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1891 Map of Dallas

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Dallas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

Dallas and its surrounding countryside are captured here during a pivotal decade of expansion, long before the city’s footprint covered the county. The map highlights the early separation between the main city and Oak Cliff, with the Trinity River and its expansive bottomlands serving as a natural divide. This era is defined by a dense radial network of railroads, including the Texas and Pacific Railway and the Houston and Texas Central Railway, which spurred the growth of satellite settlements like Richardson and Garland.

Beyond the central rail hubs, the landscape reveals a transition from frontier crossings to established commerce. Rural life is anchored by landmarks such as Haughts Store and Doddy's Ferry, while early names like Jim Town and Scyene represent communities that would eventually be absorbed by urban sprawl. The intricate drainage patterns of White Rock Creek and Duck Creek illustrate the natural topography that shaped the development of north Texas during the late nineteenth century.