Page 92 - CityofSouthlakeFY26AdoptedBudget

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 event
draws artists and visitors from around the globe, Oktoberfest rings in the fall, Stars & Stripes celebrates
patriotism with style. At the same time, 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
City Profile
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 1,900 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.

Location
Pacific Mountain Central – Central Time Zone
Standard Standard Standard
Eastern
Time Time Time Standard – 5 miles west of DFW Airport
Time – 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 that reach back to the mid-1800s. 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 significant 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.

92 FY 2026 City of Southlake | Budget Book FY 2026 City of Southlake | Budget Book 93