Plano’s trajectory to becoming ‘The City of Excellence’

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The beginning: Settlers and Native Americans

Plano was a favorable location to put down roots long before it was deemed one of the greatest cities in which to live in America. The city’s affluence isn’t lost on many, but it was a long road to get to the thriving metropolis that it is today.

European settlers began vying for the land in what would later be called Plano as early as the 1830s. The settlers intended to obtain land that Native Americans had already settled upon. The struggle for land resulted in hostile negotiations between European settlers and Native Americans.

McBain Jameson was the first known settler to come to the are that would later be called Plano. The Peters Colony was established in 1841 when the area began attracting settlers from Kentucky and Tennessee with the promise of fertile land and desirable climate.

The Muncey Incident occurred in 1844 when McBain Jameson and the Russell family who had recently established themselves in the area were found brutally murdered on their homestead. The violent attack was the last Indian raid in Collin County, according to the county’s website, and instilled fear in incoming residents for years to come. The promise of fertile land and opportunity far outweighed the fear of violence and settlers continued to claim land in the area.

According to Collin County, colonists agreed on the name Plano in 1852 after rejecting the name “Fillmore,” which would have been an ode to the president of the day. Plano earned its name for its flat topography devoid of trees. Plano is the Spanish word for “flat.”

The Railways of Plano

According to The city of Plano, the city began to flourish in 1872 when the Houston and Central Texas Railway connected Plano to other North Texas cities, promoting economic growth and the providing the capacity to become a thriving city. Instead of solely being a farming homestead, the railway allowed Plano to conduct business with other cities.

The Cotton Belt Railroad was established in 1877 and the second railroad to be implemented in Plano. The railway ran east-west, connecting Plano to outside markets such as Missouri and Arkansas. Today the Cotton Belt Railroad runs the same route as the DART.

It wouldn’t be until 1908 that the first electric Interurban Line would be implemented. It is the only substation of Plano that remains.

Great fires and devastation

In 1881, a fire destroyed a great deal of the city temporarily causing great economic hardships for business owners and farmers. Substantial growth in the area was accompanied by frequent fires that continued to plague the city, destroying much of original historic Plano.

In Hidden History of Plano, three historians uncovered that because of relentless fires, Plano was nicknamed “The City of Wells.”

Numerous wells were dug throughout the city so that residents could combat the incessant flames. These fires eventually destroyed most of the city, and many of the original historic sites are long gone. Plano began to rebuild in 1895, using brick to deter fire.

Smallpox epidemic runs rampant in Plano

In 1895, a smallpox epidemic plagued the small city spreading fear among its residents.

In an article The News published in 1899, Mayor W.D. McFarlin of Plano requested that all citizens vaccinate in order to prevent the death toll from rising.

The epidemic was claiming lives rapidly, and residents were rushing to bury their dead, leaving little time to grieve. Eventually, after these safety measures were implemented the disease was finally eradicated.

Plano becomes ‘The Mule Capital of the World’

By 1886, Plano was dubbed “The Mule Capital of the World,”’ according to the book Hidden History of Plano. The abundance of mules aided in the agricultural expansion that Plano was experiencing.

The book examines the importance of the Plano mules in detail.

“Even with improved machinery, mulepower and horsepower were the engines of agricultural industry at the time. Mules were so profitable that everyone in Plano, even the barber and the postman, took to trading them. But for a few of Plano’s founding fathers, mules weren’t just a sideline; they were big business.”

Resident C.S. Haggard broke records with an usually large mule that would be known as “Mammoth Jack.”

Plano experiences population growth

At first, the population grew slowly throughout the early 1900s. According to the city of Plano, throughout the 1920s, the city began to modernize with the implementation of gas, water, electricity and an interurban railway.

However, it wasn’t until after World War II that growth was visible and undeniable. By 1958, the opening of Central Expressway promoted rapid growth.

When the multi-lane expressway began to expand, the capacity for rapid transit ensued.

Welcoming rapid expansion

From 1958 through the early ’80s, Plano experienced drastic changes from what was once a small-town farming community to a more bustling suburb. Farms were replaced with residential homes, shops, schools and offices. After the farmland began to diminish, planning initiatives continued to attract residents.

Multiple high schools began to pop up, such as Plano Senior High School and Williams High School. Plano also developed its first comprehensive plan for rapid expansion in 1963, recognizing that growth was inevitable.

In 1964, Plano Independent School District integrated the city’s schools, giving the students attending Douglas High School the option to move to Plano High School. Plano High School won the state championship the same year.

The first Plano Balloon Festival was held in 1965 and continues to be an event that draws in residents and visitors alike annually.

The closing of the last cotton gin was in 1975. This was a sign of the rapid transition Plano was experiencing from its former identity as rural farming community to flourishing city.

Collin Creek Mall opened in 1981 and was a premiere shopping destination, giving the economy another boost. North Central Expressway was widened shortly after in 1985, allowing for increased rapid transit in and out of the city.

When EDS president Ross Perot purchased the 2,000 acres of flatland in Collin County in the hopes of developing a mega-business park, there were plenty of skeptics. This venture took place before the implementation of the Dallas North Tollway.

Between 1985 and 2000, Plano developed exponentially. Large corporations such as J.C. Penney, Frito-Lay, PepsiCo and Ericsson had settled onto a campus that is now referred to as Legacy business park.

After the Dallas North Tollway opened, business continued to thrive with easy access to other North Dallas cities.

There are now more than 50,000 individuals employed on this business campus.

Plano today

Rapid growth has slowed since the early 2000s, but the DART rail keeps downtown Plano invigorated and continues to attract visitors to Legacy Town Center and The Shops at Willowbend.

By 2013, Plano was ranked the No. 1 U.S. city to live in and dubbed the “City of Excellence.” Plano residents do not take this title lightly. They truly pride themselves on the quality of their city and the affluence that their excellence has allotted them.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income is $79,234; 60% above the national average. With a multitude of Fortune 500 companies, reputation as being one of the safest cities in America and a preferable school district, Plano definitively is the “City of Excellence.”

The flat land that once supported farmland has now turned into a burgeoning metropolis. Plano is thriving while drawing visitors from across the country. Visitors have an abundance of dining and shopping destinations to occupy their time in Plano.

The News reported Plano as being on Yelp’s Top 10 Foodie Cities in 2019. The city boasts eclectic fare that reflects Plano’s cultural diversity. One in four Plano residents were born in other countries, with Asians making up a fifth of the population and Hispanics making up 15% in 2017.

Plano and the rest of Collin County are expected to experience growth between now and 2040 as it one of the most desirable locations to live.

Moving to Plano

In 2019, the city was preparing to provide economic incentives to relocate to Plano. Dallas-based Paragon Healthcare planned on moving 330 jobs to the area. In return, Plano City Council was being asked to approve more than $315,000 in economic incentives.

Another international IT company, Tech Mahindra, was considering moving 500 jobs to Plano; $280,000 in economic incentives were considered by the Plano City Council.

Plano has transformed from a once desolate flatland into a thriving metropolis. What will the coming decades have in store for The City of Excellence?

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Editor’s note: Take a look back in The Dallas Morning News Archives and the Richardson, Texas collection

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To learn more about the remarkable evolution of other North Dallas cities, subscribe to The Dallas News Archives at https://archives.dallasnews.com/ and to learn more about the ever-burgeoning Plano in its special collection.