Remember when this area was just cotton fields? This is Richardson. It is a city in Dallas and Collin counties in Texas. Richardson is an inner suburb of Dallas. It’s a place of constant change.
Richardson’s history starts in the 1840s. Emigrants from Kentucky and Tennessee settled here. Before the Civil War, there was a settlement called Breckenridge. It was near present-day Richland College.
In 1873, the Houston and Texas Central Railway arrived. The railway built a depot northwest of Breckenridge. The town was named after Alfred S. Richardson. He was the secretary of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad.
The Texas Electric Railway connected Richardson to other cities in 1908. It was known as the Interurban. By 1910, the population was about 600. A red brick schoolhouse was built in 1914. Today, it’s the administrative office for the Richardson Independent School District.
The Red Brick Road was completed in 1924. It is now Greenville Avenue. It brought more traffic and people. The town incorporated in 1925. They elected a mayor. The population was approximately 740 in 1940.
After World War II, Richardson grew rapidly. By 1950, the population was about 1,300. Collins Radio opened an office here. Central Expressway was built. Shopping centers and homes appeared. Texas Instruments opened offices in Dallas near Richardson in 1956. Land values and the population increased.
Richardson continued to grow in the 1960s. New parks and facilities were added. The University of Texas at Dallas was created. By 1972, the population was about 56,000. Residential growth slowed in the 1980s. However, commercial development increased.
In 1996, the city of Buckingham was annexed. Richardson had a population of 91,802 in 2000.
By 2002, Richardson had four DART light rail stations. The Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations was built. Richardson was a dry city until 2006. Then, voters allowed beer and wine sales in stores.
Richardson is known as the Telecom Corridor. Many telecommunications companies are located here. These include AT&T, Verizon, and Cisco Systems. The insurance industry is also a major employer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has its headquarters here.
Richardson’s economy grew from 2005 to 2009. Property values and sales tax collection increased. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s upgraded Richardson’s credit rating to AAA.
The Richardson Fire Department received a Class 1 ISO rating in 2014. This rating can reduce property insurance premiums.
Today, Richardson is a diverse city. It has a large Asian population. DFW Chinatown is located here. There is also a significant Indian and Vietnamese community.
The University of Texas at Dallas is a major institution. Richland College is also located nearby. The Richardson Independent School District serves the city.
The Richardson Public Library offers many services. It has a large collection of books and digital resources.
Richardson provides a convenient connection to the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, as well as links to IH 35E, IH 30, IH20, SH 114, and SH 183 west of the city as well as a second link to IH30 east of the city.
The city has hike and bike trails. It was named a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community.
The Telecom Corridor, cultural attractions, and convenient transportation make Richardson a unique place. Its history of growth and diversity continues to shape its identity. Richardson continues to evolve. It embraces its past while looking toward the future.