Lancaster, Texas

For years, Lancaster (Lank-aster) was the second largest city in Dallas County. It still retains the look and feel of a small town although only minutes from metropolitan Dallas. Some of the finest Victorian homes in the county are preserved here. Extensive restoration of the downtown area was accomplished in the late 1970s; then, on April 25, 1994, a tornado struck the city doing extensive damage to the downtown and residential areas. Friends, neighbors, and citizens joined forces for the massive cleanup, and today Lancaster is rebuilding and restoring.

During the War Between the States, a pistol factory here produced the huge Colt .44 Dragoon revolver that collectors call the "Tucker & Sherrod Confederate Colt." Memorabilia of the CSA foundry and gun factory are preserved in the city library.