Timeline of Dallas facts for kids

Dallas is a big city in Texas with a long and interesting history! This article will take you on a journey through time, highlighting some of the most important and exciting events that have shaped Dallas into the vibrant place it is today. Get ready to discover how Dallas grew from a small settlement to a major city in the United States.

Dallas in the 1800s

• 1841 – Dallas was founded. This was the very beginning of the city!
• 1888 – The Dallas Zoo opened its doors. It was one of the first zoos in the entire country.
• 1890 – The city's population grew to 38,067 people.
• 1900 – The population continued to grow, reaching 42,638 people.

Dallas in the 1900s

Early 1900s: Growth and New Ideas

First Day of Passenger Service, Dallas & Sherman Interurban Railroad, 1908.

• 1901 – The Dallas Public Library opened, giving people a place to read and learn.
• 1903 – Dallas grew bigger by adding the town of Oak Cliff. This expanded the city's size by a third!
• 1908 – A big flood happened on the Trinity River.
  • Texas Electric started a new train service called "interurban" in Dallas.
• 1910 – The population of Dallas reached 92,104 people.
• 1917 – A military airfield called Love Field was created.
• 1920
  • WRR radio began broadcasting, bringing music and news to homes.
  • The population reached 158,976 people.
• 1921 – The first Kirbys Pig Stand eatery opened, serving delicious food.
• 1922 – The Magnolia Building was completed. Later, in 1934, a famous neon sign of a flying horse, called a Pegasus, was put on top. This sign became a well-known symbol of Dallas.
• 1927
  • Love Field Airport opened for regular flights, not just military use.
  • The world's first convenience store opened in Dallas. It was started by the Southland Ice Company and later became the famous 7-Eleven stores we know today.
• 1930
  • Oil was discovered near Dallas, making the city an important center for the oil business.
  • The population of Dallas grew to 260,475 people.
• 1949 – WFAA-TV and KRLD-TV (television) started broadcasting, bringing TV into homes.
• 1958 – A scientist named Jack Kilby, working in Dallas, invented the world's first integrated circuit. This tiny invention changed the world of electronics forever!

Mid to Late 1900s: Major Events and Innovations

• 1963 – On November 22, United States President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while visiting Dallas. This sad event is remembered at the nearby Kennedy Memorial and the Sixth Floor Museum.
• 1965 – NorthPark Center, a large shopping mall, opened.
• 1968 – The Cooper Aerobics Center opened, focusing on health and fitness.
• 1972 – Dallas adopted its official city logo design.
• 1974 – The huge Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport opened, connecting Dallas to the world.
• 1976 – Thanks-Giving Square, a peaceful park in downtown Dallas, was finished.
• 1978 – The popular TV show Dallas first aired. It was filmed in Dallas and became famous around the world.
• 1979 – The U.S. Congress passed a law called the Wright Amendment, which limited flights from Love Field Airport.
• 1981 – A nuclear submarine, the USS Dallas (SSN-700), was named after the city.
• 1984 – Dallas hosted the 1984 Republican National Convention, a big political meeting.
• 1985
  • The 72-story Bank of America Plaza became the tallest building in Dallas.
  • The Dallas Municipal Archives were created to keep important city records.
  • Teatro Dallas, a bilingual theater, was founded.
• 1987 – Annette Strauss became the first woman mayor of Dallas.
• 1990 – The population of Dallas reached over 1 million people: 1,006,877!
• 1993 – The musical group Old 97's was formed.
• 1994 – Dallas was one of the host cities for the 1994 World Cup soccer tournament.
• 1996 – Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) started operating the first light rail system in Texas, making it easier to get around.
• 1997 – Congress changed some of the flight restrictions on Love Field Airport.
• 2000 – December 18 – DART opened Cityplace Station, the first full-service subway station in Texas.

Dallas in the 2000s

A DART Blue Line train at Akard station in downtown Dallas.

• 2010 – The population of Dallas grew to 1,197,816 people. The larger "megaregion" around Dallas had over 19 million people.
• 2014 – September 7 – Dallas became home to the first case of the Ebola Virus in the United States.
• 2016 – July 7 – A tragic shooting happened in downtown Dallas during a protest. Five police officers died, and several other officers and civilians were injured.
• 2019 – June 17 – A brief shooting occurred outside the Earle Cabell Federal Building. The person responsible died, and one other person was injured.

Images for kids

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  Mark Cuban at the Web 2.0 Conference in 2005. He bought the Dallas Mavericks basketball team in 2000.

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  The Dallas Mavericks began playing at the American Airlines Center in 2001.

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  The entrance to the Dallas Zoo in 2011.

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  Mark Cuban in 2019, owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

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  Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 2013.