Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW Metroplex)

History of Dallas-Fort Worth

Making up a large part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Texas is the third largest city in Texas with a population of 1.2 million people, according to the 2015 U.S. Census. This prosperous city was founded in 1841 and is now one of the eleven U.S. “world cities” due to its booming economic health. 

Fort Worth, on the other hand, is where the West begins. The city of Fort Worth was originally established in 1849 as an army outpost and quickly grew into a bustling settlement, fueled by farming, trade and the presence of the U.S. army. During the 1860s, the settlement suffered due to the Civil War and reconstruction, but it managed to thrive due to the development of the cattle industry.

The Texas Spring Palace, an agricultural exhibition center, also played a large role in drawing visitors to the area and commercialism continued to grow. The rapid expansion of the Dallas-Fort Worth area can be attributed to historic economic factors such as the meat packing industry, farming, the oil and energy boom and corporate business, as well as the introduction of the Texas and Pacific Railway.

In 1963, an unthinkable act of hate cast a shadow over the Dallas-Fort Worth area, when John F. Kennedy was assassinated in the Dealey Plaza of downtown Dallas in 1963. In 1970, The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial was erected in the historic district of downtown Dallas in his honor, and it, as well as the site of the assassination, continues to be a frequently visited landmark in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

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Land Area & Population

The land that is now the DFW Metroplex was previously referred to as “North Texas” but in 1972, the North Texas Commission (NTC) copyrighted the term “Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex”. The Metroplex encompasses 13 different counties in North Texas, and the total land area (9,286 square miles) is larger than the entirety of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined.

The DFW Metroplex continues to be one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country, with an estimated total population of 7,102,796 in 2015 according to the U.S. Census. In addition, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has a track record for some of the fastest growth in the nation, gaining an astounding 146,530 new residents in just a 12-month period from 2008-2009.

The median household income in the DFW Metroplex is $48,062 and the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Arlington serve as major hubs for manufacturing, tourism and sports events.

Transportation

There are many different forms of transportation available to residents of the DFW Metroplex. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is the largest airport in Texas and the second largest in the U.S. Love Field Airport is also located in Dallas.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is a railway system offering transportation to thirteen cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and bus service is offered in several counties in the area, including Dallas, Rockwall, Collin, Tarrant and Denton counties.

The DFW Metroplex also has the highest amount of freeway miles per capita in the U.S., stretching all the way across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, into its neighboring North Texas communities, and even down to Houston.

In addition to freeways, DFW Metroplex have several tollways to help your reach your destination. The North Texas Tollway Authority, or the NTTA, is a crucial component of the transportation system in North Texas, operating more than 950 toll miles in the region. These tollways include:

Rivers and Lakes:

The Trinity River, which is the longest river in Texas, is the main defining river found in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Popular lakes in the DFW Metroplex area include Lake Whitney, White Rock Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lewisville Lake and Kingdom Lake.

What People Are Saying About the DFW Metroplex County:

  • Business Insider named Dallas-Fort Worth America’s eighth “best big city to live in right now.”
  • Forbes ranked Dallas as No. 4 on their list of “20 Best Cities for Young Professionals”.
  • In 2015, WalletHub ranked Carrollton, Texas as the sixth healthiest housing market
  • According to Site Selection, March 2016, Dallas-Fort Worth ranks #3 Best Metro Area in the U.S.
  • According to Zillow in January 2016, The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex ranks as the 3rd Hottest Housing Market for 2016.
  • According to PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute, “Dallas-Fort Worth is the #1 commercial real estate market to watch based on investment, development and homebuilding prospects” in 2015.

Top 10 Employers in the DFW Metroplex:

The city of Dallas has one of the highest concentration of corporate headquarters in the U.S. Ten of the top employers in the DFW Metroplex include:

  • American Airlines
  • Bank of America Corp.
  • Texas Health Resources Inc.
  • Dallas ISD
  • Baylor Health Care System
  • AT&T
  • Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co.
  • JP Morgan Chase & Co.
  • UT-Southwestern Medical Center
  • City of Dallas

If you would like to learn more about living in a thriving county such as Dallas County, would like to schedule a home viewing or sell your current home, contact an experienced real estate agent. Brian S. Curry is a knowledgeable real estate agent with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and Collin County Homes. He would be glad to help you discover the home of your dreams or sell your existing home.

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Living in the Dallas Fort-Worth Area

Dallas-Fort Worth is an extremely exciting place to live. One of the top tourist destinations in Texas, the DFW Metroplex is home to the Dallas Arts District, the largest urban arts district in the United States, and the area also hosts some of the biggest sports events in the country.

