Image: Sectional Map State of Texas Dallas and Tarrant Counties 1915 UTA

Description: This map details paved roads, partially improved roads, railroads and electric interurban lines in Dallas and Tarrant Counties as of 1915. The map's compiler was consulting and construction engineer Fred A. Jones (1875-1928). He and his company were among the leading contractors in the Southwestern U.S. between 1906 and 1930. He played a major role in the development of the interurban railroad and water systems of North Texas, and he supervised the construction of such buildings as the original Dallas Country Club, Dallas Hall at SMU, the Dallas Municipal Building, the Southland Building, White Rock Lake and Wastewater Purification Plant, and the Texas Farm and Ranch Building. Bert Firmin was a draftsman who worked for Jones and for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas (Katy) Railroad. In addition to roads and railroads, the map shows a number of interesting details. Listed on the right side are statistics for each county as of 1910 and 1915 including population, steam and electric railroad mileage, mileage of improved highways (paved and well graded), number of autos (as of January 1, 1915, Dallas County had 6,500 and Tarrant 5,500), and - since both counties were still largely rural – the number of farms and the amount of cotton produced. Depicted on the map itself are recently built water reservoirs such as Bachman Lake and White Rock Lake in Dallas and North Lake in Tarrant. There are also numerous small towns that grew into large DFW Metroplex cities and suburbs such as Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Arlington, Benbrook, Birdville, Keller, Watauga, Saginaw, Azle, Everman, Ken[ne]dale, Crowley, and Mansfield in Tarrant County and Grand Prairie, Coppell, Irving, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Richardson, Garland, Highland Park, Sachse, Rowlett, Mesquite, Duncanville, DeSoto, Wilmer, Hutchins, Lancaster, and Seagoville in Dallas County. Likewise, there are places that have subsequently almost or entirely dropped off the map including Avondale, Haslet, Dido, Calef, Hodge, Moselle, Primrose, Enon, Red Rock in Tarrant County and Estelle, Sowers, Letot, Eagle Ford, Jim Town, Hale, Cain, Wheatland, Lisbon, Scyene, Elam, Rylie, Kleburg, Lawson, Fisher, Reinhardt, New Hope, Housely, Audelia, Kirkland Park, and Alpha in Dallas County. Along the Trinity River southeast of Dallas there are locks and dams. There is also evidence of a thriving social and entertainment scene with such places as River Crest Country Club in Fort Worth and the "Dallas G & C Club", "Auto Club", "Dallas Club Lake", "Fins and Feathers Club Lake", and "Trinity Rod & Gun Club".
Title: State of Texas Sectional Map Dallas and Tarrant Counties Sheet No.1
Credit: UTA Libraries Cartographic Connections: map / text
Author: Fred A. Jones Bert Firmin
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No