DALLAS
General-population 938,250; 378 square miles.
Local government-council-manager (11 councilmen, three elected at-large and eight from representative districts).
Education-Dallas Independent School District operates a total of 183 public schools; some areas of North Dallas are also served by Richardson Independent School District. Southern Methodist University, El Centro, Richland, Mountain View and Dallas Baptist colleges are within Dallas’ limits.
Medical facilities-seven major medical centers, plus more than 25 smaller hospitals and health centers.
Public recreation-295 parks and park sites (including all or part of five major lakes), encompassing more than 15,954 acres of land.
Utilities-Dallas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire:49 stations; police: 2,003 officers; library: Central Dallas Public Library, plus 18 branches.
Points of Interest-Entertainment: Fair Park, Cotton Bowl, six museums, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Convention Center, Reunion Arena. Historical: Swiss Avenue, Munger Place, West End Historical District, John Neely Bryan cabin, Dealey Plaza, Kennedy Memorial, Old City Park, Old Red Courthouse.
Shopping areas-65 designated shopping malls and centers, plus the Central Business District and commercial strips along major thoroughfares.
Chamber of Commerce-1507 Pacific Ave., 75201; 954-1111.
ADDISON (Metrocrest)
General-population 8,700; 5 square miles; 14 miles north of downtown Dallas.
Local government-mayor, council (six councilmen, including mayor).
Education-serviced by Dallas schools.
Medical facilities-none.
Public recreation-one park.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: two stations, 28 firemen; police: 33 officers.
Points of interest-Entertainment: Addi-son Community Theater; major hotels in the area offer top entertainment. Historical: Ad-dison School, Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Drive.
Shopping areas-seven designated areas, including Sakowitz Village on the Parkway, Galleria, Prestonwood Town Center, The Quorum.
Chamber of Commerce-1204 Metro Drive, Carrollton, 75006; 245-0444.
CARROLLTON (Metrocrest)
General-population 52,000; 30 square miles; 14 miles north of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (seven councilmen and the mayor).
Education-Carrollton/Farmers Branch Independent School District operates 13 schools in Carrollton.
Medical facilities-one hospital, with another under construction.
Public recreation-23 public parks, three pools, two recreational buildings.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, General Telephone.
Public services-Fire:four stations with 85 firemen; police: 68 officers; library: one main library, no branches.
Shopping areas-14 designated shopping centers, plus the Central Business District.
Chamber of Commerce-1204 Metrocrest Drive, 75006; 245-0444.
DESOTO
General-population 18,012; 26 square miles; 13 miles south of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (seven councilmen, including mayor).
Education-DeSoto Independent School District operates six schools.
Medical facilities-two hospitals.
Public recreation-four public parks, two pools, two recreational buildings.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: two stations with 50 firemen (mostly volunteers); police: 24 officers; library: one main library, no branches.
Shopping areas-10 small centers, plus The Crossing.
Chamber of Commerce-1001 E. Pleasant Run Road, Box 100, 75115; 224-3565.
DUNCANVILLE
General-population 31,700; 12 square miles; 10 miles south of downtown Dallas.
Local government-Home-rule charter with council-manager (five councilmen and the mayor).
Education-Duncanville Independent School District operates 10 schools; Mountain View College nearby.
Medical facilities-one hospital and AM-CARE Emergency Center.
Public recreation--10 parks, two pools.
Utilities-Texas Rawer & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: two stations, police: 40 officers; library: one main library, no branches.
Points of interest-Historical: Greenhills Environmental Center, headquartered in main house of the former Wyman Ranch.
Shopping areas-11 designated shopping centers, including Red Bird Mall.
Chamber of Commerce-300 E. Wheat-land Road, 75116; 298-6128.
FARMERS BRANCH
(Metrocrest)
General-population 26,250; 12 square miles; adjacent to and west of North Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (six councilmen, including mayor).
Education-Carrollton/Farmers Branch Independent School District operates six schools in Fanners Branch.
Medical facilities-one hospital.
Public recreation-28 public parks on 168 acres.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire:two stations, 59 firemen; police: 53 officers; library: Manske Memorial Library, no branches.
Points of interest-Historical:the Historical Trail, plus historical markers.
Shopping areas-nine designated shopping centers.
Chamber of Commerce-1204 Metro Drive, Carrollton, 75006; 245-0444.
GARLAND
General-population 167,050; 57 square miles; 15 miles northeast of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (nine councilmen, including mayor).
Education-Garland Independent School District operates 45 schools; Amber University nearby.
Medical facilities-three hospitals.
Public recreation-60 public parks, five recreational buildings, one public golf course.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Garland Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, General Telephone, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: six stations; police: 164 officers; library: one main library, two branches.
Points of interest-Entertainment: Garland Center for the Performing Arts, White Water, Lake Ray Hubbard nearby, Public Wave Action Pool.
Shopping areas-35 shopping centers, plus the Central Business District.
Chamber of Commerce-914 S. Garland Ave., 75040; 272-7551.
HIGHLAND PARK
General-population 8,909; 2.4 square miles; surrounded by the city of Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (six councilmen, including mayor).
Education-Highland Park Independent School District operates six schools; Southern Methodist University nearby.
Medical facilities-none.
Public recreation-18 public parks, one swimming pool.
