Richardson, Texas

The settlement of Richardson was called Breckinridge before the Civil War. The town grew around a new station on the T&NO Railroad when it built through the area in 1872. The city was renamed for E.H. Richardson, the railroad contractor who built the line from Dallas to Denison.

With a base of defense related industries and spurred by the deregulation of the telephone industry, Richardson experienced tremendous growth and became known nationally for the "Telecom Corridor," a large concentration of technology and telecommunications companies.

Richardson has 30 parks offering hiking trails, swimming pools, tennis courts and much more. Breckenridge park is the largest, with 417 acres, three pavilions, 14 soccer fields, a 10-acre lake and hike/bike trails. Sherrill Park Golf Course offers 36 holes of manicured fairways and greens.

The city also boasts the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations, which hosts music, dance, theater, and other special events presented by regional, national and international artists. Its gallery offers rotating monthly exhibits, and it is located in the Galatyn Park Urban Center adjacent to a public plaza with a fountain of dancing waters.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Light rail now stops at four stations in Richardson, enabling visitors to visit many more Metroplex attractions, in a matter of minutes and for a nominal fee.