Old East Dallas, Dallas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old East Dallas
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An old house in Old East Dallas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Dallas |
| City | Dallas |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.41 sq mi (6.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 505 ft (154 m) |
| Population
(2014)
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| • Total | 43,143 |
| ZIP code |
75214, 75204
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| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 972 |
Old East Dallas is a group of neighborhoods in the eastern part of Dallas, Texas, in the USA. It's a place with a mix of old history and new, exciting culture.
Back in 1890, East Dallas became part of the larger city of Dallas. This made Dallas the biggest city in Texas at that time. Even though it's called "Old" East Dallas, it's full of new ideas. After it joined Dallas, creative people turned old buildings into cool clubs and places for events. This brought a lot of culture and fun social spots that are still popular today, especially in areas like Deep Ellum.
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The Story of Old East Dallas
This area started as a 40-acre piece of land east of Dallas. The Beeman family settled there in the 1860s. In 1872, a man named William H. Gaston began to encourage people to build homes there.
Only four families moved there at first. But when railroads came to Dallas, many railroad workers built houses between Dallas and East Dallas.
Gaston wanted the railroads to come through East Dallas. So, he gave the railroad companies US$5,000. He also gave them free land to build their tracks. The Houston and Texas Central Railroad arrived on July 16, 1872. The Texas and Pacific Railway arrived on February 22, 1873.
East Dallas Becomes a City
On September 9, 1882, the area officially became a city called "East Dallas." It covered about 1,400 acres. Some people thought it should be named "Gaston" after William H. Gaston.
The small city had a government run by "aldermen," who were like city council members. In 1883, they passed a tax law to raise money for city services.
The first schools in East Dallas were built in 1883. They served 400 white students and 60 black students. In 1886, the first all-brick schoolhouse in Dallas County was built in East Dallas. This building was also the East Dallas City Hall. The city offices were on the first floor, and the school was on the upper floors. In 1922, Baylor Hospital bought the building.
Growth and the State Fair
Fairgrounds, which are places for big events and fairs, were first located near what is now I-45 and Pacific Avenue. They moved to the Gaston and Hall Street area in 1872.
In 1887, the State Fair of Texas and Dallas Exposition opened at Fair Park. This helped East Dallas grow even more. Fair Park is still where the State Fair happens today. By the late 1880s, East Dallas had 6,000 residents. By 1889, most homes in the city had running water.
Joining Dallas
In 1889, a Texas state senator named R.S. Kimbrough wanted East Dallas to become part of Dallas. People generally believe this was to make Dallas the biggest city in Texas. This effort worked, and Dallas became the largest city in Texas by the 1890 census.
On December 31, 1889, the day before East Dallas officially joined Dallas, the East Dallas city council approved $45,000 in street improvements. This meant the city of Dallas had to pay for these improvements. Dallas took on all of East Dallas's debt when they merged.
Neighborhoods in Old East Dallas
Old East Dallas is made up of many different neighborhoods, each with its own unique feel. Some of these include:
- Baylor-Meadows
- Belmont Park
- Bryan Place
- Cityplace
- Cochran Heights
- Deep Ellum
- Fitzhugh-Capitol
- Mill Creek
- Mount Auburn
- Munger Place Historic District
- Peak's Suburban Addition
- Rosewood
- Swiss Avenue
- Junius Heights Historic District
