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

This city is famous 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, internet, and other communication technologies. Over 5,000 businesses operate in Richardson. Many of these are large telecommunications and networking companies.

Richardson is also a big center for the insurance industry. Companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, GEICO, United Healthcare, and State Farm Insurance have major offices here.

History of Richardson

Early Settlers and Growth

People from Kentucky and Tennessee first settled near what is now Richardson in the 1840s. Before the American Civil War, a small community named Breckenridge was formed. In 1873, a railroad company, the Houston and Texas Central Railway, built a station nearby.

The railroad bought land and started selling lots in 1874. The town was named after Alfred S. Richardson, who was the secretary of the railroad company.

Becoming a City

In 1908, an electric railway called the Interurban connected Richardson to other cities like Dallas. By 1910, about 600 people lived in Richardson. A red brick schoolhouse was built in 1914. Today, it is the main office for the Richardson Independent School District.

In 1924, a major road called the Red Brick Road was finished. This road is now Greenville Avenue. It brought more people and businesses to the area. Richardson officially became a city and elected its first mayor in 1925. By 1940, the population had grown to about 740 people.

Modern Development

After World War II, Richardson grew very quickly. The population reached about 1,300 by 1950. In the 1950s, more businesses like Collins Radio opened offices. New roads like Central Expressway were built. The city also got a police department, shopping centers, and many new homes.

Texas Instruments opened its offices near Richardson in 1956. This led to a big increase in land value, population, and wealth for the city. In the 1960s, Richardson continued to grow. Several new parks and facilities were added. The University of Texas at Dallas was also created within the city limits.

By 1972, Richardson's population was around 56,000. Residential growth continued through the 1970s. Commercial development, meaning more businesses, increased in the 1980s. In 1990, the population was 74,840. The city of Buckingham was completely surrounded by Richardson and became part of the city in 1996.

By 2002, Richardson had four Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail stations. The city also built the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. This center has a public plaza, a hotel, and other buildings.

Geography and Climate

Map of Richardson

Location and Size

Richardson is mostly surrounded by the cities of Dallas, Plano, and Garland. It borders Lake Highlands and North Dallas to the south. To the west, it borders Far North Dallas and West Plano. East Plano is to the north, and Murphy and Sachse are to the northeast and east.

The city covers about 74.2 square kilometers (28.6 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. About two-thirds of Richardson is in Dallas County. The northern third of the city is in Collin County.

Weather in Richardson

Richardson has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are generally mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.

Population and People

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. About 31.9% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.63 people. The median age in the city was 37.2 years.

Diverse Communities

Richardson is a very diverse city. Many people living here were not born in the United States. By 2015, about 24.3% of the population was born outside the U.S.

The city has a large Chinese American community. The DFW Chinatown is located in Richardson. Chinese immigration to Richardson began in 1975. The Dallas Chinese Community Center is also in this area. It offers classes and has many books in Chinese. The University of Texas at Dallas also has many Chinese students.

Richardson also has a growing Asian Indian community. Many people from India came because of the telecommunications industry. The Indian Association of North Texas has its headquarters in Richardson. There are also stores that cater to the Indian community.

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

Economy and Jobs

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Richardson's economy has grown a lot. The total value of property in the city increased from $8.3 billion in 2005 to $14 billion in 2017. The money collected from sales tax also went up significantly.

The city's economy is still strong in the telecommunications industry. However, it also has many jobs in other areas. These include insurance, health care, technology, and finance. This variety makes the city's economy very stable.

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

Companies with Headquarters in Richardson

Many well-known 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

Major Employers in Richardson

Fossil Group headquarters (in the background)

Here are some of the largest employers in Richardson:

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.

Education and Learning

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 covers about 445 acres. The university has been adding many new buildings and making improvements since 2009. In Fall 2016, over 26,793 students were enrolled at UT Dallas.

Dallas College serves areas in Dallas County. Richland College, part of Dallas College, is near the Richardson border. It is the largest school in the Dallas College system, with almost 20,000 students.

For residents in Collin County, Collin College is the local community college.

Schools for Kids

Public Schools

Richardson is served by two main public school districts:

• The Richardson Independent School District (RISD) covers the Dallas County part of the city.
• The Plano Independent School District (PISD) covers the Collin County part of the city.

Many schools in both RISD and PISD have received the Blue Ribbon award. This is a high honor for schools in the United States.

RISD high schools in Richardson include Richardson High School, Lloyd V. Berkner High School, and J.J. Pearce High School.

