Dallas is the third largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States, with a population over 1.3 million. Big D is the main economic center of the Dallas-Ft.Worth-Arlington metropolitan area with a total population of 6.3 million people.
The Dallas economy is historically known for its oil and cotton industries, but it is also a major job center for banking, telecommunications, computer technology, energy and transportation. It is the 5th largest media market in the country. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has one of the largest concentration of corporate headquarters in the United States. Dallas has 12 Fortune 500 companies, 3rd most in the country.
Residents enjoy the city's renowned barbeque, authentic Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex restaurants. There are over 400 parks and 17 lakes and 61 miles of biking and hiking trails, such as the Katy Trail. Dallas is a huge sports town and is home to the NFL Dallas Cowboys and NBA Dallas Mavericks.
Central Dallas has a vibrant Downtown, with neighborhoods that include the West End Historic District, Arts District, Main Street District, Farmers Market, City Center business district, Convention Center, and the Reunion District. In the Arts District is Deep Ellum, located in the Arts District and long known for jazz and blues music, is home to many eclectic artists who live and work in the lofts and studios.
Just north of Downtown is Uptown, Victory Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, Cityplace and West Village. East Dallas has Lakewood, historic Vickery Place and Bryan Place. Preston Hollow has the most expensive homes in the city and state. There you can find high end shopping areas, including Galleria Dallas, North Park Center, Highland Park Village and Preston Center. In the northeast section of town is Lake Highlands. Koreatown is located in northwest Dallas. The city has the largest Korean American community in Texas and in the Southern States.
South of Downtown lies Oak Cliff, South Oak Cliff and South Dallas, where you can find artists calling Cedars home. Fair Park is home to the annual State Fair of Texas, held there since 1886. Dallas is also surrounded by numerous suburbs and three enclaves within the city limits—Cockrell Hill, Highland Park, and University Park.
