Richardson, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richardson, Texas
City
A plaza near Galatyn Park station in 2019
Flag
Nickname(s):  "The Telecom Corridor"
Location within Dallas County and the state of Texas
Richardson, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Richardson, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Dallas Collin
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	28.66 sq mi (74.22 km2)
• Land	28.57 sq mi (73.99 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation	633 ft (193 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	119,469
• Rank	US: 240th
• Density	4,168.49/sq mi (1,609.66/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	75080–75083, 75085
Area code(s)	214, 469, 945, 972
FIPS code	48-61796
GNIS feature ID	2410933

Richardson is a city in Texas, located in Dallas and Collin counties. It is a close neighbor, or inner suburb, of the big city of Dallas. In 2020, about 119,469 people lived here.

Richardson is known for being home to the University of Texas at Dallas. It also has a special area called the Telecom Corridor. This area has many companies that work with phones and internet technology. Over 5,000 businesses operate in Richardson. Many of these are large telecommunications and networking companies. Big names like AT&T, Verizon, Cisco Systems, and Samsung have offices here. The city is also a major center for the insurance industry. Companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and State Farm Insurance have large offices in Richardson.

History of Richardson

Early Settlement and Growth

People from Kentucky and Tennessee first settled near what is now Richardson in the 1840s. Before the Civil War, a small community called Breckenridge existed. In 1873, a railway company, the Houston and Texas Central Railway, built a train station nearby. The company bought land and started selling plots in 1874. The town was named after Alfred S. Richardson, who was the secretary of the railroad company.

In 1908, an electric railway called the Interurban connected Richardson to other cities like Denison and Dallas. By 1910, about 600 people lived in Richardson. A red brick schoolhouse was built in 1914. This building is now used as an office for the Richardson Independent School District. In 1924, a major road, the Red Brick Road (now Greenville Avenue), was finished. This road brought more people and businesses to the town. Richardson officially became a city and elected its first mayor in 1925. By 1940, the population grew to about 740.

Post-War Expansion

After World War II, Richardson grew very quickly. By 1950, the population was around 1,300. The 1950s saw more growth with new businesses, the Central Expressway highway, a police department, shopping centers, and many new homes. Texas Instruments opened offices near Richardson in 1956. This led to a big increase in land value and the city's economy.

In the 1960s, Richardson continued to expand. Several new parks and facilities were built. The University of Texas at Dallas was also created within the city. By 1972, the population had reached about 56,000. Residential growth continued through the 1970s. In 1996, the city of Buckingham, which was completely surrounded by Richardson, became part of Richardson.

By 2002, Richardson had four light rail stations from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). The city also built the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. This center has a public plaza, a hotel, and other developments. For a long time, Richardson was a "dry city," meaning alcohol could not be sold. But in November 2006, people voted to allow the sale of beer and wine in stores. In 2008, a TV show called Peter Perfect filmed an episode in Richardson, helping to redesign a local business.

Geography and Climate

Map of Richardson

Richardson is mostly surrounded by the cities of Dallas, Plano, and Garland. It borders different parts of Dallas to the south and west. To the north, it borders Plano, and to the east, it borders Murphy and Sachse.

The city covers about 28.66 square miles (74.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. About two-thirds of Richardson is in Dallas County, and the northern third is in Collin County.

Climate in Richardson

Richardson has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool.

People of Richardson

Map of racial distribution in Richardson, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: ⬤ White ⬤ Black ⬤ Asian ⬤ Hispanic ⬤ Multiracial ⬤ Native American/Other

In 2020, Richardson had 119,469 people living in 44,136 households. The population density was about 4,168 people per square mile. The average household had 2.63 people. About 21.9% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 37.2 years.

Diversity in Richardson

Richardson is a very diverse city. By 2015, about 24.3% of the people living in Richardson were born outside the United States. Many of these new residents arrived after 2000.

Dallas County has many Arab Americans, and many of them live in Richardson. They come from countries like Egypt, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. Richardson is also home to the DFW Chinatown. This is because of the large Asian population in the area. Chinese immigration to Richardson started in 1975. The Chinese community has grown a lot since then.

The Dallas Chinese Community Center (DCCC) is located in the DFW Chinatown. It offers classes like English as a second language (ESL). It also has many books in Chinese. The University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson has many Chinese students.

Richardson also has a large Indian immigrant community. Many of them work in the telecommunications industry. The Indian Association of North Texas has its main office in Richardson. There are also stores that cater to the Indian community.

A large community of Vietnamese Americans also lives in Richardson. You can find many Vietnamese stores and markets, especially near U.S. 75.

Economy and Jobs

Richardson's economy has grown a lot over the years. The city's total property value increased significantly from 2005 to 2017. Sales tax collection also went up.

Since 2008, major financial rating companies have given Richardson a top credit rating of "AAA." This means the city is very good at managing its money. In 2015, it was estimated that about 156,065 people were in Richardson during the daytime for work.

The economy is still strongly connected to the telecommunications industry. However, Richardson's job market is diverse. It includes other important areas like insurance, health care, technology, and finance.

In 2014, the Richardson Fire Department received a Class 1 ISO rating. This is the highest rating for fire protection. It can help lower insurance costs for people in the city.

Companies with Headquarters in Richardson

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Several major companies have their main offices in Richardson. These include:

• Metro by T-Mobile
• Fossil Group
• Lennox International
• id Software
• BlueCross BlueShield of Texas
• RealPage
• Fujitsu Network Communications (U.S. Headquarters)
• Samsung Mobile

Top Employers in Richardson

Fossil Group headquarters (in the background)

Here are some of the largest employers in Richardson as of May 2018:

Arts and Culture

The Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts is a major cultural spot in Richardson. It hosts performances by the Richardson Symphony Orchestra and the Plano Symphony Orchestra.

