customers very early on an April morning.
What Realtors say:
"Real estate and real estate-related fields are highly
viable industries in Collin County," says Karen Wunderlick,
president of the Collin County Association of Realtors.
"The northern quadrant to the west and to the east
still has high growth area potential. The number of houses
we've sold [as of April] is on track or slightly higher
than this time last year, mainly due to growth. Some of
the cities in Collin County have a sluggish resale market.
But the only market that could use a real boost from a sturdier
economy is the upper end of homes, over $450,000. We're
feeling very positive."
County trivia: In 2002 alone,
nearly 90 residents a day moved into Collin County, Mr.
Jaynes says. "What's remarkable," he adds, "is
that we are still almost two-thirds undeveloped."
Paul Litchford
(left) and J.C. Owensby
gather every morning with other local
farmers at Bill-Y-Bob's Cantina in Celina.
Ellis County Its country way of life keeps
the commuters coming
What historians say: Tonkawa Indians were
the earliest inhabitants of Ellis County. Part of the so-called
Peters colony settled here in the early 1840s. In 1849,
the county was created from Navarro County. It is named
for Richard Ellis, president of the convention that declared
Texas' independence. The most profitable business for the
early settlers was cattle-raising. During the Civil War,
the Confederate government operated a powder mill in Waxahachie
and a hat factory near the town of Italy. The Great Depression
dramatically changed the county, setting off an agricultural
decline.
Ellis
County Museum A statue stands as a tribute to all those
from
Ennis who died in U.S. wars through the 20th century.
Barbara Davidson/DMN
What county officials
say: "We are excited about the future of Ellis
County, and we are all working hard to make that future
a solid one," says County Judge Chad Adams. "The
challenges ahead include transportation and air-quality
issues. Both are key to our county's current residents and
to those who will discover the advantages of our lifestyle
in the future. The Commissioners Court is looking to members
of the community for insight in planning to meet these challenges.
Our focus is on long-range planning as it relates to infrastructure
and financial programming for the future. We are also working
with the North Central Texas Council of Governments to develop
up-to-date emergency management plans that coordinate well
together all across the region. We have applied for grant
funding through the Office of Domestic Preparedness."
What demographers
say: "Ellis is a rural county, with its growth
toward Dallas County," says Rocky Gardiner, manager
of research for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
"It has a lot of commuter traffic to Dallas."
There is talk of adding another highway loop for the southern
tip of Dallas County "and maybe part of Ellis County"
in 20 to 30 years, which will help the commuters, he says.
"There's also a lot of growth as technology grows.
More people are working from home."
What Realtors say:
"I've personally got as much business as I can handle,"
says broker Betty Venable, whose office is in Waxahachie.
"There was a lull when the war first started, but [as
of April] we're back on course. The rates are still good,
and unless something like 9-11 happens again, we don't expect
to slow down. We're seeing more people moving in from Dallas,
Arlington, Grand Prairie and Lancaster because they can
have a little land. There are some nice big homes going
in south of Waxahachie on two to five acres. It offers quieter,
more peaceful living conditions to raise children and to
have a little room. Our proximity to the Dallas area is
wonderful; it's only a 35- to 45-minute drive. We have the
best of both worlds here."
County trivia:
The voters of Ellis County were so outraged by the contracted
cost of building the courthouse – $150,000 –
that they defeated every incumbent county official in the
election of 1894. The courthouse opened in 1897 and is a
well-loved treasure with its elaborately decorated façade.
An antique car passes by the Ellis County Courthouse
in Waxahachie.
Ryan Donnell/Special Contributor
Ryan Donnell/Special Contributor
Cheryl Allen
(left) and Janis Byars talk during the Waxahachie
Farmer's Market in early June. Cotton wagons lined
up in downtown Waxahachie in 1882.
Kaufman County Rural appeal spurs development
but also plenty of challenges
What historians say: Caddo and Cherokee
Indians were the original settlers of Kaufman County before
whites drove them out in 1840. The county was created from
Henderson County and organized in 1848. It was named for
David Spangler Kaufman, a member of the Texas and U.S. congresses.
The county's wheat production reached a maximum yield in
1920, and cotton crops hit an all-time high in 1930. The
Great Depression and World War II resulted in decreased
farm values and increased unemployment. By 1940, nearly
1,000 workers were employed by government works programs
in the county.
