Municipal Archives


Dallas Streets


Main, Elm, and Pacific Streets looking west, 1971
(2012-001—City of Dallas Historic Preservation Program Files, 1978, 1982-1986)

Have you ever stopped to think about the history of Dallas's streets?   We live, work, play, and drive on streets of all sizes, shapes, and levels of repair.  The city has not always had paved roads, and complaints of moving people, animals, and wheeled conveyances through downtown streets after a thunderstorm frequented the local newspapers nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  Similarly, street names and numbering were not as obvious (or required) as nowadays. 

This suite of web pages paves the way for you to learn about the following road-related topics.  Click the links below for more information.


John Neely Bryan's 1844 Town Layout​​Naming and Numbering
Civilizing Dallas StreetsCity Grids
Street Information Research Tips