Highland Park is a town in central Dallas County, Texas, United States, with a population estimated to be 8,719 in 2022, dropping from the previously recorded 8,864 in 2020.
History
thumb|left|Exall Lake, Dallas, Texas (postcard, c. 1901–1907) The land now known as Highland Park was bought in 1889 by a group of investors from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the Philadelphia Place Land Association, for an average price of $377 an acre, with a total of $500,000. Henry Exall, an agent, intended to develop the land along Turtle Creek as "Philadelphia Place", exclusive housing based on parkland areas in Philadelphia. He laid gravel roads, and dammed Turtle Creek, forming Exall Lake, before the Panic of 1893 brought a blow to his fortunes, halting development. In the 1890s, Exall Lake was a common picnic destination for Dallas residents.
In 1906, John S. Armstrong (the former partner of Thomas Marsalis, the developer of Oak Cliff), sold his meatpacking business and invested his money in a portion of the former Philadelphia Place land, to develop it under the name of "Highland Park", choosing this name as it was located on high land that overlooked downtown Dallas. Wilbur David Cook, the landscape designer who had planned Beverly Hills, California, and George E. Kessler, who had previously planned Fair Park and most of downtown Dallas, were hired to design its layout in 1907. Notably, twenty percent of the original land was set aside for parks. When Armstrong died in 1908, his widow and sons-in-law—Edgar Flippen and Hugh Prather continued his work, and Armstrong is considered the founder of Highland Park. A second development in Highland Park was developed in 1910.
Neighborhoods
Highland Park was first developed as Old Highland which is made up of the First Section, Second Section, Turtle Creek Acreage, Acreage Section, Third Section, Fourth Section, and the Hackberry Creek Acreage of Old Highland Park. And then the Highland Park Neighborhoods West of Preston were developed.
Parks and recreation
Dallas Country Club is located here. Highland Park also has a swimming pool, and tennis courts.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Highland Park has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
{| class="wikitable"
|+Highland Park racial and ethnic composition as of 2020<br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|White (NH)
|7,553
|85.21%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|74
|0.83%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|2
|0.02%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|405
|4.57%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|18
|0.2%
|-
|Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)
|347
|3.91%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|465
|5.25%
|-
|Total
|8,864
|
|}
In 2020, the racial and ethnic makeup was 85.21% non-Hispanic White, 0.83% Black, 0.02% Native American or Alaska Native, 4.57% Asian, 0.2% some other race or ethnicity, 3.91% multiracial, and 5.25% Hispanic or Latino residents of any race.
Arts and culture
thumb|upright|Highland Park Village Shopping Center
Highland Park Village shopping center is located in the municipality. The Highland Park Centennial Literary Festival is held in the community.
Government
thumb|Highland Park Library, Town Hall, and Municipal Court
The Highland Park Town Hall houses municipal services. The Spanish Colonial architecture building was designed by architects Lang & Witchell.
Education
thumb|right|upright|McCulloch Intermediate School and [[Highland Park Middle School (Texas)|Highland Park Middle School]]
Primary and secondary schools
The majority of Highland Park (areas east of Roland Avenue) is within Highland Park Independent School District. The HPISD portion is served by Arch H. McCulloch Middle School and Highland Park Middle School, which share a campus located partially in Highland Park and partially in University Park. Two elementary schools in Highland Park ISD, Armstrong and Bradfield, both in the Highland Park city limits, serve sections of the town of Highland Park.
A portion of Highland Park (areas west of Dallas North Tollway) is within the Dallas Independent School District. Rusk Middle School, and North Dallas High School.
Media
- The Dallas Morning News is the Dallas citywide newspaper.
The Highland Park Public Library is adjacent to the Highland Park Town Hall. The library building and art gallery first opened in 1930. As time passed, the art gallery was repurposed as town council chambers and a portion of the library. In 2008 the library underwent major renovations.
Television
The television show Dallas used Highland Park as a filming location.
Infrastructure
The town council authorized the purchasing of a fire engine and the construction of a fire house after the 1913 incorporation. The town hall was built in 1924. During the same year, a new fire station opened next to town hall. The town hall has received several renovations. Connected the town hall is the public safety building. In 2003 a portion of the public safety building was razed, and a new facility was built in its place.
- Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour golfer, winner of four major championships
- Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League
- Marty Turco, Canadian Hockey player who played with the Dallas Stars for 9 seasons, lives in Highland Park
- Claire Underwood, fictional character from House of Cards (U.S. TV series) was raised in Highland Park
Notes
References
Further reading
- Ferguson, Cheryl Caldwell. Highland Park and River Oaks: The Origins of Garden Suburban Community Planning in Texas (University of Texas Press, 2014). xvi, 336 pp.; heavily illustrated.
External links
- Highland Park, TX at the Handbook of Texas