59 Fun Facts About Carrollton, TX For Locals and Visitors!

Carrollton, Texas, isn’t just another Dallas suburb that looks the same as everywhere else. This place has Olympic champions living next door and enough history to fill a Netflix series.

Most people drive through without stopping, but they’re missing out big time. Here are 59 facts about Carrollton that’ll make you want to pack up and move there tomorrow!

Interesting Fun Facts About Carrollton, TX You Didn’t Know

Ready to read some interesting facts about this Texas city? These facts will change everything you thought you knew about Carrollton.

1. Carrollton was founded in 1842 by William and Mary Larner, so it’s one of the older cities in Texas

William and Mary Larner were legends who decided to build their life in the middle of nowhere Texas, back in 1842. That makes Carrollton way older than you probably thought.

2. The city was named after Carrollton, Illinois, not after a person (settlers came from that Illinois town)

The settlers got homesick and just named the place after their old hometown. Yep, Carrollton, Texas, is named after Carrollton, Illinoi,s because people missed home.

3. Carrollton was officially incorporated in 1913 with a vote of 52 for and 23 against

Talk about cutting it close! Only 75 people showed up to vote on becoming a real city and it barely passed. Those 23 “no” voters were probably kicking themselves later.

4. The first mayor, William Forrest Vinson, was elected but declined the office for unknown reasons

This guy won the election to be the very first mayor ever, then just… noped out. Nobody knows why he turned down the job. Maybe he got scared or had better things to do?

5. As of 2020, Carrollton’s population was approximately 132,495 people

From a handful of pioneer families to nearly 140,000 people. That’s what happens when you build a city in the right spot. Turns out those original settlers knew what they were doing.

6. Over 40% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino,

Carrollton is basically a melting pot where you can get authentic tacos on one block and amazing Korean BBQ on the next. The diversity here isn’t just numbers on paper. You actually feel it when you walk around town.

7. The city spans three counties: Dallas, Denton, and Collin

Yep, Carrollton is so big it couldn’t pick just one county to call home. The city literally spreads across three different counties, which probably makes filing taxes interesting for the city planners.

8. Carrollton is home to over 5,000 businesses ranging from small enterprises to major corporations

Everything from your neighbor’s landscaping business to massive corporate headquarters calls this place home. That’s a lot of job opportunities packed into one city, which explains why so many people keep moving here.

9. Major employers in Carrollto. include Halliburton, Thomson Reuters, and McKesson

These are Fortune 500 companies that chose Carrollton as their home base. Pretty impressive for a city that started with log cabins and cotton farms.

10. The city boasts over 1,230 acres of parkland and 36 parks

That’s a ridiculous amount of green space for a city this size. You’ve got 36 different parks to choose from, so there’s basically no excuse for staying inside all weekend.

11. Three railroads intersected in Carrollton (Cotton Belt, Katy, and Frisco), which was unique for the region

Most places were lucky to get one railroad, but Carrollton somehow scored three. This means easier transportation for many.

12. The historic downtown town square had a fresh spring flowing through its center, where the gazebo now stands

The town literally built itself around a natural spring that bubbled up right in the middle of everything. Smart move considering people needed fresh water. It probably made the town square the coolest spot during those brutal Texas summers.

13. Water works and a fire hose cart were hidden in the bottom of the original bandstand

They basically turned their town bandstand into a secret storage unit for emergency equipment. Pretty clever way to keep the fire-fighting gear handy while still having a nice place for concerts.

14. Carrollton Pressed Brick Company operated from 1904 and their bricks are still identifiable today with “CARROLLTON” embedded in them

You can still find these bricks around town with the city name literally stamped into them. Collectors actually hunt for them now, which means some old bricks from Carrollton are worth more than you’d think.

15. The first telephone went into operation in 1890

Carrollton got connected to the outside world way earlier than most small Texas towns. Someone in 1890 Carrollton could actually call someone else, which must have felt super cool back then.

16. Commercial electricity became available in 1913 when a private power plant opened

Electric lights in 1913 – not bad for a small Texas town! The same year they officially became a city, they also got rid of all those oil lamps and candles.

17. By 1908, three railroads provided service: Cotton Belt and Katy offered passenger service with depots

You could hop on a train and go basically anywhere from little old Carrollton. Two different companies were fighting for your business, which probably meant better service and maybe even competitive prices.

18. The Texas Interurban Railway electric train began passenger service in 1922 between Dallas and Denton

An electric train that ran between Dallas and Denton with a stop in Carrollton? That’s like a personal subway system decades before anyone else thought of it.

