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History of Carrollton
The earliest known visitors to this area just prior to and during
the coming of white settlers were Caddo, Wichita, and Tonkawa
Indians. With the empresario land grants provided by the government
of Mexico and, later, the Republic of Texas, white settlers began
visiting, and then claiming land in what is now North Central Texas.
The area now known as Carrollton was part of the Peters Colony Grant
(four grants in total by the Republic of Texas), and the name of the
colony lives on in a local street name.
The first known settlers in the Carrollton area were William and
Mary Larner, who arrived in 1842. In that same year, Isaac Webb
visited the area and returned to his home in Missouri with samples
of the local soil.
In 1843, Isaac Webb and his wife, Mary Hughes Webb left Barry
County, Missouri, to settle in this area. Four weeks after their
departure, they crossed the Red River into Texas. Moving in with
Mary's brother and his wife, they began to build their new home in
Texas.
The A.W. Perry family claimed their headright in 1844. Both the
Larners and the Perrys were from Carrollton, Illinois, and the name
came to be used for the growing settlement here. A.W. Perry
established a mill here in partnership with Wade H. Witt.
Sometime in the 1840's the Webbs and other settlers sought the
services of a circuit-riding preacher. The Webbs donated their cabin
for religious services, and it came to be known locally as Webb's
Chapel. Webb Chapel lives on as the name of a major Carrollton
thoroughfare.
Agriculture was the first major industry in the area, and some of
the first buildings here were the grist mills established on the Elm
fork of the Trinity River. The mills on the Trinity are remembered
today with Trinity Mills Road that runs through Carrollton.
Carrollton's first school was established in 1856, and the railroad
(Dallas & Wichita RR) arrived in 1881. The next year, it was
noted in the Texas Gazeteer that Carrollton boasted a
population of 500 and one steam grist mill, four cotton gins, two
churches and two schools.
In 1890, Carrollton's first telephone was installed. A local
cotton patch was being replaced as a location for several new
businesses, and in 1900, the area was platted as the town square.
Carrollton's old town square still exists, surrounded by colorful
local businesses. In 1902, Carrollton's first bank was established.
By 1921, Carrollton had both a volunteer fire department and a
Chamber of Commerce. In 1924, Carrollton was connected with Dallas,
when the Texas Inter-Urban railway established its electric train
service between the two communities. Carrollton was now unique in
the area in having three separate rail lines and services meeting at
the local depot. This access to rail transport would be a powerful
force in the growth of Carrollton through the 1950's.
By 1935, Carrollton had its first City Hall, water mains and fire
hydrants, and a sewer system. By now, the city was a major processor
and shipper of grain and cotton.
1950 saw Carrollton with a population of around 1,600, but the city
was to grow substantially over the next four decades. Growth was
substantial in the 1970's when population grew to over 40,000 and
much of the city's current housing was built.
Carrollton continues to thrive and grow today. The city is estimated
to have over 122,000 residents today. |
