Carrollton, Texas, Dallas County. (original) (raw)

Carrollton Texas ca. 1910-1930
SMU Central University Libraries @ Flickr Commons

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement began as early as 1842 with William and Mary Larner credited as being first. The community is thought to be named after Carrollton, Illinois, the hometown of many early residents that transmigrated here.

The first Baptist church in Dallas County was established here in 1846 by Illinoisan David Myers. A plat was filed for the town in 1878 and post office was granted that same year. Railroad magnate and robber-baron Jay Gould bought an unfinished railroad and extended it to Denton by 1880 selling it to the MKT the following year. The population was a mere 150 in the mid 1880s but Carrolton was a railroad crossroads (The Katy and Cotton Belt) by 1888.

Industries in Carrollton included a gravel industry, brick manufacture and metal furniture. From a population of only 1,610 in 1950, it grew to 4,242 by the 1960 census. Twenty years later it was over 40,000. In 1983, it reached 52,000.

Carrollton is included in a group of four Dallas cities referred to as �The Metrocrest.� Addison, Coppell, and Farmers Branch are the other three. The 1990 population reached 82,169, and for the 2000 census it was reported as 109,576.

Historical Marker (In a field just S of W Belt Line Road, between Luna Road and Hutton Drive):

Carrollton Black Cemetery

Carrollton's early African-Americans, many of whom were former slaves, helped settle and build the community. By 1871, this portion of forty acres belonging to Scott Boswell, Sr., an African-American farmer, was a community cemetery. In 1915, C.B. Baxley acquired the cemetery and surrounding land. Although the site holds dozens of burials, only three names (Ned Welch, Loving, and Davis) are now visible. Joyce Collins (1960) is believed to be the last burial. No records exist for others buried here; flooding from the Elm Fork of the Trinity River destroyed many grave markers. Once threatened by new development, the site is a precious record of the early history of Carrollton.
Historic Texas Cemetery - 2010

Carrolton, Texas

Landmarks & Attractions

Photo Gallery

Photographer's Note:
" I recently went to Downtown Carrollton and took these pics of Carrollton Plaza Arts Center, which opened in 1949. It hosts local plays and musical entertainment." - Clint Skinner

Carrollton Downtown Mural
Photo courtesy Clint Skinner, February 2019

Carrollton Police Station Grounds
Photo courtesy of Stephen Michaels, April 2005

Carrolton Fire Department
Photo courtesy Clint Skinner, February 2019

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