Want To Know More about Garland, Texas?

Garland, Texas, is a cool city just northeast of Dallas, and it has a pretty fun and quirky history that makes it what it is today. You’ll find a mix of big-city industry and a friendly, small-town vibe.¹

The Story of Garland: How Two Rivals Became One

Garland’s story is all about compromise. Believe it or not, the city was born out of a big feud between two tiny, feisty communities back in the 1880s: Duck Creek and Embree.²

The Rivalry: Both towns were trying to be the next big thing, especially when the railroads started to come through.³ But the two rival railways—the Santa Fe and the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas (MKT)—bypassed the original town of Duck Creek and built their lines right next to each other, creating new communities called Embree and “new” Duck Creek.⁴

The Post Office Feud: The rivalry got so heated that the U.S. government got involved. A dispute over where the post office should be located—with each town accusing the other of trying to cheat—went all the way to Congress!⁵

A Compromise is Born: To end the drama, a congressman named Joseph Abbott stepped in and decided to put the new post office right in the middle, between the two feuding towns.⁶ This new, neutral ground was named Garland after Augustus H. Garland, who was the U.S. Attorney General at the time.⁷ A local legend says the residents agreed to the name because he had never been to Texas, so no one had a reason to dislike him!⁸

The Big Fire: The two towns eventually merged, and the new Garland was officially incorporated in 1891.⁹ But their luck was short-lived. In 1899, a huge fire tore through downtown, wiping out almost every business.¹⁰ The community rallied, and instead of giving up, they rebuilt the city around a central town square, which is still a major feature of downtown Garland today.¹¹

From Farming to Manufacturing Powerhouse

Garland’s history is tied to the land and the industry that grew from it.¹²

Cotton and Commerce: In its early days, Garland was a bustling agricultural hub, with cotton gins and flour mills driving the local economy.¹³ The railroad was key to this, allowing the town to ship goods to other parts of the state and country.

“The Hat Capital of Texas”: In the late 1930s, a major hat factory, Byer-Rolnick (which became Hatco), moved to Garland and started making famous Resistol hats.¹⁴ This helped the city earn its nickname as the “Cowboy Hat Capital of Texas,” and hat-making is still a part of the city’s legacy.¹⁵

The Industrial Boom: Over the decades, Garland became a center for a variety of industries, including electronics, manufacturing, and food production. The city’s business-friendly policies and a strong workforce helped it grow into one of the largest cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.Garland Today: A Diverse and Fun Place to Be

Today, Garland is a bustling and diverse community with a population of over 240,000 people.¹⁶ It’s known for:

A “City of Many Cultures”: Garland is one of the most diverse cities in Texas, with a large Hispanic population, a growing Asian community, and a mix of people from all over the world. This diversity is reflected in the many great restaurants and cultural events you can find there.

Great Outdoors: The city has lots of parks and green spaces, like the Duck Creek Greenbelt and Spring Creek Park, which are perfect for a walk, a bike ride, or a picnic.¹⁷

Arts and Entertainment: Downtown Garland has been revitalized, with the beautiful Plaza Theatre and the Granville Arts Center hosting plays, concerts, and other performances.¹⁸ You can also explore Heritage Crossing, a historic area that includes the old Santa Fe Depot, a vintage railcar, and a museum that tells the story of the city.¹⁹

Unique Businesses: Garland is home to some cool spots, including the famous Bass Pro Shops right on Lake Ray Hubbard, and the popular Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, which serves up delicious Texas barbecue and craft beer in a historic downtown building.