What county officials
say: "Kaufman County is growing like wildfire,"
says County Commissioner Rhea Fox. "We have many quality
residential developments actively selling homes and lots.
Windmill Farms on Highway 80 just east of Forney is one
such development that has the distinction of being the No.
1 fastest-growing master plan development in North Texas.
I encourage folks in Dallas who would like a little taste
of the country life with the convenience of being just next
door to Dallas to 'come on down.' We pride ourselves in
being mighty friendly."
What demographers
say: "One of the biggest challenges for the
rural counties such as Kaufman and Ellis is unincorporated
growth," says Rocky Gardiner, manager of research for
the North Central Texas Council of Governments. "Close
to 1,000 homes a year have been built in the unincorporated
areas for the last couple of years, which presents challenges
to the farm-to-market roads, the school districts and the
water systems."
What Realtors say:
"This is a very good area for real estate. It's a nice
area to get away from the big city," says Pat Hottinger,
whose office is in Terrell. "There's a lot of new construction,
new areas for homes in the Terrell area, Kaufman ... and
Forney is growing by leaps and bounds. A lot of people are
investing their savings and stocks into rent houses. People
are still spending money."
County trivia:
The city of Kaufman was incorporated twice. The first time
was in 1872, seven years after the end of the Civil War.
But in protest against Reconstruction, the voters refused
to hold elections during the 1870s. In 1881, a second election
was required to reincorporate the town.
Homer
Armstrong has worked at the Tolosa Feed Store, outside
of Kemp, for 34 years and has been employed by four
different owners.
Ryan
Donnell /Special Contributor
Ryan
Donnell /Special Contributor
Greenslade
Drug Store, located on the Kaufman city square, has
been in the family of Dave Greenslade (right) since
1891
Wildflowers along FM1565 brighten
a field
in northern Kaufman County during June.
Rockwall County Smallest Texas county still
has room to grow
What historians say:
The region was home to several tribes of Caddo Indians when
Cherokee Indians arrived in the 1820s. When the first white
settlers came in the 1840s, they found various Indian groups
at war among themselves. The National Road of the Republic
of Texas was constructed through the area in the mid-1840s.
The main industry in the early years was cattle-raising.
In 1851, several farmers digging a well discovered a subterranean
rock wall, for which the town of Rockwall was named in 1854.
The county was created from Kaufman County in 1873.
What county officials
say: "Things are excellent in Rockwall County,
and with good reason," says Scott Self, county commissioner
for Precinct 2. "We are the fastest-growing county
in the nation. People are finally recognizing our quality
of life and the advantages of living here. We have a small-town
feel, and people are recognizing that, even though we are
growing, this is the smallest county [geographically] in
Texas. It will never be a large city. Knowing that it will
stay small has a lot of appeal."
Bruce Beaty, the
commissioner for Precinct 3, says: "We have
a good infrastructure to start with and have had steady
growth for several years. We would prefer for it to slow
down a bit. The government officials are having to keep
up. We still have a lot of unincorporated area left."
What demographers
say: Although Rockwall County is the fastest-growing
county in the United States, it still has a lot of vacant
land, says Rocky Gardiner, manager of research for the North
Central Texas Council of Governments. Heath has larger-lot-size
requirements, so it will fill out with fewer people, he
says. The county has Interstate 30 and State Highway 78,
"so they should be able to move people in and out."
What Realtors say:
"Rockwall County is unique because it is the smallest
county in the state, but it has one of the largest areas
of [vacant] land for people to build on," says Earl
Milner, whose office is in Rockwall. "Several schools
have passed significant bond packages. Business is good.
We had a 10 percent increase in the average sale price in
2002. What we are striving to get across is that Rockwall
is convenient to downtown Dallas. I can get you to downtown
in 25 minutes. Rockwall County is actually kind of hilly.
And we have Lake Ray Hubbard. When you get up on a hill,
you can see downtown Dallas. It's an awfully pretty sight."
County trivia: The
town of Fate, four miles northeast of Rockwell, was not
named for doom or predestination. It was named for early
settler Lafayette Brown. His wife's nickname for him was
Fate.
