Want To Know More About Addison, Texas?

Addison, Texas, is a vibrant incorporated town nestled in northern Dallas County, just 13 miles north of downtown Dallas within the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, spanning a compact 4.4 square miles with a population of approximately 16,661 as of the 2020 census and an estimated 17,100 by 2023. Known for its economic dynamism and as a hub for business and leisure, Addison boasts over 200 restaurants—more per capita than any other U.S. city—along with 22 hotels offering more than 3,000 rooms, nearly two million square feet of office space, and major corporate headquarters like Mary Kay Cosmetics, Wingstop, and Dresser, drawing a daytime population exceeding 120,000. The town’s diverse demographics reflect its growth, with a mix of about 48% White, 16% Black or African American, 8% Asian, and 23% Hispanic or Latino residents, all amid a landscape of parks, the Addison Airport, and events like the explosive Kaboom Town! fireworks show. Historically, Addison’s story begins in the 1840s as part of Peter’s Colony, when early settlers like Preston Witt arrived in 1846, building a home near White Rock Creek and opening an ox-powered gristmill in 1849 that became a vital community anchor. By 1880, Sidney Smith Noell acquired significant land south of present-day Belt Line Road, and in 1888, he joined W.W. Julian and W.E. Horten in donating right-of-way to the St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railway—later the Cotton Belt—for a coaling station, spurring the area’s first rail connections. A cotton gin established in 1902 marked the debut of substantial industry, followed in 1903 by a depot and branch line to Dallas, dubbing the site Noell Junction; a post office opened in 1904 but was renamed Addison in 1908 to avoid conflict with another Texas community, honoring postmaster Addison Robertson who served until 1916. Julian platted the original six city blocks that year, fostering modest growth to 75 residents by 1914 with grocers and a short-lived bank, though the population dipped to 40 by 1926 amid economic challenges. Post-World War II annexation threats from neighboring Dallas, Carrollton, and Farmers Branch prompted incorporation on June 15, 1953, via a narrow 19-11 vote, electing M.H. “Harry” McKool as the first mayor and setting the stage for expansion. In 1956, W.T. Overton announced Addison Airport, which broke ground in 1957 and opened for business aviation, while a 1961 industrial park developed by Overton, John D. Murchison, and Trammell Crow fueled further progress; by 1970, the population hit 595 with 80 businesses. The 1976 approval of alcohol sales, coupled with low taxes, ignited a boom in restaurants and hotels during the late 1970s and early 1980s, swelling the populace beyond 8,000 by 1991 alongside 118 eateries, and in 1982, the city rebranded as the Town of Addison. Milestones like hosting the Dallas Grand Prix from 1989 to 1991 and completing the innovative Addison Airport Toll Tunnel in 1999 underscored its evolution from rural outpost to a premier North Texas destination blending history, commerce, and culinary allure.