History of Dallas (1839–1855) facts for kids
The city of Dallas, Texas, has a rich past. Its story begins in 1839 with its first settlement. This early period also saw the creation of Dallas County.
Early Settlement of Dallas
In 1839, a man named John Neely Bryan explored the Dallas area. He was looking for a good spot to set up a trading post. This post would serve both Native Americans and new settlers.
Bryan noticed something special about the Trinity River. It had a natural crossing point, or "ford," that was rare for hundreds of miles. This spot, known as "Bryan's Bluff," was where the wide river narrowed. It crossed over a hard rock ridge. This made it a perfect north-south path for travel. This route became even more important when the United States took over Texas in 1845.
Bryan went back home to Arkansas after his survey. While he was gone, a treaty was signed. This treaty moved many Native American groups out of North Texas. When Bryan returned in November 1841, many of his potential customers were gone. So, he changed his plan. Instead of a trading post, he decided to start a permanent town.
He founded the settlement that same month. About 22 miles (35 km) northwest was a community called Bird's Fort. Bryan invited those settlers to come live in his new city. John Beeman arrived in April 1842 and planted the first corn. Other families soon followed, including some from the nearby Peter's Colony settlement.
John Neely Bryan was very important to early Dallas. He was the postmaster and a storeowner. He also ran a ferry across the Trinity River. His home even served as the courthouse! In 1843, the first doctor came to Dallas. In 1845, the first lawyer moved there. That same year, Dallas held its first election. Citizens voted on whether Texas should join the United States. Out of 32 voters, 29 voted yes.
How Dallas Got Its Name
In 1844, John Neely Bryan asked J. P. Dumas to map out the new town. They planned a 0.5 square mile (1.3 km2) area of blocks and streets. This area later became downtown Dallas. The new settlement was named Dallas.
Many people think the city was named after George M. Dallas. He became the Vice President a few months later. However, this idea has some problems. George M. Dallas lived far away in Philadelphia. Bryan had never traveled that far east. It's unlikely they ever met. So, there are other ideas about how Dallas got its name:
- It might have been named after George M. Dallas's brother, Alexander James Dallas. He was a U.S. Navy officer in the Gulf of Mexico.
- It could be named after their father, Alexander James Dallas. He was the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury around 1812.
- The name might have come from a town-naming contest in 1842.
- John Neely Bryan's son once said his father named the town "after my friend Dallas." We don't know who this friend was.
- It might be named after Joseph Dallas, who settled near Dallas in 1843.
- The name could come from "Dalais," a Scottish Gaelic word meaning 'valley of water.'
- It might be named after the Scottish village of Dallas in Scotland.
Dallas County was officially created in 1846. The city of Dallas was chosen as the temporary county seat. This meant it was the main town for county government. In 1850, Dallas became the permanent county seat. It won over other nearby towns like Cedar Springs and Hord's Ridge. Both of these places are now part of Dallas.