Popular Attractions & Landmarks:

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  • Stockyard’s Championship Rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum: Fort Worth’s year-round rodeo, this historic attraction is the authentic western experience.
  • AT&T Stadium: An impressive venue for sporting and entertainment events like the Cotton Bowl Classic and the nation’s top performing artists. At a cost of over one billion dollars, the AT&T stadium is the world’s largest dome structure. Home of the Dallas Cowboys, this stadium has the capacity to seat 80,000 people.
  • Downtown Dallas: With countless restaurants, shops, attractions, museums, parks and events, Downtown Dallas is the place to be for a day or night out on the town.
  • Texas Motor Speedway: Located in Fort Worth, the Texas Motor Speedway hosts several large events annually, including the Firestone 600, Duck Commander 500, AAA Texas 500, the Lone Star Legends and more.
  • Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie: This horse racing track and entertainment venue in Grand Prairie attracts thousands of visitors every year with live horse races and exciting community events.
  • Dallas Museum of Art: The Dallas Museum of Art is a highly-acclaimed cultural landmark in the DFW Metroplex, boasting a rich history and an ever-growing venue for concerts, community events, traveling collections and more.
  • Billy Bob’s Texas: Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth is a one-of-a-kind adventure for residents and visitors, featuring live music, bull riding, a huge dance floor, 30+ bar stations, pool tables, an arcade and much more.
  • Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens: Events for adults and children, as well as beautiful scenery and gardens attract visitors to this incredible Dallas attraction year-round.
  • Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza: Located on the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building, this museum features exhibits on the life of JFK and his assassination in 1963.
  • NorthPark Center: This mall in Dallas offers luxury shopping and is home to more than 235 retail shops. Continually expanding, this large mall covers around 2,000,000 sq. ft., which is almost the size of the United States Capitol!
  • Dallas Zoo: The largest and oldest zoo in Texas, the Dallas Zoo hosted more than 1 million visitors in 2015 alone.
  • American Airlines Center: This sports arena is home to the Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks, as well as several bars, restaurants and a variety of events and concerts.
  • Dallas World Aquarium: One of the top attractions in Downtown Dallas, the Dallas World Aquarium brags breathtaking exhibits of land and sea animals, a manatee webcam, and interactive events and attractions for visitors.
  • George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum: This library and museum exhibits the career and life of George W. Bush. This attraction also provides insight and education toward presidency, American history and public policy.

Special Events & Festivals:

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  • State Fair of Texas: Since first opening in 1886, this family-friendly event offers summertime excitement in the form of games, attractions, mouth-watering food, live shows and more. The State Fair of Texas draws around 3 to 3.5 millions of visitors each year.
  • Christmas in the Square: Held each year in the Frisco Square, Christmas in the Square attracts more than 750,000 people annually and is the largest choreographed holiday lights and music show in North Texas.
  • Dallas Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade: Attracting more than 250,000 attendees each year, typically in January, this parade in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. features marching bands, dancing and more.
  • Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo: This Southwestern exposition and livestock show features exciting live rodeo shows, livestock expositions, parades and more. With a rich history and tradition, the first stock show in Fort Worth took place in 1896.
  • AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Classic: This popular golf event is a Dallas-Fort Worth tradition, celebrating professional golf legend, Byron Nelson.
  • North Texas Irish Festival: The largest Celtic festival in the United States, this Irish celebration hosts authentic Celtic performers, a Celtic village, delicious Irish food and many other activities the whole family can enjoy. The next North Texas Irish Festival will occur between March 3, 2017 and March 5, 2017.
  • Savor Dallas: Four whole days of food, wine and spirits attract thousands to the Savor Dallas event each year. Typically occurring in April, foodies and wine lovers from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond all flock to the main event, as well as smaller events throughout the year.
  • Great American Trucking Show: GATS is hosted in Dallas each year and is one of the largest trucking shows in the U.S. With more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space, this event features educational events, live music, vendor booths, and plenty of food and drinks.  This popular event occurs annually near the end of summer.
  • Cotton Bowl Classic: This classic American college football tradition is held annually at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Professional Sports Teams:

Major Colleges & Universities: 

Resources for Residents:

Counties in Dallas-Fort-Worth

  • Collin County – Population: 914,127
  • Dallas County – Population: 2,553,385
  • Denton County – Population: 780,612
  • Ellis County – Population: 163,632
  • Hood County – Population: 55,423
  • Hunt County – Population: 89,844
  • Johnson County – Population: 159,990
  • Kaufman County – Population: 114,690
  • Parker County – Population: 126,042
  • Rockwall County – Population: 90,861
  • Somervell County – Population: 8,739
  • Tarrant County – Population: 1,982,498
  • Wise County – Population: 62,953

Contact Brian S. Curry with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and Collin County Homes if you’re interested in learning more about living in Collin, Denton or Dallas County. He can assist in scheduling a viewing to see a home or sell your existing home. He is a RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs real estate agent and would be happy to help you find the perfect home or sell your existing home.

Disclaimer: Information as of December 23, 2016. All of the information is deemed reliable, however, some information including dates, statistics, and quotes may be subject to change.