Over 150 years ago, Duncanville began as a small settlement in Texas. It was initially home to just a few settlers from Illinois. Fast forward to the present, and it is a lively Southern Dallas-Fort Worth city with about 40,000 people. Duncanville is part of the "Best Southwest" consortium that includes DeSoto, Lancaster, Cedar Hill, and Duncanville. Along with its convenient access to Dallas and Fort Worth, the city is known for its activities, events, and attractions.
Duncanville's Origins
Historians believe that the first settlers in Duncanville arrived between 1840 and 1845. The first inhabitant was a man named Crawford Trees, who came to the area from Illinois. Upon arrival, he purchased thousands of acres in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including present-day Duncanville. However, it wasn't until the railroad was constructed about 35 years later that the small settlement started to take on the shape of a distinct town.
Although plans were in place to complete the railroad quickly, setbacks delayed the railway's progress. To enable completion of the railway within a reasonable time-frame, two landowners in town donated their land to create a shortcut for the train. The shortcut included a switching station called the "Duncan Switch." The first building in the town, called "Nance Brothers," was built on the site by a wealthy landowner named Charles Nance. Nance proposed the name "Duncan" for the settlement, but his request was denied because there was already a "Duncan" in Texas. Nance simply revised the application by adding "ville" to the name and re-submitted the petition to establish the town as "Duncanville." It worked, and with an official name, the town was a step closer to becoming a truly independent and self-sufficient destination.
Development quickly followed as more people arrived. By 1900, the town contained a pharmacy, general store, and a school. Its population size more than doubled between 1904 and the early 1930s, and it was officially incorporated as a city in the late 1940s. By the early 1960s, the town had a population size of 5,000 residents. The arrival of more businesses and the construction of an Air Force station in the mid-1960s catapulted the city's population size and economy. At the end of 1988, the city's population reached 31,000.
Despite its growth, the city honors its historic places and important economic contributions. Although it is no longer operational, the city preserved and honored the Air Force station by turning the surrounding property into an area for community use. A former missile air defense field, used primarily during World War II, is remembered through a monument situated outside the community center and library. The Duncanville Historical Park also contains a set of historic buildings and monuments acknowledging their presence.
Attractions in Duncanville
In addition to its historical attractions, Duncanville today has a variety of things to do. From shopping on Main Street to picking up produce at the local street market, there's never a shortage of things to do in Duncanville.
DuncanSwitch Market
The DuncanSwitch Market is located in the downtown center at the former site of the Duncan Switch. It is a diverse market with many attractions including food, art for sale and on display, homemade crafts, and several activities for children and families.
Museum of International Cultures
Duncanville is proud of this museum, which is the only one of its kind in Texas. The museum is worth visiting for its numerous exhibits and displays dedicated to highlighting some of the most remote communities and cultures in the world. Communities from South America, New Guinea, Mexico, and Southeast Asia are some of the few represented at this contemporary museum.
Duncanville Community Theatre
Each year, the community theatre produces about six shows. The theatre was established in the late 1980s and became a non-profit before 1990. It is one of the most popular venues in the Best Southwest region for seeing live shows produced by an independent venue. Auditions and special events are other highlights of the theatre. With its convenient location downtown, it's easy to stop in at a restaurant before or after a show for a quality meal.
While Duncanville has progressed significantly since its early days as a one-building community, its past is still very much a part of its present. With so much to do, it's not surprising that you might not have time for lawn care. Fortunately, we do. From simple lawn maintenance to troubleshooting problems and establishing a beautiful garden, count on Lawn Love for your property care needs.