PISD schools serving parts of Richardson include Aldridge, Haggar, Miller, Schell, and Stinson elementary schools. Middle schools like Otto, Frankford, and Wilson in Plano, and Murphy Middle School in Murphy, also serve parts of Richardson. High schools like Vines, T.H. Williams, McMillen, Plano Senior High, and Plano East Senior High serve different sections of Collin County Richardson.

Private Schools

Richardson has several private schools. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas operates St. Joseph School and St. Paul the Apostle School. Other private schools include Canyon Creek Christian Academy, North Dallas Adventist Academy, IANT Quranic Academy, The Alexander School, Dallas North Montessori School, and Salam Academy.

Charter Schools

There are also four charter schools in Richardson: Evolution Academy Charter School, Premier High School of Richardson, Vista Academy of Richardson, and the Winfree Academy Charter School.

Public Library

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

The current library building opened in 1970. It has been expanded and updated many times. In 2008, the library set a record by checking out over 1 million items in one year. The library also has a "makerspace" with a 3-D printer and other creative tools.

The Texas Municipal League has given the library an "Achievement of Excellence in Libraries" award every year from 2004 to 2017.

Transportation and Travel

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

Richardson has two major highways that help people travel easily. 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.

U.S. 75 also runs through Richardson. The city has four Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Light Rail stations along this highway. These stations make it easy to travel by train.

A new commuter rail line, the Silver Line, is planned to open in 2025. This line will connect DFW Airport to Plano. It will have stations in Richardson at The University of Texas at Dallas and CityLine.

Walking and Biking Trails

Central Trail

Richardson has a growing network of trails for walking and biking. The Central Trail runs from one end of the city to the other. It connects to other trails in the region.

In 2015, Richardson was named a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community. The city has more than 15 miles of bike lanes. It also plans to add more bike-friendly routes on quieter roads.

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 lived in Richardson. Here are a few:

Actors and Entertainers

• Jensen Ackles: Actor and musician.
• Nicole Bilderback: Actress.
• Catherine Crier: Television personality.
• Bill Engvall: Actor and comedian.
• Deborah Foreman: Actress.
• Caleb Landry Jones: Actor and musician.
• Jaren Lewison: Actor.
• Jake McDorman: Actor.
• Kin Shriner: Actor.
• Nick Stahl: Actor.
• Barry Watson: Actor, known for 7th Heaven.
• Ryan Cabrera: Entertainer.
• Jeff Dunham: Ventriloquist and stand-up comedian.
• Jay Johnson: Ventriloquist.
• Gordon Keith: Radio personality.
• Wil Shriner: Humorist.
• Ashlee Simpson: Entertainer.
• Jessica Simpson: Entertainer.

Artists and Musicians

• Pegah Anvarian: Fashion designer.
• Steve Benson: Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist.
• Tracy Hutson: Stylist, from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
• Joyce Yu-Jean Lee: Artist.
• Faris McReynolds: Artist.
• John Gary: RCA recording artist and vocalist.
• Bubba Hernandez: Grammy Award winning Bassist.
• Todd P: New York City-based indie rock concert promoter.
• Frank Ticheli: Composer and music professor.

Business and Innovation

• Bette Nesmith Graham: Inventor of Liquid Paper.

Filmmakers

• Jeremy Coon: Film producer.
• David Gordon Green: Filmmaker.
• Mike Judge: Creator of King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-Head.

Politicians

• Angie Chen Button: State representative.
• Tony Goolsby: Politician.
• Patti Ruff: Iowa politician.
• Charles E. Turner: Former mayor of Dallas.

Sports Stars

• Jeff Agoos: Soccer player.
• Lance Armstrong: Former cyclist.
• Keenan Evans: Basketball player.
• Nolan Fontana: Baseball player.
• Chris Jacke: NFL kicker.
• Eddie Jackson: NFL defensive back.
• Justin Leonard: Professional golfer.
• Shawn Michaels: WWE wrestler.
• Lee Nguyen: Soccer player.
• Carla Overbeck: Founding member of the Women's United Soccer Association.
• Matt Stover: NFL kicker.
• Everson Walls: NFL defensive back.
• Chris Wilson: American football coach.
• Justin Che: Soccer player.

Writers

• Rogers Cadenhead: Author.
• Deborah Crombie: Mystery writer.
• Gjekë Marinaj: Albanian-American poet.
• Anne Rice: Author.
• John Maddox Roberts: Science fiction author.
• Brian Torrey Scott: Writer.

Other Notable People

• T. J. Cloutier: Professional poker player.
• Joe S. Lawrie: U.S. Army major general.

See also

In Spanish: Richardson (Texas) para niños