Addison and Flower Mound were the only two Texas municipalities labeled "towns" with a population greater than 10,000 at the 2010 census; since then the municipalities of Prosper and Trophy Club—also identifying as towns—have also exceeded 10,000 in population estimates.
History
Addison was originally part of Peter's Colony.[6] The future town site was settled as early as 1846 when Preston Witt built a house near White Rock Creek.[7] In 1849, the Witt family opened a gristmill.[6] In 1880, settler Sidney Smith Noell purchased a large tract of land south of what is now Belt Line Road.[8] In 1888, Noell, together with W.W. Julian and W. E. Horten, donated land to the St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway, a predecessor of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway (known as the Cotton Belt), for a coaling station.[6][7][8]
The first substantial industry in the community was a cotton gin, opening in 1902.[7] In 1903, the Cotton Belt built a depot and a 12 mi (19 km) branch line leading south to Dallas, named the site Noell Junction, and started passenger train service from the small depot to the city.[6][9] In 1904, a post office opened; however, there was already a community named Noell in Leon County, Texas, so the new community changed its name to Addison, after Addison Robertson, a local resident who would later serve as the community's second postmaster from 1908 to 1916.[6][7][8] Also in 1904, Julian platted the first six city blocks.[6]
The population grew to 75 by 1914, at which time the community had three grocers and a bank, but the bank later failed and the population fell to 40 in 1926.[6] After World War II, residents grew concerned that the nearby cities of Dallas, Carrollton, or Farmers Branch might annex the community, so they petitioned the county to allow an election for incorporation. The election was held on June 15, 1953, and by a vote of 19 in favor and 11 against, Addison was incorporated as a city.[6][7][9]
In 1955, W.T. Overton, a 28-year-old businessman from Dallas, purchased a large farm north of the Cotton Belt depot, and in January 1956, he announced that the site would be redeveloped as an airport focused on business aircraft.[10] After obtaining final approval from the city, Addison Airport had its formal groundbreaking ceremony on March 16, 1957,[11] and its grand opening took place on October 18 of that year.[12]
At the time, Addison residents relied almost entirely on private wells for water. Overton and his investors realized that a private well would not support their development plans, so they petitioned the city to drill a municipal well and build its first public water system. The project was approved by voters in April 1957 and construction began in August. The well was later supplemented by a large water main extended from Dallas.[13]
In 1961, an investment group including Overton, John D. Murchison (son of oil magnate Clint Murchison Sr.), and Dallas-area developer Trammell Crow opened a 73-acre (30 ha) industrial park in the triangular area formed by the Cotton Belt, Dooley Road, and the main Addison Airport runway.[14]
In 1970, the city had 595 residents and eighty businesses. That decade, the local government heavily promoted industrial development.[6] In 1976, residents voted to allow sales of alcoholic beverages, which were prohibited in most of Dallas County and nearby Collin County; together with low taxes, this prompted many restaurants and hotels to open in the city.[6][7] The town grew very quickly in the late 1970s and early 1980s.[7] By 1986, there were 49 restaurants in town; in 1991, there were 118, and the population had grown to over 8,000.[6] From 1989 through 1991, Addison hosted the Dallas Grand Prix.[15]
In 1982 the name of the city was changed to the "Town of Addison".[citation needed]
The Addison Airport Toll Tunnel, a three-year, $26.8 million project to relieve traffic on Belt Line Road, was completed in February 1999, restoring the continuity of Keller Springs Road 42 years after it was severed by the construction of Addison Airport.[16]
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,661 people, 8,342 households, and 3,217 families residing in the town.
Economy
Though Addison has just over 16,000 residents, daytime population is estimated at over 120,000 as of 2010. Addison contains 22 hotels (with a combined total of over 3,000 rooms) and over two million square feet of office space. [23]
With nearly 200 restaurants, the town touts itself as having more restaurants per capita than any other city in the U.S.[24]
Addison has 118 acres (48 ha) of parkland.[18] Addison's first town park opened in 1978.[29] The Dallas Independent School District operates the Alfred J. Loos Athletic Complex in Addison.[30]
The Addison Athletic Club is a 52,000-ft2 residents-only facility that features indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a gymnasium, fitness equipment, and racquetball courts.[31]
Addison Circle Park was built in the early 2000s.
Vitruvian Park includes commercial and recreational sections.
There are approximately 20 works of public art throughout the city.[32]
Culture and arts
Joe's Italian Cafe, a local specialty.