19. Around 1851, the Trinity Mills steam mill was built to serve settlers in Dallas and Denton counties

This wasn’t just some little neighborhood mill. It was the place where people from two entire counties brought their grain. Trinity Mills was basically the Amazon warehouse of the 1850s.

20. There were 13 cotton gins in the Carrollton area at the beginning of 1900

Thirteen cotton gins for one small area means cotton was serious business here. That’s a lot of processing power for what was still a tiny community back then.

21. Actress and singer Selena Gomez spent part of her childhood in Carrollton

Yep, THE Selena Gomez actually lived in Carrollton as a kid. She went from small-town Texas life to global superstar, which is super cool when you think about it.

22. Olympic gymnast Madison Kocian, who won gold in the 2016 Summer Olympics, is from Carrollton

Madison brought home Olympic gold for Team USA and she’s a homegrown Carrollton talent. Not bad for a city that most people have never heard of.

23. Professional football player Darren Woodson, a former Dallas Cowboy, attended high school in Carrollton

A Dallas Cowboys legend went to high school right here in Carrollton. The guy played safety for America’s Team and got his start in local classrooms.

24. Legendary Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson was born and raised in Carrollton

Michael Johnson set world records and won multiple Olympic golds, all while calling Carrollton home. The man who dominated track and field for years started his journey on local tracks.

25. Actress Leighton Meester from “Gossip Girl” spent her early years in Carrollton

Before she was Blair Waldorf’s nemesis on TV, Leighton Meester was just a regular kid growing up in Carrollton.

26. The A.W. Perry Homestead Museum was completed in 1909 using materials from the Perrys’ second home, built around 1857

They basically recycled their old house to build a new one, which is the smart way to do it. The Perry family knew good building materials when they saw them.

27. The Perry Homestead museum displays authentic period furnishings and offers free group tours

You can actually walk through this place and see how people lived over a century ago and it won’t cost you a dime. Free tours of genuine 1900s life? That’s quite the deal.

28. The original Perry home from the 1840s was located at the northwest corner of Jackson Road and Old Denton Road

The very first Perry house sat right at that intersection way back in the 1840s. Every time you drive through that corner, you’re passing where Carrollton’s founding family started their legacy.

29. DeWitt C. Perry was the son of founder A.W. Perry and owned this third homestead

The Perry family basically kept upgrading their houses like people upgrade their phones today. DeWitt got the fancy third-generation version of the family home.

30. The downtown Carrollton town square’s formation began before 1900, with George Myers and his brother J.S. filing plats

The Myers brothers had a vision for downtown Carrollton before there really was a downtown. They filed all the paperwork to create what would become the heart of the city.

31. The Carrollton Mercantile Company offered hearses for funerals (black or gray with matching horses)

Your local general store also doubled as the funeral home, complete with color-coordinated horses and hearses. One-stop shopping taken to a whole different level back in the day.

32. The current gazebo was built in 1921 and hosted town band concerts and Saturday dances

Saturday night entertainment meant heading to the town square for live music and dancing around the gazebo. Sounds way more fun than scrolling through Netflix for two hours trying to pick something to watch.

33. The first theater was an outdoor, makeshift screen stretched across the George F. Myers Grocery Store

Movie night meant standing outside the grocery store watching films projected on the side of the building. Drive-in theaters had nothing on this setup. This was a walk-up cinema at its finest.

34. The Plaza Theater was built in 1949 and operated continuously until 1994

This little theater kept the lights on for 45 straight years. It survived everything Hollywood threw at it. That’s some serious staying power for a small-town movie house.

35. Population grew from 1,610 in 1950 to 40,595 in 1980, a 193% increase in one decade

The population basically exploded like someone set off a people bomb. Going from sleepy small town to bustling suburb in just 30 years must have given longtime residents serious whiplash.

36. Almost three-quarters of housing units were built during the 1970s boom

The entire city basically got a makeover in one decade. If you live in Carrollton, there’s a good chance your house was built when disco was king and bell-bottoms were cool.

37. Carrollton is part of Metrocrest, a group of four northwest Dallas County cities

Carrollton teamed up with Addison, Coppell, and Farmers Branch to form their own little alliance. Four cities sharing one chamber of commerce for some serious small-government efficiency right there.

38. The city maintained a working cattle ranch within city limits as late as 1983

You could literally watch cowboys herding cattle while living in a modern suburb. Carrollton kept its Wild West roots alive well into the Reagan era, which is pretty awesome.

39. Four railroads provide service: Katy, St. Louis-Southwestern, St. Louis-San Francisco, and Burlington-Northern

Having four different railroad companies fighting for business in your backyard is like having four different pizza places deliver to your house. Competition makes everything better.

