Page 75 - Southlake FY24 Budget

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 - Christmastime in Southlake evokes the spirit of a Norman Rockwell
painting.

Businesses from many industries including healthcare, hospitality, legal, and financial services have come City Profile
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 2,500 employees and Verizon Wire-
less’ Network Control Center takes advantage of high-tech infrastructure to manage all wireless communi-
cations west of the Mississippi River from its Southlake location.

Location
Pacific
Central Time Zone Standard Mountain Central
5 miles west of DFW Airport Time Standard Standard Eastern
Time
Time
8 miles east of Fort Worth Alliance Airport Standard
Approximately 19 miles from downtown Dallas & Time
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; in-
stead, 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.

FY 2024 City of Southlake | Budget Book 75