The history of our state is about as ubiquitous as the history of the country. State pride runs deep among Texans, and the tales of the olden days of our independence fill history books and school lectures.
While many of us can easily recount the Battle of the Alamo or at San Jacinto, how much do we know about our most local history? This May, the City of Carrollton celebrates its 140th birthday. To prepare for the local celebration, let’s take a short journey from the early days of Carrollton to learn more about the “before and after” of the place we call home. It’s hard to imagine our city’s humble beginnings when you look out on the booming metropolis it is today, but it’s just that imagination we mean to stir.
Carrollton’s founding
The official establishment of Carrollton, Texas was May 16, 1978. Many historians believe the city got its name from early settlers who came from Carrollton, Illinois.
Originally a farming community, one early folklore story tells of a man who was so impressed by the fertile soil, he put some in a jar and took it back to his family to show how rich the land was for farming. Another, more comical account tells of Europeans who were so frightened by the sight of longhorns they quickly fled back to Europe.
While farming was the most popular trade of early settlers, Carrollton also had a booming professional sector that was comprised of doctors, lawyers, and teachers.
Schools and Carrollton’s educational legacy
While most of the farmers who settled in Carrollton were illiterate, they knew they wanted their children to be able to read and write. The early focus on new generations’ education led to the creation of numerous private and cooperative schools throughout the area. In fact, one of the first schools, Carrollton Academy, was located on Josey Lane, not too far from our office today!
One drastic difference between education then and today was that all schools—even public ones—charged a good-sized tuition. Since there were no school property taxes, tuition was the only way to keep the doors open.
While much has changed since the one-room school houses, Carrollton’s early dedication to education is a legacy that still prospers today.
Carrollton today
If the early founders could travel in time to see how the area has changed, they wouldn’t believe their eyes. Named as one of America’s Best Places to Live in 2006, the city of Carrollton is no longer a small town that relies solely on agriculture. Today, family farms have been replaced by corporate headquarters and small businesses alike. However, one thing that remains the same is dedication to education. Carrollton’s schools are still considered some of the best in the metroplex, and it’s thanks to our early founders’ legacy that our schools are held with such high regard.
Amidst the urban sprawl are still glimpses of what life was like for Carrollton’s earliest residents. To take a step back in time and visit landmarks that will give you a glimpse to how our earliest relatives may have lived:
- Imagine the Town Square, built prior to 1900, as the central commercial hub of Carrollton. Today, you can visit the gazebo for community gatherings or make a stop at the first post office located just down the street that was built in the 1890s.
- Or, visit Pioneer Park, dedicated to the pioneer families that settled in this area and located on the site of Carrollton’s first City Hall.
To get a taste of history, look no further than our own backyard. Here ate Josey Lane we are thankful to get to live in a city with such a rich history and such a bright future!
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