History of Dallas Texas

About Our History

Food Tours of America was founded in a suburb of Dallas, Texas called Uptown in West Village in 2011 by Jodi Phillipson. Dallas is rich with entertainment, sports, shopping, and of course, food. Uptown in West Village is a great area to visit because it is extremely easy to get around on foot. Spend the afternoon strolling down McKinney Ave, taking in all of the shopping areas, beautiful residential neighborhoods, and exciting food venues. We are also easily accessible by the DART’s Red and Blue Lines, and by the Historic McKinney Ave Trolley.

FOOD TOURS IN DALLAS!

Food Tours of America Dallas provides you with an exquisite taste of Dallas that you won’t be able to get anywhere else. The food alone is enough reason to visit Dallas, but here are some other reasons you should make your way over to one of America’s most popular cities:

 

Dallas is home to the nation’s largest arts district. Yep, you heard that right! In the heart of Downtown Dallas, you will find galleries, museums, art venues and exhibitions that sprawl 19 blocks and nearly 70 acres. This cultural mecca of art is not to be missed on your trip. Live music, street art, and good eats are all the norm in Dallas.

 

Dallas is the 9th largest city in the United States. It is home to a whopping five professional sports teams: The Dallas Cowboys (NFL); Dallas Stars (NHL); Dallas Mavericks (NBA); FC Dallas (MLS) and the Texas Rangers (MLB) plus NASCAR and Indy racing. For golf lovers, Dallas is also home to over 200 golf courses!

 

Both the frozen margarita and German Chocolate Cake were invented and originated in Dallas.

 

Over 30 Million people visit Dallas each year. People come from all over to visit the area for pleasure, business, or both. Dallas is home to 18 Fortune 500 companies, so it is no wonder that so many businesses operate here! Visitors travel through one of the two major airports that call Dallas home, Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport. Getting around is easy via the DART, and finding a place to stay is no problem with our wide array of hotels and resorts.

 

When you make your way to Dallas, be sure to call us at 214-272-2327 to schedule a one of our four food tours that operate five days out of the week. We look forward to seeing you in beautiful Dallas, Texas!

HISTORY OF DALLAS TIMELINE

The city of Dallas is known for its lavish, southern lifestyle and appealing culture. But before it became one of the largest cities in Texas and the United States, Dallas was merely a promising settlement. Dallas has come a long way and is now a popular city for tourists to visit when in Texas. Explore this brief timeline of how Dallas became the city we know and love today.

SETTLING IN DALLAS (1839-1855)

In need of a trading post for visiting Native Americans and settlers, farmer John Neely Bryan first plotted the Dallas area in 1839. While Bryan was home in Arkansas, a treaty would be signed that removed all Native Americans from North Texas. Half of Bryan’s customers were now gone, so he chose to start a permanent settlement in November 1841.

EARLY YEARS IN DALLAS (1856-1873)

Dallas was given a town charter in February 1856 and elected Samuel Pryor to be the first major. In July of that year, a fire burned down most of Dallas. That was quickly followed by the Civil War, but Dallas would not suffer any damage during the war. Dallas became an official city in 1871 and by 1873 the population rose to 4,000 as a result of railroad expansion.

INDUSTRIAL PERIOD IN DALLAS (1874-1929)

Dallas grew into a developed city and would also become the most populated city in the state. Farmers were struggling so the city adapted and became stronger industrially. By 1929, Dallas would grow into a leading cotton, insurance, banking and fashion center.

OIL BOOM (1930-1945)

Despite the Great Depression, the construction business was thriving in 1930. The East Texas oil boom made Dallas a leader in the oil industry. The depression in 1931 left more than 18,000 people in the city without a job. Dallas’ Ford Motor plant would be used to make jeeps and military trucks starting in 1942 to help the war effort and improve the economy.

MIDCENTURY (1946-1974)

Dallas became one of the nation’s largest centers for technology during the 1950s and 1960s. On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in Downtown Dallas. The Texas School Book Depository is now a museum that tourists can visit.

RISE OF REAL ESTATE (1975-1985)

Dallas’ real estate surged during the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. This led to the modern look of the downtown area and iconic skyline. In 1984, the Republican National Convention was held in Dallas. The 72-floor Bank of America Plaza was built the following year and became Dallas’ tallest building.

RECESSION IN DALLAS TEXAS (1986-1995)

A combination of too much building, the Savings and Loan crisis and a recession in the early 1980s led to a decade stretch of economic turmoil. Annette Strauss became Dallas’ first female major in 1987 and in 1991, and the city celebrated its 150th anniversary.

DALLAS PRESENT DAY (1996-Present)

Dallas became known as Texas’ Silicon Valley or “Silicon Prairie” due to the rise of the telecom industry. However, the terrorist attacks in 2001 helped lead to another recession and much like New York City, Dallas would bounce back. Starting in 2004, Dallas would begin to turn the economy around once again. Towards the end of the 2000s and into 2010, numerous buildings were built Uptown leading to more residences living in Dallas.

 

Today, Dallas is known for its rich history, culture and much more. The city has overcome so much to reach the current status it enjoys. With Food Tours Dallas, we can show you where the city has been, where it is now, where it is going in the future. Be a part of the history of Dallas, one of America’s favorite cities, by going on a food tour with us today.

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