The Reserve: 30 Fun Facts about Dallas and North Dallas

The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Texas is the fourth largest in the United States, at 7.5 million residents. North Dallas itself is a fast-growing area that is home to universities, industry and Senior Lifestyle’s The Reserve at North Dallas community.

Texas and the Dallas area are famous for coming under six flags during its history, having been part of France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States and the United States. A theme park, Six Flags Over Texas, celebrates that heritage in the suburb of Arlington.

Find out some interesting facts about Dallas, Texas, and the metroplex that you can share with your friends and family.

30 Fun Facts About Dallas, Texas

Lincolnwood and the surrounding Illinois towns and cities are home to many parks, beaches, museums and other attractions. Here are some of the most popular.

1. The Declaration of Independence is on display in Dallas. The Dallas Public Library owns an original copy, which was printed on July 4, 1776.
2. Barney the purple dinosaur was a Dallas resident. The show “Barney & Friends” originated here and provided the first exposure to entertainers Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez.
3. Bonnie and Clyde called Dallas home. The infamous outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow robbed banks in the Midwest during the Great Depression.
4. Dallas is the “Prison Ministry Capital of the World.” More than 60 ministries dedicated to prisons operate out of Dallas, including the Coalition of Prison Evangelists, the International Network of Prison Ministries and many more.
5. Dallas is the largest landlocked metro area in the United States. Though the Trinity River runs near Dallas, it isn’t navigable. 
6. Dallas is the only metro area to host three sports championships in one year. Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6, 2011, began the streak, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Dallas Mavericks won the NBA title in June, hosting three Finals games against the Miami Heat in Dallas. In October, the Texas Rangers hosted three World Series games, eventually losing to the St. Louis Cardinals. 
7. Dallas’ Statler Hilton was the first hotel to feature elevator music. Opened in 1956, the Statler Dallas was also the first hotel with a television in every room.
8. Even the state fair is bigger in Texas. The State Fair of Texas, held in Fair Park, is the largest such fair in the United States.
9. Fair Park is an Art Deco showcase. Fair Park’s collection of Art Deco art, exhibit building and sculptures is the world’s largest.   
10. Fortune 500 companies make Dallas home. Nine corporate headquarters are in Dallas and 22 are in the region overall, which is one of the highest concentrations in the nation. AT&T and ExxonMobile are headquartered here.
11. Galleria Dallas hosts the tallest indoor Christmas tree. Galleria Dallas’ tree stands 95 feet tall and features 450,000 lights, 10,000 ornaments and a 100-pound star on top. 
12. German chocolate cake was invented in Dallas in 1957. The cake isn’t actually from Germany, but it’s named after Samuel German, an American chocolate maker who created the dark baking chocolate used in it.
13. Highland Park Village Shopping Center was the nation’s first planned shopping center. Highland Park Village, now a high-end open-air center, was developed in 1931.
14. North Dallas is home to five universities. The most well-known include Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas at Dallas.
15. North Dallas is home to Texas Instruments. It is the fourth largest manufacturer of semiconductors in the world, after Intel, Samsung and Toshiba. It’s also the second largest phone chip supplier after Qualcomm, and the top producer of digital signal processors and analog semiconductors.
16. Professional sports are big in Dallas. The area is home to five professional teams, including the NFL Dallas Cowboys, the NBA Dallas Mavericks, the NHL Dallas Stars and the MLB Texas Rangers.
17. The ATM machine was patented in Dallas. Resident Don Wetzel’s inspiration was his frustration with long, time-consuming bank teller lines.
18. The convenience store chain 7-Eleven started in Dallas. It is now the largest convenience store chain in the world, with stores in 17 countries. 
19. The Dallas/Fort Worth airport is larger than Manhattan Island. The airport also has one of the world’s largest parking lots.
20. The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders were the first professional cheerleaders. They debuted in 1972, building on the nationwide popularity of the Dallas Cowboys football team. 
21. The Dallas Cowboys stadium is big enough to fit the Statue of Liberty. With its roof closed, AT&T Stadium measures 320 feet from its floor to its roof. The Statue of Liberty is 305 feet tall.
22. The Dallas Farmers Market is the largest in the nation. More than 1 million people a year visit the Dallas Farmers Market.
23. The Dallas Theological Seminary has operated since 1924. Among the notable pastors who attended the highly influential Dallas Theological Seminary are Andy Stanley, Chuck Swindoll and David Jeremiah.
24. The frozen margarita machine was invented in Dallas. Mariano Martinez created the machine in 1971, which helped popularize Tex-Mex food nationwide.
25. The Great Trinity Forest is the largest urban forest in the world. The forest is part of the ongoing Trinity River Project, which is turning the river path into multiple nature centers, recreational sites, sports fields and trails.
26. The largest arts district in the nation is in Dallas. The Dallas Arts District features 19 blocks of galleries, museums and other venues.
27. The mega-rich live in Dallas. As of 2021, 27 billionaires called the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex home. 
28. The term “Super Bowl” was coined in Dallas. Lamar Hunt, the owner of the then-Dallas Texans football team (now the Kansas City Chiefs), came up with the term. His football league, the American Football League, was discussing a championship game with the National Football League. 
29. The world’s largest model train on permanent exhibit is in Dallas. The Dallas Children’s Medical Center hosts the diorama, with eight engines running simultaneously through a Dallas skyline.
30. The world’s tallest cowboy is in Dallas. The 52-foot “Big Tex” statue greets visitors to the annual State Fair of Texas.

Live a Restful, Exciting Life at The Reserve at North Dallas

The Reserve at North Dallas offers a respite from the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Our luxury senior living community offers fulfilling, laid-back lifestyles for Independent Living and Assisted Living residents.

Find out more about Senior Lifestyle communities or schedule a visit today.