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Plano, TX: A look back to the beginning

History of West Plano

Two centuries ago, West Plano was a sea of blackland prairie—some of the most fertile soil on Earth—as far as the eye could see. Large herds of buffalo and nomadic bands of Native Americans visited the region. It was not until the early 1840s that the first pioneers came to the area, drawn by free land grants from the Peters Colony. Plano became incorporated in 1873, but commercial development remained primarily in what is now the eastern portion of the city. The completion of North Central Expressway in 1958 and Dallas’ ever-northward expansion led to Plano’s growth, but in 1960 its population numbered only 3,695 and there were still working farms and cattle ranches within city limits.

Residential development boomed when many large corporations settled in the Plano area.
photography courtesy of Texana Collection, Wells Collection and Plano star Courier, Gladys Harrington Library, Plano Public Library System, Plano, Texas

In the mid 1980s, as large firms moved into the area and other businesses and industries followed, the city’s population exploded, and so did its westward commercial and residential development. By 1980, Plano’s population was more than 72,000, and by 2005 it was almost 250,000. By then West Plano had long since become the more inhabited part of the city, comprising 80 percent of the population and most of the new housing developments and shopping areas. Today, some 36,000 people live and work in the far-west Legacy district alone, a 2,665-acre master-planned business, retail, and residential community with the headquarters of such companies as Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS), Frito-Lay, JCPenney, and many others.

Baccus Cemetery is the resting place of some of the area’s original settlers.
photography by Graham Hobart

Even with such monumental development, reminders of the area’s rural past are ever-present. For example, just across the street from the 270-acre site of EDS headquarters, home to the world’s largest computer complex, lies Baccus Cemetery, Plano’s oldest. Some the region’s original settlers are buried here, including Lt. Henry Cook, who arrived in 1845 and homesteaded some 600 acres.


An earlier edifice of the First Baptist Church of Plano (left), which was originally founded as the Spring Creek Baptist Church in 1853. The Shops at Legacy (right) offer a hip, urban shopping experience. photography: church courtesy of Texana Collection, Wells Collection and Plano star Courier, Gladys Harrington Library, Plano Public Library System, Plano, Texas; shops by Graham Hobart


A courting couple, with chaperone, at the Interurban Railway Express in 1904 (left). This early photo captured the office and staff of the Plano Star Courier (right). photography courtesy of Texana Collection, Wells Collection and Plano star Courier, Gladys Harrington Library, Plano Public Library System, Plano, Texas

Posted by Pescatore Avrit Team on 03/09/2008 12:48 AM

Comments (3)

plano, west plano, history, community, growth, texas

Post is included in group: Carnival of Content - Real Estate Agents/Brokers
Post is included in group: Keller Williams
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3 Comments on Plano, TX: A look back to the beginning

Did you know Plano came from the Spanish phrase "el plano" which basically means plain as in the city was just a bunch of flat, plain, boring land.

03/09/2008 04:23 PM

by Donna Harris, ASP (Re/Max HiNet)

cowgirl Hi Jane and Terri,just wanted to stop by and give you both a tip of our hat to you both for a great post. We decided it deserved to be featured because it was so good. Personally I don't think Plano is "boring", don't give that another thought. You ladies are the best and so is Plano! Congratulations, Liz and Marchel (L & M), the best group on AR, the Texas Real Estate group!

PS, don't forget to enter the L&M contest for the best church in TX, you can get 800 points, read my post on it and also go on the post to vote for our mascots name, Liz

03/11/2008 02:53 AM

by Liz Carter,Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston) (Liz Carter & Team Realty-Top Realtor in Katy & Houston Texas)

Thank you so much!

03/11/2008 01:44 PM

by Pescatore Avrit Team (Keller Williams)

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