Page 66 - Southlake FY20 Budget

City Profile

In addition to stellar school systems, residents and businesses have come to enjoy the many shopping and dining
opportunities developed in recent years. At the heart of both community and commerce is Southlake Town Square.
The internationally acclaimed mixed-use development includes a wide variety of upscale shopping and dining options
and a vibrant mix of professional service providers. Town Square also plays host to a popular mix of community
gatherings. The annual Art in the Square draws artists and visitors from around the globe, Oktoberfest rings in the fall,
Stars & Stripes celebrates patriotism with style, while Home for the Holidays evokes the spirit of a Norman Rockwell
painting.

Businesses from many industries including healthcare, hospitality, legal, and financial services have come together to
make Southlake a full-service business community for all of north central Texas. Sabre, home of Travelocity.com, is
the city’s largest employer with approximately 3,600 employees and Verizon Wireless’ Network Control Center takes
advantage of high-tech infrastructure to manage all wireless communications west of the Mississippi River from its
Southlake location.
Pacific Mountain
Standard Central
Location Time Standard Standard Eastern
Time
General Time Standard
• Central Time Zone Time
• 5 miles west of DFW Airport
• 8 miles east of Fort Worth Alliance Airport
• Approximately 19 miles from downtown Dallas
& Fort Worth

From DFW in-flight times:
• 2.00 Hours to Chicago
• 0.50 Hours to Houston
• 1.15 Hours to Kansas City
• 3.00 Hours to Los Angeles
• 3.00 Hours to Miami
• 3.30 Hours to New York
• 4.00 Hours to Seattle

History

Incorporated in 1956, the City has deep roots which reach back to the mid-1800’. In 1845, when the first settlers
arrived at the place that is now Southlake, they found a wilderness abundant with post-oak trees, tall grasses, creeks
and springs, wild honey, grapes, berries, turkeys, deer, and other wild game. Because early settlers were a long way
from major markets, large-scale crop farming was at first impractical; instead, many raised cattle to sell. Others were
stone masons, wood craftsmen, millers, and the like.

After the Civil War, farmers grew cotton, grains, peanuts, truck-farm crops, and meat and dairy products for market.
By the 1930s, erosion and poor soil had ended cotton farming in the area, but Southlake remained a collection of rural
farming communities. Then in 1952 the first of three big changes occurred: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Lake
Grapevine which spurred much of the area’s early growth and was the beginning of dramatic change.

Worried that the City of Hurst might annex the area, residents voted 30-24 on September 25, 1956, to incorporate. The
original Town of Southlake contained 1.62 square miles, had a population of just over 100, and was located between
FM 1709 and SH 114 (both two-lane roads) and near the intersection of Carroll Avenue. “Southlake” was chosen from
names suggested by its residents.

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