Utilities-Dallas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: one station; police: 46 officers; library: one main library, no branches.
Points of interest-Entertainment: Ownby Stadium, McFarlin Auditorium on SMU campus. Historical: Highland Park Village, the oldest shopping center in the United States.
Shopping areas-three small centers.
Chamber of Commerce-North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, 10707 Preston Road, Dallas, 75230; 368-6485.
IRVING
General-population 128,200; 67 square miles; 15 miles west of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (nine councilmen, including mayor).
Education-Irving Independent School District operates 25 schools; Northlake Community College, The University of Dallas.
Medical facilities-two major hospitals.
Public recreation-28 parks.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, General Telephone, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: eight stations; police: 161 officers; library: Central Public Library, plus two branches.
Points of interest-Entertainment: Sesame Place. Historical: The Record Crossing, where pioneers crossed the Trinity River heading west; Robert H. Power home, built in 1857, and Texas Stadium, home of the Cowboys.
Shopping areas-21 designated shopping areas, including Irving Mall and the Man-dalay Canal.
Chamber of Commerce-1309 W. Airport Freeway, 75062; 252-8484.
LANCASTER
General-population 16,400; 17 square miles; 17 miles south of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (five council men and the mayor).
Education-fiveschools, with another under construction; Cedar Valley College.
Medical facilities-Lancaster Medical Center, three hospitals (including Midway Park General Hospital, a complete facility with a trauma unit).
Public recreation-eight parks, two swimming pools, one activity center, two tennis courts, one golf course, one indoor theater.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire:two stations; police: 28 officers; library: Veteran’s Memorial Library.
Points of interest-Historical:Town Square, containing original restored 19th-century structures; also several original residences still standing.
Shopping areas-six centers, including Town Square.
Chamber of Commerce-15335 N. Dallas Ave., 75134; 227-2579.
MESQUITE
General-population 80,000; 40.3 square miles; 13 miles east of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager.
Education-Mesquite Independent School District operates 27 schools; East-field College.
Medical facilities-three hospitals.
Public recreation-34 public parks, four swimming pools, two recreational buildings, one golf course.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: five stations; police:108 officers; library:one main library, one branch.
Points of interest-Entertainment:Mes-quite Championship Rodeo, Lake Ray Hub-bard. Historical: Old Motley Cemetery (on Eastfield College campus), Galloway and Lawrence (“Tower House”) homes, site of old town of Scyene, Samuell Farm.
Shopping areas-threemalls (Town East, Big Town and a new outlet mall), plus seven other designated centers and the Central Business District.
Chamber of Commerce-617 N. Ebrite St., 75149; 285-0211.
PLANO
General-population 100,000; 61 square miles; 19 miles north of downtown Dallas in Collin County.
Local government-council-manager (six councilmen, including mayor).
Education-Plano Independent School District operates 32 schools; University of Texas at Dallas nearby.
Medical facilities-one hospital.
Public recreation-47 public parks, three swimming pools, two recreational buildings, one golf course, one tennis center.
Utilities-Texas Rawer & Light, Lone Star Gas, General Telephone.
Public services-Fire: Four stations; police: 130 officers; library: two branches.
Shopping areas-45 designated centers, plus the Central Business District.
Chamber of Commerce-1200E. 15th St., 75074; 424-7547.
RICHARDSON
General-population 77,800; 28.5 square miles; 15 miles north of downtown Dallas.
Local government-council-manager (seven councilmen).
Education-Richardson Independent School District operates 49 schools; University of Texas at Dallas and Richland College nearby.
Medical facilities-one hospital.
Public recreation-23 public parks, five pools, two recreational buildings, one golf course.
Utilities-Texas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: four stations; police: 110 officers; library: one central library.
Shopping areas-20 designated centers, plus the Central Business District.
Chamber of Commerce-411 Belle Grove Drive, 75080; 234-4141.
UNIVERSITY PARK
General-population 22,254; 4 square miles; surrounded by the city of Dallas.
Local government-general law commission-manager (two councilmen and the mayor).
Education-Highland Park Independent School District operates six schools; Southern Methodist University.
Medical facilities-none.
Public recreation--five public parks, one pool, 10 tennis courts.
Utilities- Dallas Power & Light, Lone Star Gas, Southwestern Bell.
Public services-Fire: one station with 33 firemen; police: 32 officers; library: none.
Points of interest-Entertainment: Ownby Stadium, McFarlin Auditorium and Algur Meadows Fine Arts Museum, all on SMU campus.
Shopping areas-five designated shopping centers.
Chamber of Commerce-North Dallas Chamber of Commerce, 10707 Preston Road, Dallas, 75230; 368-6485.
Related Articles
Arts & Entertainment
VideoFest Lives Again Alongside Denton’s Thin Line Fest
Bart Weiss, VideoFest’s founder, has partnered with Thin Line Fest to host two screenings that keep the independent spirit of VideoFest alive.
Local News
Poll: Dallas Is Asking Voters for $1.25 Billion. How Do You Feel About It?
The city is asking voters to approve 10 bond propositions that will address a slate of 800 projects. We want to know what you think.
Basketball
Dallas Landing the Wings Is the Coup Eric Johnson’s Committee Needed
There was only one pro team that could realistically be lured to town. And after two years of (very) middling results, the Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Sports Recruitment and Retention delivered.