The History of Carrollton, Texas

Early Settlement Period (1840s-1880s)

The area that would later become Carrollton was originally inhabited by Native American tribes like the Kichai, Lenape, and Kickapoo peoples. The firstEuropean settlers arrived in the early 1840s when the Peters Colony land grant opened up North Texas to American homesteaders.

Some of the earliest homesteads and communities founded in the 1840s-1860s include:

• Elm Fork Settlement
• Trinity Mills
• Frankford

The early economy was based around agriculture with a focus on cotton and cereal crops. Ranching also developed as an important early industry.

Transportation infrastructure slowly developed with roads like the Shawnee Trail (for cattle drives) and the Preston Road, linking the area with markets to the north and east.

Founding of Carrollton & Early Development (1845-1885)

On January 6, 1845, the town of Carrollton was officially founded by J.M. and Melissa Truett. The Truetts donated 120 acres and named the town after Carrollton, Illinois, their former home.

Some key events and developments in Carrollton’s early days:

• 1857 – First church established (Baptist church)
• 1859 – Post office opens
• 1872 – Railroad comes to town
• 1874 – First public schoolhouse built
• 1882 – Town gets telephones

The railroad connection helped establish Carrollton as a regional shipping hub for cash crops like cotton, hay, and grain. This fueled population and economic growth through the late 1800s.

List of Mayors (1845-1899)

• J.M Truett (1845-1852)
• William Flowers (1852-1858)
• Jasper K. Smith (1858-1861)
• John S. Biggerstaff (1861-1866)
• James Oliver (1866-1882)
• Bennett Bain (1882-1899)

Infrastructure Expansion Period (1900-1949)

In the early 20th century, Carrollton saw improvements in infrastructure like electricity, waterworks, and paved roads. New Deal programs during the Great Depression helped fund projects like the historic Carrollton courthouse.

Transportation & Roads

As Carrollton grew in the early 1900s, improving transportation infrastructure became a priority:

• 1913 – Interurban electric railway reaches Carrollton
• 1921 – First paved roads built through town
• 1930s – WPA funds construction of over 50 miles of paved roads in area

These projects made it easier for farmers and businesses to transport goods to market and for the population to travel to Dallas and other regional hubs.

Public Works

Investments were made to improve public infrastructure and amenities:

• 1914 – Electric lights installed
• 1915 – Waterworks funded
• 1930 – Sewer system constructed
• 1937 – WPA builds historic courthouse

Population Growth

Carrollton’s population boomed through the first half of the 20th century:

Year	Population
1900	342
1920	1,023
1940	1,610
1950	3,311

New subdivisions like Dudley Heights, Furneaux Junction, and Carrollton Heights were constructed to house all of the new residents.

Suburbanization Period (1950-1990)

After World War II, Carrollton transformed from a small agricultural town into a fast-growing suburb of Dallas. Residential and commercial development accelerated as the population skyrocketed.

Transportation

New highways and infrastructure fueled rapid suburban growth:

• 1952 – North Central Expressway opens
• 1956 – Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike complete
• 1968 – DFW Airport begins operations

These made Carrollton easily accessible from Dallas and the region.

Suburban Development

With convenient highway access, Carrollton became a magnet for suburban development projects catering to Dallas commuters:

• Mid-1950s – First housing subdivision for Dallas residents
• 1960s – Apartment complexes built along North Central Expressway
• 1970s – Shopping centers, retail stores, and malls constructed

Older downtown areas declined as commercial activity decentralized along highways.

Demographic Changes

The population exploded from 13,855 in 1960 to over 70,000 by 1990. Many were middle-class white Dallas residents.

But Carrollton also saw an influx of international residents like:

• 1970s – Waves of Vietnamese and Laotian refugees settle in Carrollton after the Vietnam War
• 1980s – Latino and South Asian populations grow significantly

Maturation as a Suburb (1990-present)

Over the past three decades, Carrollton has matured into a large and demographically diverse middle-class suburb. The population has continued growing while the economy has diversified.

Ongoing Population Growth

Fueled by a strong economy and diverse community, Carrollton’s population growth has outpaced most suburbs:

• 1990: 83,170
• 2000: 115,576
• 2010: 119,097
• Current 2024 estimate: 150,000+

Much of the growth has come from existing immigrant communities and domestic relocations.

Commercial Development

As the tax base, population, and spending power have expanded, Carrollton has attracted major commercial projects:

Major Retail/Dining

• 2001 – Grapevine Mills Mall
• 2007 – Vista Ridge Mall
• 2012 – Indian grocery stores & restaurants open in “Little India” district

Major Employers

• 1999 – MetroPCS headquarters relocates
• 2001 – CARROLLTON TX DISTRIBUTION CTR distribution center opens
• 2008 – GameStop headquarters moves to Carrollton

Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohls, and Home Depot have also opened large stores.

Cultural Diversity

Today, over 45% of residents are foreign-born. The largest groups are immigrants from:

• Vietnam
• India
• Mexico
• China/Taiwan
• El Salvador

The diversity has enriched the city’s culture through ethnic restaurants, grocery stores, places of worship, festivals, and more.

Conclusion

Over its 180-year history, Carrollton has transformed from a tiny frontier settlement into one of the most prominent suburbs in North Texas. It has a bright future ahead as the population and economy continue expanding.