History
Dallas was founded in 1841, but it was not incorporated until 1856. The origin of the name of the city is unknown. In 1871, after the Civil War, Dallas finally became a city in the Republic of Texas. By the end of 1872, the city’s population was at 7,000 people, and was quickly rising because of the intersecting train lines running through the city. During the Depression in 1930’s, the city flourished from the discovery of oil a few towns over. In 1958, the integrated circuit was invented by Texas Instruments in Dallas. In the 80’s, the city’s iconic skyline was built, giving the city it’s modern contemporary feel. The metropolitan area of Dallas is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States (http://economywatchblog.dallasnews.com/, 2010).
Women in Dallas and WWII
During World War II, Dallas was hit as hard as the rest of the country. While their husbands were over sea, fighting for their country, the women back home were working just as hard to give support at home. The story of Rosemary Wilkes show this exactly. Her husband Lowell served in Italy for most of the war. Rosemary helped around her community, rallying for support and keeping her husband’s spirits up. She also worked at an oil company which provided the gas used by the troops
(http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosemary.htm, 2009).
(http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosemary.htm, 2009).
Culture
Dallas is know for a few different things. One of the most noticeable is the different foods for sale in the city. Because of Mexico on it’s southern border, authentic Mexican is very popular in the city, along with classic foods of the south such as BBQ. Dallas has a dedicated arts district, which is home to many different galleries, including the Dallas Museum of Art. Of course, Dallas is also home to the Dallas Cowboys football team.
Economy
Dallas’ economy is primarily based on technology, insurance, life sciences, and telecommunications. Behind Silicon Valley, the city is the 2nd largest technological center in the country. The city is also a major hotspot for the shipping industry, as it is home to a mid-continent international airport. In 2004, the airport ferried over 244,515 metric tons of goods around the country and around the globe.
Interesting Facts
- According to the American Lung Association, Dallas has the 12th highest air pollution among U.S. cities, ranking it behind Los Angeles and New York.
- The Dallas Farmers Market is the largest working farmer’s market in the United States, with more than 1 million visitors annually.
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, larger than the island of Manhattan, is the third busiest airports in the world with some 1,600 flights per day.
- One in 11 Dallas-area workers is employed by the hospitality industry.
- Dallas has the ninth largest population in the nation.
- The Dallas Public Library permanently displays one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed on July 4, 1776, and the First Folio of William Shakespeare’s “Comedies, Histories & Tragedies.”