40. The city hosts an annual Festival at the Switchyard celebrating railroad history

They throw a whole party just to celebrate trains and railroad history. It’s Carrollton’s way of reminding us that they were the railroad capital of North Texas.

41. Carrollton offers community gardens where residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables

The city actually gives you space to grow your own tomatoes and peppers. Free dirt, free water, and you get to keep whatever you manage not to kill.

42. The annual Carrollton Trails 5K promotes health and fitness in the community

They organize a whole 5K race just to get people moving around those 26 miles of trails. It’s like the city is your personal trainer, but way less annoying about it.

43. The city is served by three school districts: Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, Lewisville ISD, and Dallas ISD

Three different school districts means parents actually get to pick which educational system works best for their kids. That’s more options than most cities ever dream of having.

44. Over 25 public schools serve the community, including several highly-rated institutions

Twenty-five schools for one city means you’re never more than a few minutes from a really good education. Some of these schools are rated so well that people move here just for the classrooms.

45. Carrollton, Texas is located at the intersection of Interstate 35E and President George Bush Turnpike

You can hop on two major highways without even trying hard. Perfect spot if you need to get anywhere fast, or if you just like having options for your commute.

46. The city is just 20 minutes from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Twenty minutes to one of the busiest airports in the world means you can literally decide to fly somewhere on a whim. Last-minute vacation to anywhere? No problem.

47. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) provides convenient public transportation via the Green Line

The Green Line runs right through Carrollton, so you can ditch your car and let someone else deal with Dallas traffic. Smart move, especially during rush hour madness.

48. The city maintains over 26 miles of hiking and biking trails

Twenty-six miles of trails means you could walk or bike a different route every day for weeks. That’s enough variety to keep even the most restless outdoor enthusiast happy.

49. Carrollton is 14 miles north of downtown Dallas

Close enough to enjoy everything Dallas has to offer, but far enough away to avoid the downtown chaos on a daily basis. Best of both worlds without the big-city headaches.

50. Before refrigeration, families here built wooden boxes submerged in springs to keep milk and butter cool

People got creative with food storage way before anyone invented ice makers. Dunking your butter in a creek actually worked pretty well for keeping things fresh.

51. Ice delivery began in 1904-1905, with one delivery per week (two in hot weather)

The ice man came once a week like clockwork and twice when Texas summer heat tried to melt everything in sight. This was basically the Amazon Prime of the early 1900s.

52. The area was once home to Wichita Native Americans, including Tawakonis, Wacos, and Taovayas tribes

Long before any pioneers showed up, several Native American tribes called this area home. They picked a good spot. The land around Carrollton has always been prime real estate.

53. Early settlers’ average cabin was only 12 x 14 feet and housed two parents with seven children

Nine people crammed into a space smaller than most modern bedrooms. Those pioneer families definitely knew how to make every square foot count.

54. The first school started in 1856 in the Union Baptist Church where Perry Cemetery is today

Kids went to school in the same building where people went to church on Sundays. Talk about getting your education and spiritual guidance all in one convenient location.

55. Around 1871, school was held in a dirt floor log cabin with 25 pupils who came on horseback or on foot

Twenty-five kids learning their ABCs in a log cabin with a dirt floor. No buses, no carpools, just kids riding horses to school or walking however many miles it took.

56. The first official schoolhouse was erected circa 1890 and called Carrollton Academy

Finally, someone built an actual school building instead of borrowing space from the church. Carrollton Academy sounds way fancier than it probably was, but hey, at least the kids got their own dedicated learning space.

57. The Wichita tribes were excellent horsemen and grew pumpkins, squash, beans, corn, and maize

These people had farming down to a science long before anyone else showed up. Plus, they were amazing with horses, which probably came in handy when you needed to get around Texas-sized distances.

58. Early settlers came primarily from other states, with many from Carrollton, Illinois

Most of the pioneer families weren’t even from Texas originally. They packed up everything they owned and moved halfway across the country to start over in a place that was basically wilderness.

59. Historical fun facts about Carrollton, TX show the 1850 Federal Census revealed most families had migrated from another state before settling

The census basically confirmed what everyone already knew. Hardly anybody was actually born in Texas back then. Everyone was from somewhere else, trying to make it work in this wild new frontier.

Key Takeaways: 59 Fun Facts About Carrollton, TX

Carrollton has produced Olympic gold medalists, Hollywood actresses, and NFL legends while somehow managing to keep its small-town charm intact. Three railroads, three counties, and three school districts. Apparently, everything comes in threes when you’re doing things right.

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