Rockwall's
town square was a busy place in 1920.
Ryan Dorsett/Special
Contributor
The
Rush Creek Yacht Club sponsored the
Black Tie Regatta Sailboat Race in April at
Lake Ray Hubbard.
Construction
reroutes traffic near the State Highway 66 bridge
in Rockwall.
.
ConstructionLaura
Napolitan plays the role of a victim diring a lifegaurd
class in Rockwalll.
Mo Sadpour/Special
Contributor
Summer
Smith-Zak/DMN
Barbara
Rimmer and her granddaughter Meredith Rimmer, 10,
inspect items at a Rockwall arts and crafts fair.
Tarrant
County Alliance, Benbrook fuel population
growth
What historians say:
Comanches, Kiowas and Wichitas moved into the region
by the late 1700s. Whites clashed with the native residents
when they arrived in the 1840s. The county was named for
Gen. Edward H. Tarrant, who helped drive Indians from the
area. The county was created in 1849 from Navarro County.
In the 1870s, Tarrant County experienced periods of prosperity
and economic depression, driven by cattle and railroads.
In the early 1900s, packinghouses and oil companies were
part of the business scene. The Army Air Corps operated
three airfields in the county, and after World War I, aviation
remained important to the county. Meacham Field began operation
in 1927. Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp., which eventually
became General Dynamics and then Lockheed Martin, began
operation in Fort Worth by the end of World War II. Bell
Helicopter, another major employer, moved to the county
in the early 1950s.
What county officials say: "Tarrant County continues
to be one of the state's economic bright spots," says
County Judge Tom Vandergriff. "The evidence abounds
– including a bustling downtown Fort Worth, a grand
entertainment district in Arlington and new rooftops being
erected in all four quadrants of the county. General Motors
in Arlington, Lockheed in Fort Worth and the Alliance and
D/FW airports continue to be stable economic engines generating
significant collateral growth. Two major corporations, Radio
Shack and Pier One, recently made major commitments to the
county through their decisions to develop and construct
multimillion-dollar campuses on the north end of downtown
Fort Worth along the banks of the Trinity River. Tarrant
County is ethnically, culturally, geographically and economically
diverse enough to offer something for anyone seeking a new
place to work and live."
What Realtors
say: "We are still having success in all
parts of the county," says Dave Bowman, chairman
of the Northeast Tarrant County Association of Realtors.
"The most popular area is in northeast Tarrant
County around the Alliance Corridor, including Southlake,
Trophy Club, Keller, Roanoke and Haslet. We still have
a lot of raw land and development, but [as of April]
pre-owned homes are still going at a brisk pace. ...
If we can stabilize American Airlines, we will see a
rebound in executive homes of over $500,000. Lockheed
has brought in quite a few transferees, which has helped
us quite a bit."
hat demographers
say: "Tarrant County is going to become Dallas
County," says Rocky Gardiner, manager of research for
the North Central Texas Council of Governments. "It
has more [absolute] population growth than any other county"
in COG's 10-county region. "It will add 800,000 in
this forecast [by 2030]. Fort Worth alone added 19,000 in
2002." The county's population continues to grow north
toward Alliance Airport, but the Benbrook area in the southwest
sector is also showing strong growth, he says.
County trivia:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as well as the Sam Bass
gang, occasionally hid from the law in what is today part
of downtown Fort Worth. (That's how Sundance Square got
its name.) "Hell's Half Acre," a wide-open, boisterous
area of bars, dance halls, gambling dens and brothels, developed
in the late 1800s on the south side of downtown.
Mamunatu
Alorwoyie (left) and Charity Amoa, members of an
African cultural troupe, perform a dance in April
at a Bedford event.
Nathan Hunsinger/DMN
Marine
Sgt. Major Lewis kisses his wife, Jennifer Lewis,
as he arrives at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve
Base in Fort Worth in May after serving in the Persian
Gulf region.
Kim Ritzenthaler/DMN
Runners
make their way under the Northside Drive overpass
in Fort Worth during the Cowtown Marathon in February.The annual event
draws thousands of runners.
Matt Rourke/DMN
Butch
Cassidy (right front) and Harry Longabaugh (left front),
better known as the Sundance Kid, sometimes hid in
Fort Worth.
