When, and what spurred the growth of the DFW Metroplex (Houston: sale, living in)

[NJ Brazen_3133]

What spurred the growth of the DFW Metroplex? It is the fourth largest metro in US. The biggest metro not near the ocean or a major water body. Chicago is on the Great Lakes, and can sail out of the ocean, and is connected to the Mississipi River. But DFW Metroplex is just land based primarily.

It is bigger than Houston and PHX, and PHX is now the fourth biggest city proper. When did it start to happen? Its also very diverse. When did DFW Metroplex get its first Asian strip mall with supermarket, and dim sum?

I hear of "Silicon Prairie", but why DFW instead of Kansas, Omaha, OKC or Quad Cities even? Is it the weather? It is further south than the other prairie cities. Does that mean Dallas has less harsh winters? What about the summers? Is it a dry heat like California?

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

What about the summers? Is it a dry heat like California?

No. DFW is humid. Highs in the 90s with dew points in the mid-upper 60s (and even low 70s) are common.

[supfromthesite]

It certainly helps that both Fort Worth and Dallas had their own economies and kind of grew in to each other. They were both pretty big cities all through the 1900s.

Texas business friendly government at least partly explains why it has exploded in recent years but it has been a long chain of events.

Interesting thread. I hope to learn more about this.

[malcorub16]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

Is it the weather?

It's definitely not the weather or the 'scenic' topography. I'd say maybe the railroads helped get it started.

Perhaps also because it is in the center of the US between the Southern California coast and Northern Florida coast.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

No. DFW is humid. Highs in the 90s with dew points in the mid-upper 60s (and even low 70s) are common.

It’s drier and warmer then south or south central Texas in the summer if the patterns are right. I lived in Dallas in the summer of 2007 and I very clearly remember it hitting the 100s more times then it hit the hundreds for my family in San Antonio.

My guess, without googling, is the railroads.

[tcualum]

Two things spurred the growth of Fort Worth: the railroad and the Stockyards. Dallas had one of the first rail crossroads in Texas, which made it an important location for the movement and sale of goods such as cotton and leather.

[rabbit33]

Major rail lines crossed here.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Some of you are mentioning the railroads, but US in general stopped using rail for transport a long time ago except for cargo.

But many other places have major rail crossings especially in the Midwest and plains. KC, STL, and Memphis are rail hubs too. They are also along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Or is it mainly trade with Mexico, and DFW being the closest rail hub to Mex?

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

It's definitely not the weather or the 'scenic' topography. I'd say maybe the railroads helped get it started.

Perhaps also because it is in the center of the US between the Southern California coast and Northern Florida coast.

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

It’s drier and warmer then south or south central Texas in the summer if the patterns are right. I lived in Dallas in the summer of 2007 and I very clearly remember it hitting the 100s more times then it hit the hundreds for my family in San Antonio.

My guess, without googling, is the railroads.

It is just as humid as the Southeast or East Coast? I knew some people from Dallas area living in NYC, and they state in no way is inland TX even close to east coast or southeast humidity.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

When did DFW Metroplex get its first Asian strip mall with supermarket, and dim sum?

I used to eat at the ones in Richardson back in the telecom corridor days 1999-2001

Honestly, DFW Airport was the biggest draw. It opened in 1973. Now, you can get almost anywhere in the world with just 1 connecting flight.

DFW is not as humid as Houston or south Georgia, but it is most definitely not a dry heat.