There are special events in Addison 22 weekends of the year.[18] The WaterTower Theatre produces plays and musicals and hosts the annual Out of the Loop Festival.[33] Addison Circle Park, built in the early 2000s, is a venue for several seasonal outdoor events, such as the "Addison Kaboom Town!," "Addison Oktoberfest," and the foodie fun event, "Fork & Cork". The Addison Improv Comedy Club hosts regular weekly shows with well-known headliners.[34]
Addison is noted for being home to the original locations of both Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chão, two Brazilian Churrascaria franchises that are both in the midst of rapid national expansion.[35][36]
Education
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The Addison School building was opened in 1914. In 1954 the school became a part of the Dallas ISD, and the school closed in 1964. The school building is now the "Magic Time Machine Restaurant."[29]
McLaughlin was built in 1959. Field was built in 1960. Stark opened in 1963. R. L. Turner High School opened in 1962, replacing Carrollton High School.[37]
Prior to fall 2006, all Addison residents were zoned to Frank for Kindergarten through 4th Grade, E. D. Walker Elementary School for 5th and 6th grades, and Marsh Middle School for 7th and 8th grades.[38][39] Junkins Elementary School opened in fall 2006, relieving Anne Frank, and Tom C. Gooch Elementary School took an additional portion of Frank's attendance zone.[40][41][42] During the same year, Walker became a middle school, serving the Frank and Junkins-zoned sections of Addison, while the Gooch-zoned section was still assigned to Marsh.[43][44]
In fall 2008 boundary changes rezoned the Frank-zoned section of Addison from W. T. White and Walker to Hillcrest and Franklin.[45][46][47] In addition, Strickland was dedicated in 2008.[37]
George Herbert Walker Bush Elementary School opened in Addison in 2011.[48] As a result,[49] boundary changes during that year involve Bush taking attendance zone territory from Tom C. Gooch,[50] Frank,[51] and Junkins elementary schools.[52] Because of Bush's opening, now Walker MS and White MS served the Junkins and Bush zones,[53][54] while Franklin continued to serve the Frank zone.[55][56] Because Gooch is no longer serving portions of Addison, Marsh Middle School no longer serves portions of Addison.[57][58]
All residents within the DISD portion of Addison may attend George H. W. Bush Elementary School in Addison. Bush's attendance boundary covers most of Addison.[49] DISD Addison residents living outside of the Bush attendance boundary are not provided transportation to attend Bush.[59] Other DISD elementary schools serving sections of Addison include Anne Frank Elementary School in Dallas and Jerry Junkins Elementary School in Carrollton.[61][62]
The Town of Addison asked Dallas ISD to build Bush with environmentally sensitive materials.[63] The PreK–5 school was built as part of a bond approved in May 2008. Bush is adjacent to the Greenhill School and is located along Addison's trail system; therefore the school will be accessible by bicycle or on foot from the Les Lacs and Midway Meadows subdivisions. Bush has a first floor with 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) of space and a second floor with 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) of space.[64] Bush has two athletic fields located north of the playgrounds. During non-school hours Addison residents may use the fields.[65]
A portion of the C-FBISD area is served by Stark Elementary School in Farmers Branch.[66] Another portion is served by Neil Ray McLaughlin Elementary School (K–2) in Carrollton and Nancy H. Strickland Intermediate School (3–5) in Farmers Branch.[67][68] All of the C-FBISD portion is served by Vivian Field Middle School in Farmers Branch, and R. L. Turner High School in Carrollton.[69][70]
The Texas Legislature defines areas in Dallas County and areas in CFBISD as being in the service area of Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College District).[71]
Politics
Joe Chow, mayor of Addison from 2005 to 2011 and 2017 to 2023
The first mayor of Addison was M. W. Morris, and the aldermen were Guy Dennis, Robert W. Wood, J. E. Julian, Jr., Dr. H. T. Nesbit, and Seldon Knowles.
Addison city vote by party in presidential elections
[72]
^Addison refers to itself as the "Town of Addison", rather than the customary "city" label.
^Note: the U.S. Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[21][22]
^ abcdefghijkMaxwell, Lisa C. (September 20, 2023) [1952]. "Addison, TX". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
Bleakley, Bruce (2017). Addison Airport: Serving Business Aviation for 60 Years, 1957–2017. Dallas, Texas: Brown Books Publishing Group. ISBN978-1-61254-839-5.
United States
Texas