City Government

Richardson became an official city in 1925. It uses a council-manager system. This means voters elect a City Council and a mayor every two years. The City Council then hires a city manager. The city manager is in charge of running the day-to-day operations of the city.

The city provides many services to its residents. These include police and fire protection, ambulance services, water and sewer, trash collection, parks, and cultural events. Richardson also has a public library and two golf courses. The city plans for future land use and manages traffic.

Education in Richardson

Colleges and Universities

UT Dallas Student Services Building - A LEED Platinum Building

The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas or UTD) is a public research university. Its main campus is located within Richardson. The campus is quite large, covering about 445 acres. UT Dallas has been investing a lot in new and improved buildings since 2009. For the fall 2016 semester, over 26,793 students were enrolled at UTD.

Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College District) serves areas in Dallas County. Richland College, part of Dallas College, is located near the Richardson border. It is the largest school in the Dallas College system, with nearly 20,000 students.

Residents in Collin County are served by Collin College.

Public Schools

Richardson is served by two main school districts: the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) and the Plano Independent School District (PISD). Most of RISD is actually outside Richardson, with 60% in Dallas and 5% in Garland.

Both RISD and PISD have many Blue Ribbon Schools. The Blue Ribbon award is a high honor for schools in the United States.

High schools in Richardson that are part of RISD include Richardson High School, Lloyd V. Berkner High School, and J.J. Pearce High School.

Parts of Richardson in the Plano Independent School District are served by several elementary, middle, and high schools. Some elementary schools like Aldridge, Haggar, and Miller are in Richardson. Other schools serving Richardson students are located in Plano or Murphy.

Private Schools

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas operates two K–8 schools in Richardson: St. Joseph School and St. Paul the Apostle School. Other private schools include Canyon Creek Christian Academy (K–12), North Dallas Adventist Academy (K–12), and Salam Academy (K–12).

Charter Schools

Four charter schools operate in Richardson:

• Evolution Academy Charter School (grades 9–12)
• Premier High School of Richardson (grades 6–12)
• Vista Academy of Richardson (grades K–12)
• Winfree Academy Charter School (Richardson) (grades 9–12)

Public Library

The Richardson Public Library is located at 900 Civic Center Drive. The library started in 1947 as a small branch of the Dallas County Library. In 1958, it became a city department. The current four-story building opened in 1970.

The library has grown and improved over the years. In 1995, it expanded, and in 2006, the Youth Services department was made larger. In 2008, the library set a record by circulating over 1 million items in a year. The library has also added digital resources like movies, music, and magazines. In 2015, it created a "makerspace" with a 3-D printer and other creative tools. The Texas Municipal League has recognized the library for its excellence every year from 2004 to 2017.

Transportation

A DART light rail Red Line train at Galatyn Park station in Richardson

Richardson has two major highways that help people get around. The President George Bush Turnpike runs along the northern edge of the city. It connects to the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and other major highways.

Richardson also has the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Light Rail system. This rail line runs next to U.S. 75 and has four stations in the city. In October 2016, DART approved plans for the Silver Line commuter rail. This line will connect DFW Airport to eastern Plano. Richardson will have stations at The University of Texas at Dallas and CityLine. The Silver Line is expected to start service in 2025.

Central Trail

Central Trail

The Central Trail is a popular hike and bike trail in Richardson. Extensions to the trail opened in 2014 and 2015. This means the trail now runs from one end of Richardson to the other. It will eventually connect to other trails in the region.

Bike Lanes

In July 2015, Richardson was recognized as a "Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community." The city has a plan to add more bike facilities and routes on quieter roads. There are now over 15 miles of bike lanes in Richardson.

Major Highways in Richardson

• Interstate 635 (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway)
• U.S. Highway 75 (North Central Expressway)
• State Highway 190 (President George Bush Turnpike) (toll road)

Light Rail Stations

• DART: Red Line and Orange Line
  • Spring Valley
  • Arapaho Center
  • Galatyn Park
  • CityLine/Bush

Notable People from Richardson

Many interesting people have connections to Richardson.

Arts and Entertainment

• Jensen Ackles, Actor/musician
• Steve Benson, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist
• Bill Engvall, actor and comedian
• Jeff Dunham, ventriloquist and stand-up comedian
• Mike Judge, creator of King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-Head
• Caleb Landry Jones, actor/musician
• Jaren Lewison, actor
• Jake McDorman, actor
• Ashlee Simpson, entertainer
• Jessica Simpson, entertainer
• Nick Stahl, actor
• Barry Watson, actor, 7th Heaven

Business and Innovation

• Bette Nesmith Graham, inventor of Liquid Paper

Music

• John Gary, RCA recording artist- vocalist
• Bubba Hernandez, Grammy Award winning Bassist
• Frank Ticheli, composer

Politics and Public Service

• Angie Chen Button, state representative
• Scott Turner, former Texas representative and NFL player

Sports

• Jeff Agoos, soccer player
• Lance Armstrong, former cyclist
• Justin Che, soccer player
• Keenan Evans, basketball player
• Nolan Fontana, baseball player
• Chris Jacke, NFL kicker
• Justin Leonard, professional golfer
• Liam McNeeley, basketball player
• Shawn Michaels, WWE wrestler
• Lee Nguyen, soccer player
• Carla Overbeck, founding member, Women's United Soccer Association
• Matt Stover, NFL kicker
• Everson Walls, NFL defensive back

Writers

• Rogers Cadenhead, author
• Deborah Crombie, mystery writer
• Gjekë Marinaj, Albanian-American poet
• Anne Rice, author
• John Maddox Roberts, science fiction author

See also

In Spanish: Richardson (Texas) para niños

• Dallas Repertory Company Theater